PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Jyllendael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monte Melkonian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melkonian is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Artsakh Music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jake Jyllendael
vs
Melkonian

184 cm
30
246 lbs
10 - 15 - 0

180 cm
30
221 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Jyllendael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Monte Melkonian!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jyllendael scoring well with a low kick there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Jyllendael enables Melkonian to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Jyllendael manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Melkonian looking to sit in guard and control but Jyllendael gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Jyllendael has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Melkonian is proving hard to escape from.

Jyllendael drops back, looking for a kneebar! Melkonian looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Melkonian looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Melkonian!
Jyllendael is looking for a sweep.
Melkonian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jyllendael keeps working.
Jyllendael tries to bench press Melkonian off him but Melkonian keeps the position.
Melkonian wants to take a breather but Jyllendael manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Melkonian.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jyllendael tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Melkonian throws a strike but Jyllendael rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jyllendael engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Jyllendael would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Jyllendael wants to control from the top but Melkonian keeps moving.
Jyllendael loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian being controlled here, momentarily.
Melkonian wants to stand up but Jyllendael is controlling him.

Jake Jyllendael has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Melkonian looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Jyllendael!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jyllendael tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Jyllendael is not content to let Melkonian control the position.
Melkonian creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Jyllendael sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jyllendael trying to remain calm as Melkonian controls from the top position.
Jyllendael is not content to let Melkonian control the position.
Jyllendael is looking for a sweep.

Melkonian tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Melkonian has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Melkonian working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Jyllendael wants to control but Melkonian postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jyllendael wants to get back to his feet but Melkonian drags him back down.
Jyllendael stops Melkonian from passing to mount.
Jyllendael wants to control but Melkonian postures up.
Jyllendael is trying to improve his position.
Jyllendael is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Melkonian wants to control but Jyllendael is keeping him busy.
Jyllendael is trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jyllendael is trying to control Melkonian's posture but Melkonian avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Monte Melkonian will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jyllendael leaves Melkonian with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jyllendael is looking to clinch but Melkonian is avoiding it.
Nice sprawl there from Jyllendael as Melkonian shoots in.
Melkonian tries for a takedown but Jyllendael circles away easily
and Jyllendael makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Jake Jyllendael has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monte Melkonian.
Melkonian fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Melkonian scores with a takedown into Jyllendael's guard.
Melkonian is looking to stand up but Jyllendael won't let him.
Melkonian stands and throws Jyllendael's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Jyllendael struggling a bit here.
Melkonian wants to control but Jyllendael is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jyllendael tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Melkonian wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Melkonian goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Jyllendael rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Melkonian's guard! Nice work there by Jyllendael!
Jyllendael with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Jyllendael stands up from Melkonian's guard - Jyllendael perhaps looking for a knockout.
Jyllendael is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Jyllendael moves in looking to clinch but Melkonian pushes him off.
Jyllendael stuffs the takedown.
Melkonian misses with a takedown
and Jyllendael counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian throws a right hand that Jyllendael ducks under and follows up with a left that Jyllendael also avoids with ease.

Jyllendael closes the distance and pushes Melkonian back into the cage.

Jyllendael breaks the clinch.
Jake Jyllendael is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jyllendael lands a slapping body shot.

Jyllendael closes the distance and clinches.
Jyllendael is looking to control Melkonian's arms but Melkonian gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jyllendael has his back to the cage.

Melkonian pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jyllendael jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Melkonian walks away with a smile on his face. Jyllendael gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Melkonian with a poor takedown

and Jyllendael moves into the clinch.
Jyllendael tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Melkonian tries to pull guard but Jyllendael forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Melkonian fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian wants to take the fight to the mat but Jyllendael manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Melkonian tries to pull guard but Jyllendael won't allow it.
A bit of stalling here from Jyllendael.

Jyllendael manages to pull guard.
Monte Melkonian has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jyllendael is adopting a defensive guard.
Jyllendael controls Melkonian momentarily but Melkonian frees himself.
Jyllendael has control of Melkonian's left arm, preventing Melkonian from doing any damage.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Jyllendael keeping moving, preventing Melkonian from controlling successfully.

Jake Jyllendael has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jyllendael shoots in looking for a takedown but Melkonian manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jyllendael's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Jyllendael with a poor takedown
and Melkonian counters with a nice low kick that buckles Jyllendael's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian keeps the fight on the outside.

Melkonian decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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!
Melkonian is pressing down on Jyllendael's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jyllendael is holding on for now.
Melkonian is stalling here. Jyllendael is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Melkonian seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Jyllendael has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Jyllendael wants to control but Melkonian is keeping him busy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Melkonian is looking for a sweep.
Jyllendael cracks Melkonian with a big right hand but Melkonian just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Jyllendael dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Melkonian changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jyllendael looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Jyllendael is looking to reverse the position.
The strikes coming from Melkonian are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Jyllendael is trying to control Melkonian's posture but Melkonian avoids it.
Melkonian is trying to ground and pound but Jyllendael uses the momentary lack of control by Melkonian to regain half guard.
Melkonian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jyllendael keeps working.

Jyllendael manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Melkonian keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Jyllendael fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Melkonian jumps guard but Jyllendael stands there with Melkonian around his waist. Melkonian gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Melkonian jumps into guard, dragging Jyllendael to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jyllendael stands up over Melkonian, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Melkonian being controlled here, momentarily.
Melkonian utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jyllendael trying to stand up but can't free himself from Melkonian's guard.
Jyllendael is in close to Melkonian's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jyllendael postures up and lands a big shot to Melkonian's brow.
Jyllendael trying to stand up but can't free himself from Melkonian's guard.
Jyllendael prevents Melkonian from getting back to his feet.
Melkonian trying to keep a closed guard but Jyllendael is proving a slippery customer.
Melkonian keeping moving, preventing Jyllendael from controlling successfully.
Jyllendael chips away with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jyllendael would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jyllendael pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Melkonian is keeping the position for now.
Jyllendael throws a strike but Melkonian rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Melkonian looking to pass the guard.
Melkonian is fighting to break Jyllendael's control of his arms but Jyllendael is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Jyllendael has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Melkonian wants to control from the top but Jyllendael keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Melkonian fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jyllendael avoids it really well and circles away.
Jyllendael will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Melkonian takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Melkonian leaves Jyllendael with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Jyllendael. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jyllendael shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Melkonian defends it nicely.
Jake Jyllendael is winning the standup battle so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jyllendael dives in and grabs Melkonian's left leg, looking for a takedown. Melkonian pushes down on Jyllendael's head and hops out.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Jyllendael showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jyllendael has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Jyllendael!
After the fight, Jake Jyllendael was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.