PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Roy Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melendez has chosen I Luv It-Young Jeezy as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Michaels
vs
Melendez

172 cm
18
142 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roy Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tyler Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels misses with a low kick as Melendez jumps back.
Roy Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Michaels or perhaps it was just good defense by Melendez which made him look bad.
Michaels misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Michaels shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Melendez pinned against the cage. Melendez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roy Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels shoots in but Melendez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Michaels fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Michaels shoots in but no luck this time.

Michaels scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Melendez tries to improve position but can't.
Michaels trying to control the action but Melendez is working from the bottom.
Melendez is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries to stand but Melendez is controlling his head.
Melendez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Michaels misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Michaels misses with a takedown attempt - Melendez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Michaels fails to land the takedown.
Melendez avoids the body shot from Michaels.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Michaels fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Michaels fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Michaels fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Michaels tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Melendez swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roy Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Melendez is fending him off so far but Michaels persists. Nope, Melendez circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels fails with the takedown.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michaels shoots in but no luck this time.
Melendez moves out of range as Michaels throws a body kick.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Michaels closes the distance and clinches up with Melendez, looking for a takedown. Michaels pushes Melendez against the cage but Melendez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Michaels looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Melendez is fending him off so far but Michaels persists. Nope, Melendez circles away and we're back to standing.
Melendez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tyler Melendez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Michaels looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Michaels blocks the strikes from Melendez.
Melendez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Melendez punching from the bottom.
Melendez gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to sweep but no luck.
Melendez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Melendez wants to sweep but no luck.
Melendez throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Michaels feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Michaels drops back looking for a leg! Melendez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Melendez manages to kick Michaels off! Michaels jumps back into Melendez's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melendez keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Melendez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Melendez looking for a sweep. Not yet Melendez, not yet.
Melendez lands some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Michaels fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michaels wants to clinch.
Michaels shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tyler Melendez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Michaels will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Michaels closes the distance and clinches up with Melendez, looking for a takedown. Michaels pushes Melendez against the cage but Melendez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Michaels misses with a combination

and Melendez counters with a combination of strikes to the head and body that crumple Michaels!

Michaels is rocked!
Melendez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Melendez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Melendez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Michaels. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Melendez working over Michaels with some ground and pound. Michaels looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melendez working over Michaels with some ground and pound. Michaels looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Melendez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Michaels is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Melendez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Melendez is looking to pass Michaels's guard but actually Michaels recovers to full guard.
Melendez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Melendez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Melendez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Michaels's head.
Melendez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Michaels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Melendez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Melendez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Melendez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Michaels's head.
Melendez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Melendez postures up.

Michaels working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Melendez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Melendez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Michaels has momentary wrist control but Melendez slips an elbow through the middle.
Melendez lands a couple of digs.
Melendez cracks Michaels with a solid left hand.
Melendez distracts Michaels with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Melendez advances position into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez working the ground and pound.
Michaels is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Melendez off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Michaels's guard. Nice work there by Melendez.

Michaels looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Melendez preventing the sweep.
Michaels lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Melendez!
Michaels seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Melendez is holding on tight.
Roy Michaels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melendez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Melendez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Melendez throwing hammer fists to the chest of Michaels. What's that going to do exactly?
Melendez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Michaels jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Melendez manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Melendez is looking for a sweep.
Melendez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Melendez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Michaels with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Michaels is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is trying to get back to full guard.
Michaels trying to control from the bottom.
Michaels taking some punishment here, with Melendez in his half guard.
Michaels on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Melendez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Melendez connects with a nice short shot to Michaels's temple.
Melendez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Michaels wants to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Melendez.
Michaels is looking to improve his position.
Michaels is working hard here to advance position.
Melendez wants to pass the guard but Michaels is defending well.
Michaels is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Michaels doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Melendez counters with a left and a right that stings Michaels.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roy Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels misses with a takedown
and Melendez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Melendez looks to land a combination. Michaels sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Michaels misses with a takedown attempt
and Melendez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michaels has his takedown stuffed
and Melendez counters with a left and a right that stings Michaels.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyler Melendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Melendez 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Melendez!