PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kesigan Jacare Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monte Melkonian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jacare Souza comes to the cage accompanied by cannot be stopped. Melkonian has chosen Artsakh Music as his entrance music. Kesigan Jacare Souza has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Jacare Souza
vs
Melkonian

191 cm
26
199 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

180 cm
27
201 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kesigan Jacare Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Monte Melkonian!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

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

and Melkonian holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Melkonian has picked Jacare Souza up - he's going for a ride! Melkonian dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Melkonian throwing shots but Jacare Souza is blocking nicely.
Melkonian is thwarting Jacare Souza's attempts to control the position.
Well, if Melkonian is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Melkonian trying to control the action but Jacare Souza is working from the bottom.

Jacare Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jacare Souza is looking for a sweep. Melkonian is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Melkonian looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Jacare Souza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Melkonian pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melkonian is looking to take a break and control but Jacare Souza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Melkonian moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Jacare Souza.
Jacare Souza is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Jacare Souza is trying to improve his position.
Melkonian taking a breather here.
Jacare Souza tries to bench press Melkonian off him but Melkonian keeps the position.

Melkonian is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jacare Souza has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacare Souza is trying to work for a sweep but Melkonian has mounted him!
Melkonian looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Melkonian prevents Jacare Souza from getting the reversal.
Jacare Souza is squirming around, avoiding Melkonian's attempts to control the action.
Jacare Souza is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Melkonian wants to control the pace but Jacare Souza is squirming around nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jacare Souza wants to hold on but Melkonian pushes him away.
Jacare Souza slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Jacare Souza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Monte Melkonian wasn't active enough on the ground.
Jacare Souza fails with the takedown
and Melkonian counters with a nice leg kick.
Jacare Souza is breathing heavily.
Melkonian lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Melkonian has Jacare Souza up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Melkonian lands a takedown into guard.
Melkonian trying to control but Jacare Souza is working from the bottom.
Melkonian controls from within his opponent's guard.
Melkonian trying to control the position from guard on top but Jacare Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Monte Melkonian hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Jacare Souza misses with a takedown attempt

and Melkonian counters with a shoot takedown. Jacare Souza fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kesigan Jacare Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melkonian trying to control the position from guard on top but Jacare Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jacare Souza is looking to stand up but Melkonian isn't so interested in that idea.
Melkonian looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Melkonian is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jacare Souza keeping moving, preventing Melkonian from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Melkonian dominated that 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.

Melkonian is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jacare Souza's half guard.

Jacare Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jacare Souza is looking to improve his position.
Jacare Souza is not content to let Melkonian control the position.
Melkonian missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Melkonian decides to return to a standing position.
Decent striking displayed by Melkonian there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacare Souza shoots and misses
and Melkonian counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Melkonian shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Melkonian is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Melkonian tries to free his leg and advance position but Jacare Souza is retaining full guard.
Monte Melkonian has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melkonian landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melkonian content to stall in guard here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Jacare Souza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Melkonian can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Melkonian wants to control from the top but Jacare Souza keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melkonian decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Jacare Souza, up you get!

Melkonian looking to score a takedown here. Jacare Souza is defending well but Melkonian drives through and ends up in Jacare Souza's guard.
Melkonian is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Melkonian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jacare Souza swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Melkonian trying to control but Jacare Souza is working from the bottom.
Melkonian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Monte Melkonian.

Melkonian drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Jacare Souza wants to sweep but no luck.
Melkonian is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Jacare Souza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Melkonian doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Melkonian manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Melkonian slips nicely into half guard.
Melkonian thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jacare Souza's head.
Jacare Souza works his way to full guard. Good work.
Melkonian trying to control but Jacare Souza is working from the bottom.
Melkonian sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jacare Souza's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian is keen to just control but Jacare Souza is a slippery customer.
Melkonian trying to pass the guard but Jacare Souza defending well.
Melkonian moves nicely into side control.
Jacare Souza seems a little lost for a moment, as Melkonian dominates the positioning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melkonian trying to control the position but Jacare Souza is working away.
Jacare Souza is looking to reverse the position.
Jacare Souza is not content to let Melkonian control the position.
Jacare Souza manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Melkonian is thwarting Jacare Souza's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Melkonian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Melkonian throws a right and a left that Jacare Souza avoids nicely.

Melkonian looking to score a takedown here. Jacare Souza is defending well but Melkonian drives through and ends up in Jacare Souza's guard.
Melkonian wants to control from the top but Jacare Souza keeps moving.

Melkonian stands and steps away. Jacare Souza gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Jacare Souza gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Melkonian counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Melkonian.
Jacare Souza will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Jacare Souza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Melkonian defends it easily.
Melkonian engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Melkonian drops back looking for a leg! Jacare Souza is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jacare Souza manages to kick Melkonian off! Melkonian jumps back into Jacare Souza's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jacare Souza looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Melkonian passes into half guard.
Melkonian wants to control but Jacare Souza is keeping him busy.
Nice strikes from Melkonian there.
Melkonian is trying to control. Jacare Souza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Melkonian is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Jacare Souza wants to improve his position but Melkonian is controlling well.

Jacare Souza looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melkonian is working for a kimura but Jacare Souza is defending it quite comfortably.
Melkonian is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Jacare Souza is looking to improve his position.
Melkonian passes into side control, despite Jacare Souza's attempt to control the position.
Jacare Souza avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Melkonian.
Jacare Souza tries to buck Melkonian off but Melkonian is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melkonian stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Melkonian gets a double leg takedown into Jacare Souza's guard.
Melkonian stays in close to Jacare Souza's body and controls the position.
Melkonian trying to control the position from guard on top but Jacare Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Monte Melkonian was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Jacare Souza shoots and misses

and Melkonian counters with a shoot takedown. Jacare Souza fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Jacare Souza has his foot on Melkonian's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Melkonian works his way back into a safe position though.

Melkonian stands and steps away. Jacare Souza gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melkonian dives in and scores a takedown into Jacare Souza's guard.
Melkonian looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Melkonian trying to control but Jacare Souza is working from the bottom.
Melkonian postures up in Jacare Souza's guard and throws a big left but Jacare Souza blocks it.

Jacare Souza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Melkonian can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Melkonian is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Let's hope that Melkonian has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Monte Melkonian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Melkonian has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monte Melkonian!
Monte Melkonian took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Das Labor for their support in the buildup to the fight.