PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jordon Sanford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melendez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Rage Against The Machine - Bulls On Parade. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sanford
vs
Melendez

176 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

KAISER
Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jordon Sanford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ricky Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanford tries to close the distance and clinch but Melendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Melendez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanford pinned against the cage. Sanford gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Melendez misses with a head kick.

Melendez closes the distance and pushes Sanford back into the cage.
Melendez looking to stall.
Melendez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sanford to keep the fight standing.
Sanford tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Melendez smiles and moves away.
Melendez circles away from the clinch attempt.

Sanford gets caught napping as Melendez dives in and scores a takedown. Sanford manages to retain guard.
Sanford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melendez wanted to stand there but Sanford had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanford throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Melendez stands up and waves to Sanford to follow him.
Melendez scores with a three punch combo!

Melendez gets a clinch.
Sanford being controlled against the cage.
Melendez with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sanford avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jordon Sanford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Melendez.
Sanford jumps guard but Melendez stands there with Sanford around his waist. Sanford gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Melendez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Melendez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sanford in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Melendez fails to pull guard.

Melendez breaks the clinch.
Sanford changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Melendez tries to avoid it but Sanford manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Melendez to the ground. Melendez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanford slaps away a takedown attempt from Melendez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Melendez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sanford.
Sanford stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sanford wants it to stay on the feet.
Melendez looks winded!

Melendez moves into range and clinches up with Sanford.
Melendez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanford shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Melendez defends it nicely.

Sanford drives through with a takedown into Melendez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Melendez keeping moving, preventing Sanford from controlling successfully.
Sanford stops Melendez from standing up.
Sanford looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Melendez wants to stand but Sanford is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanford working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Melendez's head.
Sanford won't allow Melendez to get back to his feet.
Sanford wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
Sanford throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sanford's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sanford is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanford wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanford stops Melendez from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Melendez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Melendez tries a head kick but it misses.

Sanford has closed the distance and engaged Melendez in a clinch.
Melendez tries a knee to the head but Sanford blocks it.

Melendez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sanford darts in and clinches Melendez up against the cage.
Sanford tries to pull guard but Melendez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Melendez landing knees to the head.
Melendez is trying to break free.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Melendez misses with a knee to the head.
Sanford tries to pull guard but Melendez holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanford drops back down to his feet.

Sanford pulls guard effortlessly.
Sanford is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Melendez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melendez stands and steps away. Sanford gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Melendez is breathing heavily.
Sanford shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jordon Sanford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melendez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sanford was well out of range. Poor timing from Melendez.
Melendez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Melendez closes the distance and clinches.
Melendez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanford fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Melendez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Sanford gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez fails to pull guard.
Sanford tries to pull guard but Melendez won't allow it.
Sanford blocks an elbow strike from Melendez.
Sanford drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanford fails to pull guard.
Melendez is trying to stall.
Sanford tries to pull guard but Melendez won't allow it.
Melendez lands a knee to the head.

Sanford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ricky Melendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanford shoots for a double leg takedown but Melendez sprawls well. He's pushed Sanford's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanford shoots in for a takedown but Melendez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt - Sanford sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Melendez closes the distance and clinches.
Melendez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Melendez goes for a takedown attempt but Sanford pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sanford fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sanford gets the takedown into side control.
Melendez is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sanford has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanford connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Melendez some visible discomfort.
Sanford controls the position.
Sanford's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sanford is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Melendez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Melendez throws Sanford to one side and escapes!
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 Jordon Sanford will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Melendez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Horrible takedown by Melendez or perhaps it was just good defense by Sanford which made him look bad.
Sanford defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Melendez.

Melendez moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sanford as Melendez tries to tie him up.
Melendez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanford avoids it.
Melendez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sanford avoids the elbow strike from Melendez, against the cage.

Sanford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jordon Sanford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Melendez.
Melendez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanford fails with a takedown attempt.
A combination from Melendez does no damage.
Jordon Sanford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Melendez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanford somewhat.

Sanford rushes Melendez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sanford fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Sanford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick misses from Melendez.
Sanford dives in for a single leg takedown but Melendez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Sanford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanford shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Melendez as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanford pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Melendez moves into the clinch successfully.
Melendez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Melendez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sanford up against the cage.

Sanford decides to pull guard.
Melendez wants to stand but Sanford is controlling his posture from full guard.

Melendez gets to his feet. Sanford looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanford forces Melendez back against the cage and clinches.
Melendez stalling the fight.
Sanford is trying to pull guard but Melendez has him pressed against the cage.

Sanford has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Melendez uses from the top position.

Melendez stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Sanford moves into the clinch.

Sanford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ricky Melendez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Melendez lands with a kick to the temple. Sanford shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Sanford manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Melendez on his heels. He'll look to pass Melendez's guard now, I'm sure.

Melendez pushes Sanford off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sanford shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Melendez wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sanford is trying to work for a kimura but Melendez is defending well.
Sanford scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jordon Sanford.
I think Sanford 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ricky Melendez!
Ricky Melendez very nearly forgot to thank Kore Fight Nutrition [TG] amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.