PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Christer F Asplund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocco Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Christer F Asplund has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

F Asplund
vs
Melendez

194 cm
22
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

209 cm
18
249 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Christer F Asplund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rocco Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asplund keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Asplund misses with a series of wild punches.

Asplund clinches.
Melendez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Asplund prevents it.

Asplund breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Asplund shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Melendez counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Asplund!
Melendez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Asplund is trying to stand up.
Asplund might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Asplund is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Melendez won't let Asplund get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Melendez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Melendez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Melendez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Asplund is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Melendez looking for a guillotine from mount but Asplund is having none of it.
Melendez lands a nice shot to the head.
Asplund wants to try and get back to his feet.
Melendez scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Melendez with shots to the head and body - Asplund looks very uncomfortable down there.
Asplund is bucking up trying to escape but Melendez cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Melendez dominating with strikes here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melendez tries to control but Asplund wriggling away.
Asplund is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Melendez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
I looks like Melendez might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Melendez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Melendez won't let Asplund get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Asplund somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Asplund is looking to clinch but Melendez is avoiding it.
Asplund throws a right and a left that Melendez avoids nicely.
Asplund on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Melendez. Melendez obviously looking to wear him down.
Melendez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Melendez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Asplund tries to avoid it but Melendez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Asplund to the ground. Asplund escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Christer F Asplund has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Melendez.

Melendez shoots in and bounces Asplund off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Asplund wants to stand and escape but Melendez is having none of it.
Melendez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Asplund wants to stand up but Melendez is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to control but Asplund is working from the bottom.
Melendez stops Asplund from standing up.
Melendez is working Asplund over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Asplund is looking to stand up but Melendez isn't so interested in that idea.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Asplund sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Asplund looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Melendez is looking to clinch but Asplund is avoiding it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Asplund misses with a takedown attempt
and Melendez counters with a stiff right hand.
Asplund will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Melendez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Asplund at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Melendez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Asplund stuffs the takedown attempt from Melendez. Melendez gets slowly back to his feet.
Asplund wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Asplund tries for a takedown but Melendez circles away easily

and Melendez counters with a takedown into side control.
Asplund wants to get back to his feet.

Asplund throws Melendez to one side and escapes!
Melendez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Asplund moves into the clinch.

Melendez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Asplund throws a series of punches but Melendez avoids them all with ease.
Asplund misses with a takedown

and Melendez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Asplund won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christer F Asplund. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asplund wants to get back to his feet but Melendez drags him back down.
Melendez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rocco Melendez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Asplund wants to get back to his feet but Melendez drags him back down.
Melendez controls the position.
Asplund stops Melendez from passing to mount.
Asplund is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Melendez has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Melendez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Asplund is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Melendez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Asplund sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Melendez misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Asplund is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Melendez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Melendez is looking to take a break and control but Asplund is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Asplund could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Asplund is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Melendez is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Melendez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Asplund sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Asplund swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Melendez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Melendez.
Melendez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Asplund gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Melendez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Asplund pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Asplund looking for a takedown.
Asplund tries to break the clinch but Melendez is controlling the position.
Melendez tries to pull guard but Asplund holds him up against the cage and eventually Melendez drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Melendez tries to pull guard but Asplund holds him up against the cage and eventually Melendez drops back down to his feet.
Melendez is pressed up against the cage. Asplund has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Melendez down to the mat. Melendez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice cross by Melendez.
Asplund throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown by Melendez or perhaps it was just good defense by Asplund which made him look bad.
Asplund misses with a kick to the body.
Asplund lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Asplund is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Asplund scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Asplund fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Asplund wants to clinch

and Melendez counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Asplund!
Melendez lands a big elbow.
Melendez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Asplund is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Melendez tries to control but Asplund wriggling away.
Melendez controlling the pace for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melendez tries to control but Asplund wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Asplund wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Melendez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Melendez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Asplund as he avoids it easily.

Asplund moves into the clinch.

Melendez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Melendez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Melendez has a closed guard, preventing Asplund from standing up.

Melendez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Asplund wants to stand but Melendez is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Asplund gets to his feet - Melendez follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Asplund forces Melendez back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asplund is working Melendez over against the cage.
Asplund pushes Melendez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Melendez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Asplund prevents it.
Asplund misses with an elbow strike.
Melendez can't break the clinch.

Asplund breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Asplund lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Asplund.
Asplund fails with an attempt to clinch.
Asplund wants to clinch up but Melendez keeps it at a distance.
Asplund tries for a takedown but Melendez circles away easily

and Melendez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Melendez.
Melendez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Asplund is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Asplund uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asplund lands a two punch combo.

Asplund instigates a clinch.

Melendez jumps into guard, dragging Asplund to the mat.
Asplund wants to get up but he can't break Melendez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Melendez is trying to control the position but Asplund postures up.

Asplund stands and steps away. Melendez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Asplund connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Asplund looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Melendez blocks a head kick by Asplund.
Asplund misses with a takedown attempt
and Melendez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Asplund tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Melendez counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Asplund!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asplund wants to get back to his feet.
Melendez landing strikes from the mount.
Rocco Melendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Melendez controlling his opponent.
Asplund wants to get back to his feet.
Christer F Asplund has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melendez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melendez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Asplund wants to get back to his feet.
Melendez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Melendez won't let Asplund get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Melendez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Asplund hang on?
Asplund wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Melendez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Asplund trying desperately to get to his feet.
Asplund swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocco Melendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Melendez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

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