PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Grant Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Melendez's choice of entrance music: Eminem - Survival. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Benton
vs
Melendez

180 cm
28
165 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

175 cm
29
165 lbs
12 - 3 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear
LOD: Affordable Quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gilbert Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benton lands a jab.
Benton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Melendez.

Benton closes the distance and pushes Melendez back into the cage.
Melendez is trying to drag Benton to the mat but Benton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Benton taking a breather.
Melendez is trying to drag Benton to the mat but Benton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Benton prevents the takedown attempt.
Grant Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.
Benton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Benton prevents the takedown attempt.
Melendez wants a takedown but no success here.
Melendez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Melendez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Benton gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Benton misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Melendez.
Melendez is working for takedown but Benton is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benton is defending well.
Benton scores with a shoulder strike.
Melendez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Benton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Melendez is looking for a takedown.
Benton stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Melendez takes a shot to the head.
Benton misses with a body punch.
Benton swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Melendez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Benton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Melendez tries to score a body lock takedown but Benton shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Melendez has Benton pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Benton manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Melendez looks winded!
A bit of stalling here from Benton.
Melendez tries to score a body lock takedown but Benton shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Melendez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benton avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Melendez tries to score a body lock takedown but Benton shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Still in the clinch, Benton scores with a nice short uppercut.
Benton lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melendez wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Melendez.
Benton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benton is stalling here.
Melendez blocking some punches.
Melendez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Benton prevents it.
Melendez wants to take the fight to the mat but Benton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Benton lands a body punch.
Melendez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Benton after a bit of a struggle.
Melendez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Benton lands a nice shot to the body.
Melendez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Benton pulls his leg out and moves away.
Benton throws a series of strikes that have Melendez backpedaling.

It looks like Gilbert Melendez has been cut.
Grant Benton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton prevents a takedown attempt there.
Benton lands a right hand.
Benton gets underhooks to prevent Melendez's takedown attempt.
Benton swings wildly with an uppercut but Melendez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benton lands a body shot in the clinch.
Benton pushes Melendez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Benton is looking to control Melendez's arms but Melendez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Benton has his back to the cage.
Benton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benton lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Benton stops a takedown attempt from Melendez.
A short right from Benton on the inside.
Benton lands a body shot.
Benton stalling the fight.
Benton stops a takedown attempt from Melendez.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Benton.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benton lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Melendez backwards.
Melendez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Benton lands an uppercut.

Melendez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Benton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Benton is working hard here to advance position.
Benton wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Melendez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Benton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gilbert Melendez's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benton just misses with a punch to the body.
Melendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Benton sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Melendez somewhat.

Benton takes the fight into the clinch.
Melendez goes for a takedown attempt but Benton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Melendez tries to clinch but Benton moves out of range.

Benton moves into range and clinches up with Melendez.
Melendez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Benton prevents it.
Grant Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.
Benton throws a head punch that misses.
Melendez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benton is defending well.
Melendez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Benton gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Benton gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Benton lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Melendez backwards.
Melendez tries to score a body lock takedown but Benton shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Benton gets underhooks to prevent Melendez's takedown attempt.
Melendez is breathing heavily.
Melendez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Benton pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Benton lands a nice shot to the body.
Benton lands a right hand.
Benton doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Benton creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Benton slowing the pace effectively.
Benton prevents the takedown attempt.
Benton lands a hook to the side of the head.
Melendez can't get the takedown.
Benton lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Melendez backwards.
Good body shot from Benton.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Benton has Melendez pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton lands an uppercut.
Benton digs a right hand into Melendez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Melendez's gas tank.
Benton makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Melendez is rocked!
Benton softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Melendez is still on wobbly legs! Can Benton finish him?
Benton lands a hook to the side of the head.
Benton lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Benton lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Melendez.
Benton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Melendez looking for a takedown.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Benton manages to get underhooks.
Benton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Melendez backwards.
Benton lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Melendez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benton lands with a right to the head.
Melendez prevents a body shot from Benton.
Benton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benton is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Melendez blocks an uppercut.
Grant Benton has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is trying to drag Benton to the mat but Benton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Benton lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Benton.
Still in the clinch, Benton scores with a nice short uppercut.
Melendez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Benton is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Benton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benton throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Melendezs head.
Melendez wants a takedown.
Benton misses with a punch on the inside.
Benton has a couple of punches blocked by Melendez.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Benton.
Benton misses with a punch on the inside.
Benton lands a right hand.
Benton lands a shot to the body.
Benton stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Benton tries to stall but Melendez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton misses with some punches.
Benton is pressed up against the cage. Melendez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Benton down to the mat. Benton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gilbert Melendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melendez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benton.
Melendez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Benton moves into the clinch.
Melendez seems to have recovered his senses.
Melendez wants to take the fight to the mat but Benton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Benton scores with a shot to the side of Melendez's head.
Benton gets underhooks to prevent Melendez's takedown attempt.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Benton manages to get underhooks.
Benton lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Benton.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Benton manages to get underhooks.
Benton lands a right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benton lands a body shot.
Benton working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Benton tries to throw a body punch but Melendez avoids it by throwing Benton back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Melendez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Benton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gilbert Melendez's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Benton misses with a hook to the body

and Melendez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Benton's guard now.

Benton kicks Melendez off and gets to his feet.
Benton misses with a wild body shot.
Grant Benton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melendez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Benton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Benton.
Melendez blocking some punches.
Benton prevents the takedown attempt.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Benton.
Benton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Melendez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Melendez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benton tries to work over Melendez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melendez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Grant Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.
Benton lands with a short shot to the head.
Melendez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Benton prevents it.
Melendez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Benton pulls his leg out and moves away.
Melendez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benton.
Benton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Melendez can do to turn this around?
Benton lands with a right and another and another! Melendez is in big trouble! Benton lands again and this time it's lights out for Melendez! A quality knockout there for Benton.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Grant Benton!
Grant Benton seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.