PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jon Melcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Hadjiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Melcher
vs
Hadjiev

186 cm
21
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
21
164 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jon Melcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alex Hadjiev!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hadjiev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Melcher counters with a shoot takedown. Hadjiev fights it but they end up in guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Melcher postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Melcher throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hadjiev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melcher loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hadjiev keeping full guard, as Melcher tries to pass.
Hadjiev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Melcher working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Melcher postures up.
Melcher lands a couple of digs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melcher with a flurry of punches that miss.
Melcher throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Melcher accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melcher pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hadjiev is keeping the position for now.
Hadjiev has his hands on Melcher's head, controlling the position.
Melcher throws a strike but Hadjiev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hadjiev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Melcher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melcher avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Melcher has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Melcher.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Melcher enables Hadjiev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Melcher manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hadjiev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Melcher really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hadjiev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Melcher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hadjiev trying to control the position from guard on top but Melcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Melcher stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Melcher wants it to stay on the feet.
Melcher goes for a double leg but Hadjiev avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hadjiev continues to drive forward.
Hadjiev stops a takedown attempt from Melcher.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Melcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melcher prevents the takedown attempt.
Melcher tries for a takedown. No joy.

Hadjiev turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Melcher is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hadjiev tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The strikes coming from Hadjiev are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Hadjiev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hadjiev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hadjiev fails to land a wild elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jon Melcher will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hadjiev dives in for a single leg takedown but Melcher sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Melcher goes for a takedown attempt but Hadjiev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Melcher shoots in and drives through. Hadjiev sprawls well.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Melcher manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hadjiev on his heels. He'll look to pass Hadjiev's guard now, I'm sure.
Melcher works over Hadjiev with some ground and pound from guard.
Hadjiev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Melcher drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hadjiev manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Melcher has Hadjiev in his guard.
Melcher will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Melcher working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hadjiev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melcher is looking to stand up but Hadjiev isn't so interested in that idea.
Melcher working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hadjiev.
Hadjiev throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hadjiev prevents Melcher from getting back to his feet.
Jon Melcher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jon Melcher just wasn't active enough.

Hadjiev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Melcher's half guard.
Melcher blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hadjiev.
Hadjiev trying to control from half guard but Melcher is working away.
Hadjiev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melcher is trying to stand back up but Hadjiev is controlling him

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hadjiev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Melcher pinned against the cage. Melcher gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Melcher fails with the takedown

and Hadjiev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Melcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hadjiev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Melcher pulls his leg out and moves away.
Melcher closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hadjiev circles away.
Jon Melcher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hadjiev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hadjiev shoots and misses

and Melcher counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hadjiev!
An elbow from Melcher crashes against the mat.
Hadjiev takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hadjiev can do anything to dispel that myth.
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!
Hadjiev tries to buck Melcher off but Melcher is having none of it.
Hadjiev is breathing heavily.
Hadjiev keeps trying to improve his position.
Melcher advances to mount.
Melcher sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melcher misses with a head shot.
Melcher looking to land elbow strikes but Hadjiev uses the position to regain half guard.
Melcher thows a huge punch but Hadjiev dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Melcher dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Melcher darts in looking for a takedown but Hadjiev gets double underhooks and turns Melcher into the cage.
Melcher goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hadjiev prevents it.
Melcher is working for takedown but Hadjiev is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Melcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hadjiev gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hadjiev is looking to stall here but Melcher recovers full guard.
Hadjiev stands and throws Melcher's legs to the side, diving into side control.
My spies in Blitzkrieg Fighting Systems: Ground inform me that Hadjiev has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melcher avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hadjiev.
Hadjiev prevents Melcher from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hadjiev working the ground and pound from side control.
Melcher is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hadjiev is controlling him well.
Melcher is not content to let Hadjiev control the position.
Hadjiev creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Melcher sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melcher wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hadjiev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Melcher as he jumps to the side.
Melcher closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hadjiev circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melcher throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hadjiev's waist but Hadjiev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Melcher off to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hadjiev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hadjiev shoots in looking for a takedown but Melcher manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hadjiev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hadjiev.
Melcher wants to get back to his feet.
Hadjiev working the strikes but Melcher uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Hadjiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Melcher has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jon Melcher!