PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ross Stuart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melendez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Eminem - Survival. Ross Stuart has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Melendez
vs
Stuart

175 cm
30
160 lbs
14 - 5 - 3

179 cm
20
164 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry
//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

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 14 - 5 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gilbert Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ross Stuart!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Stuart. That's going to slow Melendez down.
Stuart misses with a hook. Melendez ducked under it nicely.
Stuart misses with a double jab.
No joy there for Stuart, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stuart throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Melendez counters with a left and a right that stings Stuart.
Nice shot lands for Stuart.
Stuart misses with a right hand
and Melendez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stuart rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Melendez counters with a takedown into side control.

Melendez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stuart takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melendez working the ground and pound.
The referee asks Melendez politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Melendez prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stuart is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Melendez is trying to work for a kimura but Stuart is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stuart wants to improve his position but Melendez is controlling well.
Melendez trying to control the action but Stuart is working from the bottom.

Melendez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stuart has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Melendez is working away from the top position though.
Stuart won't allow Melendez to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Stuart reverses the position - he's now on top in Melendez's guard.
Stuart postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stuart trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stuart trying to control but Melendez is working from the bottom.
Stuart missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Melendez seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Melendez is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Stuart presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Stuart is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Melendez is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stuart has him pressed against the cage.

Melendez has clasped his hands together around Stuart's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Stuart dodges the ground and pound from Melendez.
Stuart wants to control but Melendez postures up.
Melendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stuart keeps working.
Stuart tries to bench press Melendez off him but Melendez keeps the position.
Stuart is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Melendez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Stuart actively working from the bottom here.
Melendez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stuart with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stuart trying to get back to full guard but Melendez takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stuart is squirming around, avoiding Melendez's attempts to control the action.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melendez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Stuart's face.
Stuart tries to hold on but Melendez pushes him away.
Melendez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stuart is looking to escape.
Melendez looking to finish Stuart with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stuart!
Melendez unloading with bombs!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Melendez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Stuart turns into him and now he's in Melendez's guard.
Stuart tries to free his leg and advance position but Melendez is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Melendez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stuart misses the body punch
and Melendez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stuart swings widly with a right hand

and Melendez counters with a takedown into side control.
Melendez working the head with strikes.
Melendez trying to control the action but Stuart is working from the bottom.
Melendez 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.
Gilbert Melendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Melendez goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Stuart rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Melendez's guard! Nice work there by Stuart!
Stuart wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez keeping full guard, as Stuart tries to pass.
Stuart throws a strike but Melendez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stuart keeping full guard, as Melendez tries to pass.
Stuart keeping moving, preventing Melendez from controlling successfully.
Stuart is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to move into half guard but instead Stuart has managed to sweep!
Stuart stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melendez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stuart throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Melendez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stuart loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Melendez wants to stand and escape but Stuart is having none of it.
Stuart throws a strike but Melendez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Stuart working for a triangle but Melendez defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stuart avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Melendez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Stuart is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Melendez off and has taken his back!
Melendez covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Melendez holding both Stuart 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melendez defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Stuart is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Stuart is looking for a triangle but Melendez pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stuart keeping full guard, as Melendez tries to pass.

Melendez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Stuart dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Melendez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stuart wants to clinch.

Melendez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Melendez seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Melendez trying to control from Stuart's half guard. Stuart has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Melendez throws a big elbow that misses.
Stuart is trying to control the position but Melendez postures up.
Melendez preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez stays in close to Stuart's body and controls the position.
Melendez scoring with some ground and pound.
Melendez slips nicely into half guard.
Melendez wants to free his trapped foot but Stuart is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stuart is looking to improve his position.
Melendez throws a strike but Stuart avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Melendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Stuart is retaining full guard.
Stuart keeping moving, preventing Melendez from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Melendez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Melendez advances position into side control!
Melendez tries to advance to mount but can't.
Stuart is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Melendez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Melendez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stuart is looking to improve his position but Melendez isn't that keen on the idea.
Gilbert Melendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Stuart is trying desperately to improve position.
Ross Stuart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stuart is squirming around, avoiding Melendez's attempts to control the action.
Melendez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Stuart is trying to escape the mount.
Melendez controlling from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melendez working away from the top, dropping strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gilbert Melendez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Melendez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gilbert Melendez!
After winning the bout, Gilbert Melendez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.