PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Charles Bartowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hollis Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bartowski comes to the ring accompanied by The Game. Melendez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Brooklyn Zoo. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bartowski
vs
Melendez

188 cm
21
193 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

184 cm
23
192 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Dragon

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Charles Bartowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hollis Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bartowski has taken the fight to the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bartowski as Melendez tries to tie him up.

Bartowski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Bartowski clinches up with Melendez and pushes him back against the ropes.
Melendez lands a nice elbow.
Bartowski landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Bartowski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Melendez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Bartowski.
Melendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bartowski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Melendez somewhat.
Bartowski throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Hollis Melendez has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bartowski clobbers Melendez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bartowski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Melendez.
Melendez tries to clinch

and Bartowski counters with a nice double leg into side control. Melendez won't be happy with that.
Bartowski working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bartowski thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Melendez is trying to improve his position.

Bartowski working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bartowski postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Bartowski tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is looking for a sweep.
Bartowski throws an elbow but Melendez slips to the side and avoids it well.
Melendez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bartowski with the ground and pound but Melendez uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Bartowski pushes down on Melendez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bartowski seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Melendez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Melendez wants to improve his position but Bartowski is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartowski stalling away here and it's allowed Melendez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Bartowski tries to free his leg and advance position but Melendez is retaining full guard.
Bartowski is looking to stand up but Melendez won't let him.
Bartowski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bartowski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Melendez is keeping the position for now.

Bartowski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Melendez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bartowski has managed to get both his arms back between Melendez's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartowski throws a big elbow that misses.
Bartowski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Bartowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Melendez keeping full guard, as Bartowski tries to pass.
Bartowski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Melendez on the ground.
Bartowski won't allow Melendez to sweep him here.
Bartowski postures up in Melendez's guard and throws a big left but Melendez blocks it.
Melendez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bartowski is looking to work some ground and pound but Melendez has wrist control.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bartowski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bartowski would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bartowski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Melendez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Melendez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Bartowski wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
Melendez is looking to stand up but Bartowski isn't so interested in that idea.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Melendez is on top in guard.
Melendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bartowski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bartowski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Bartowski keeping full guard, as Melendez tries to pass.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bartowski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hollis Melendez.
Sloppy strikes from Bartowski. Those never looked like landing.
Melendez looks to clinch

and Bartowski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bartowski.
Bartowski would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Bartowski drops back, looking for a kneebar! Melendez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Melendez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Melendez!
Bartowski is trying to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melendez moves into full mount!
Melendez wants to control the pace but Bartowski is squirming around nicely.
Melendez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Bartowski has given up his back.
Will Melendez go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Melendez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bartowski haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Bartowski is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Melendez working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Melendez has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Bartowski is in real trouble here. Melendez gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Bartowski is tapping out! Melendez wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Hollis Melendez!
Hollis Melendez gave a mention to Dragon in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).