PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nasko Melnicata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bubba Jenkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bubba Jenkins is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Melnicata
vs
Jenkins

189 cm
25
246 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
270 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nasko Melnicata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bubba Jenkins!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jenkins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jenkins wants it to stay on the feet.

Melnicata shoots in and gets a takedown into Jenkins's guard.
Melnicata trying to control but Jenkins is working from the bottom.
Melnicata is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jenkins is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Jenkins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Jenkins has eaten all the pies!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melnicata sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melnicata tries to free his leg and advance position but Jenkins is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jenkins keeping moving, preventing Melnicata from controlling successfully.
Jenkins working a defensive guard here.
Jenkins wants to sweep here but Melnicata controlling him for the moment.
Jenkins working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Jenkins scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jenkins working the head and body with strikes.

It looks like Nasko Melnicata has been cut.
Melnicata on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Melnicata tries to get out of the position.
Jenkins throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Melnicata works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Melnicata looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melnicata keeps working.
Jenkins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Melnicata's head.
Jenkins trying to control from half guard but Melnicata is working away.
Jenkins throwing shots but Melnicata is blocking nicely.
Jenkins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jenkins misses with a head shot. Melnicata uses the momentum to regain guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Melnicata has momentary wrist control but Jenkins slips an elbow through the middle.
Jenkins postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Melnicata working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jenkins.
Jenkins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Melnicata can't keep his opponent in guard - Jenkins advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ground and pound from Jenkins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins working Melnicata over with strikes.
Melnicata is not content to let Jenkins control the position.
Melnicata blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jenkins.
Jenkins drops an elbow to the side of Melnicata's head.
Jenkins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Melnicata's head.
Jenkins is trying to control. Melnicata wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jenkins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Melnicata's head.
Jenkins lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Melnicata is breathing heavily.
Jenkins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Jenkins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nasko Melnicata's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jenkins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Melnicata circles away.
Jenkins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Melnicata sprawls well. Melnicata wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jenkins gets slowly back to his feet.
We've been informed that Jenkins has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Jenkins leaves Melnicata with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jenkins throws a lazy head kick

and Melnicata counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melnicata lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Jenkins is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Melnicata wants to work for an arm triangle but Jenkins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jenkins trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Melnicata manages to pass to mount!

Melnicata looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Jenkins sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Jenkins is pressing down on Melnicata's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jenkins looking for a sweep. Not yet Jenkins, not yet.
Jenkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Melnicata's guard.

Jenkins wants to control from the top but Melnicata keeps moving.
Jenkins is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jenkins throws an elbow that misses. Melnicata uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jenkins's guard. Nice move by Melnicata!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jenkins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Melnicata.
Jenkins throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Jenkins keeping full guard, as Melnicata tries to pass.
Jenkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Melnicata's guard.

Jenkins throwing strikes but missing.
Melnicata working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jenkins.
Jenkins throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins is in close to Melnicata's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bubba Jenkins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jenkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Melnicata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jenkins is looking to work some ground and pound but Melnicata has wrist control.
Melnicata preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jenkins throwing strikes from guard but Melnicata blocks nicely.
Melnicata utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jenkins passes Melnicata's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Jenkins scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Jenkins throwing shots but Melnicata is blocking nicely.
Jenkins not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Jenkins missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Jenkins is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Melnicata with that takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jenkins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Melnicata counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nasko Melnicata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bubba Jenkins.
Melnicata stopping the sweep attempt from Jenkins.
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 Nasko Melnicata will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nasko Melnicata's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jenkins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Melnicata sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jenkins misses with a takedown

and Melnicata counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Melnicata thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jenkins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Melnicata manages to get himself to full guard.

Jenkins throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jenkins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Melnicata utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jenkins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Melnicata wants to sweep here but Jenkins controlling him for the moment.
Jenkins is working Melnicata over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Melnicata preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jenkins with a nice head shot there.
Jenkins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Melnicata works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jenkins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jenkins's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jenkins 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.
Jenkins throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jenkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Jenkins distracts Melnicata with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jenkins wants to control from the top but Melnicata keeps moving.
Jenkins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jenkins dives in and grabs Melnicata's left leg, looking for a takedown. Melnicata pushes down on Jenkins's head and hops out.
Nasko Melnicata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bubba Jenkins.
Jenkins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Melnicata looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jenkins fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins shoots in for a double leg but Melnicata sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Melnicata drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jenkins sprawls and moves away.
Melnicata fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Jenkins closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Melnicata did well to prevent Jenkins getting side control.
Jenkins missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Melnicata avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jenkins.
Melnicata looks like he's trying to stand up.
Melnicata avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jenkins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jenkins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ground and pound from Jenkins.
Melnicata taking some punishment here, with Jenkins in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Jenkins.
Melnicata on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jenkins missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Melnicata is staying active underneath Jenkins, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jenkins sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Melnicata defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bubba Jenkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jenkins has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bubba Jenkins!
Bubba Jenkins thanked the fans post fight for their support.