PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Monte Melkonian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tycho Van Braam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melkonian comes to the cage accompanied by Artsakh Music. This should be fireworks!

Melkonian
vs
Van Braam

180 cm
25
201 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
28
196 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Monte Melkonian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tycho Van Braam!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Braam tries to sprawl but Melkonian drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Van Braam avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Melkonian.

Van Braam has one foot on Melkonian's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Melkonian looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Melkonian throws a lazy body kick
and Van Braam counters with a low kick, right behind Melkonian 's knee.
Melkonian is looking to land body kicks.
Van Braam throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Melkonian's waist but Melkonian gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Van Braam off to one side.
Melkonian leaves Van Braam with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Van Braam throws a front kick that sends Melkonian stumbling back into the cage.
Melkonian takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melkonian on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Braam. Van Braam obviously looking to wear him down.
Melkonian shoots in for a takedown but Van Braam shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melkonian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Van Braam closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Melkonian did well to prevent Van Braam getting side control.
Van Braam trying to control the pace.

Van Braam is working for a kimura but Melkonian is defending it quite comfortably.
Melkonian gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Van Braam is controlling him.
Melkonian looking for a sweep. Not yet Melkonian, not yet.
Van Braam trying to control but Melkonian is working from the bottom.
Van Braam would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Van Braam is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Melkonian throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Van Braam would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Melkonian striking off his back but it's not causing Van Braam any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian 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.
Melkonian trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melkonian is trying to keep Van Braam in close.

Melkonian is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Van Braam is aware though and is defending well.
Van Braam wants to control from the top but Melkonian keeps moving.
Melkonian is trying to control the position but Van Braam postures up.
Van Braam is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tycho Van Braam.
Melkonian tries for a takedown but Van Braam circles away easily

so Van Braam counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monte Melkonian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melkonian lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Van Braam!
Melkonian knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Van Braam on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melkonian tries to control but Van Braam wriggling away.
Van Braam wants to hold on but Melkonian pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Braam is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Melkonian looking to ground and pound but Van Braam is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tycho Van Braam dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Melkonian looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Melkonian closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Van Braam quickly recovers to half guard.
Melkonian wants to control but Van Braam is keeping him busy.
Melkonian wants to pass the guard but Van Braam is defending well.
Van Braam is staying active underneath Melkonian, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Melkonian thows a huge punch but Van Braam dodges it nicely.
Van Braam is refusing to be controlled, as Melkonian sits in half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Van Braam looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Van Braam controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Melkonian looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Braam is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Melkonian jumps into side control!
Van Braam manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Van Braam prevents Melkonian from standing back up.
Van Braam trying to control from half guard but Melkonian is working away.
Melkonian is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Van Braam is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Braam looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Melkonian looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Van Braam wants to pass the guard but Melkonian is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian wants to improve his position but Van Braam is controlling well.

Van Braam is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Melkonian is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Van Braam pulls his head out easily.
Melkonian trying to control here.
Van Braam is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian trying to hold on to Van Braam's head to control him but Van Braam postures up.

Van Braam is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Melkonian has managed to free his arm - good work.
Melkonian has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Van Braam is working away from the top position though.
Van Braam trying to control the action but Melkonian is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Monte Melkonian will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Melkonian looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Braam is just out of range.
Melkonian shoots for a double leg takedown but Van Braam sprawls well. He's pushed Melkonian's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Melkonian has his takedown stuffed
and Van Braam counters with a head kick.
Melkonian closes the distance and clinches up with Van Braam, looking for a takedown. Melkonian pushes Van Braam against the cage but Van Braam circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monte Melkonian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Braam fails with the takedown.

Van Braam scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Melkonian is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tycho Van Braam has got the better of the ground game so far.
Van Braam wants to control but Melkonian is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melkonian is trying to stand up here but Van Braam is controlling him well.
Van Braam wants to control but Melkonian is keeping him busy.
Melkonian wants to improve his position but Van Braam is controlling well.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Van Braam passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Melkonian!
Van Braam controlling from mount.
Melkonian is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Braam has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Melkonian's face.
Melkonian is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Van Braam trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Melkonian is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Melkonian takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melkonian tries to hold on but Van Braam postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Braam scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Melkonian?

Melkonian is rocked!
Melkonian is desperately trying to improve his position but Van Braam has a good base and remains in mount.
Van Braam can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Melkonian is looking to escape.
Melkonian wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Van Braam is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Melkonian taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Van Braam.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tycho Van Braam!
In his post fight interview, Tycho Van Braam started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.