PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gino Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Dean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Dean told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Melendez
vs
Dean

156 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gino Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam Dean!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dean tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Dean closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dean lands in his opponent's guard.
Melendez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dean looks winded!
Melendez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Melendez is looking for a kimura but Dean is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Melendez to get the leverage.

Melendez is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Dean still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Dean has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Dean trying to control the position but Melendez is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean has control of an arm but Melendez manages to advance to Dean's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dean defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Melendez's arms.
Melendez throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Melendez just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Dean defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Dean takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Dean working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dean advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dean decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Dean shoots in and gets a takedown into Melendez's guard.
Melendez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Dean preventing the sweep.
Dean throwing strikes but missing.
Dean trying to control the position from guard on top but Melendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Melendez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dean is fighting to break Melendez's control of his arms but Melendez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

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

Dean drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melendez trying to keep a closed guard but Dean is proving a slippery customer.
Melendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Dean dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Melendez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Dean striking from half guard on the bottom.
Melendez throwing shots but Dean is blocking nicely.
Melendez really is a fat lump.

Melendez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dean sees it coming and defends easily.
Dean has hold of Melendez's hands but Melendez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Dean has hold of Melendez's hands but Melendez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melendez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Melendez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dean keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Melendez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dean doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Melendez.
Dean is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melendez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Melendez looks to land a strike but Dean avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Melendez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Melendez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Melendez stands up over Dean, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

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.
Dean striking off his back but it's not causing Melendez any problems.
Dean has momentary wrist control but Melendez slips an elbow through the middle.
Melendez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Melendez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dean is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Melendez is controlling him.
Melendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Melendez with that takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Dean's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Melendez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dean to the mat! Dean manages to get full guard.
Melendez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Melendez wants to stand but Dean is controlling his posture from full guard.
Melendez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Melendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Melendez connects with a couple of short punches.
Melendez works over Dean with some ground and pound from guard.
Dean utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Melendez throwing strikes but missing.
Dean is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Melendez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Melendez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Melendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dean avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Melendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dean circles away.

Melendez drives through with a takedown into Dean's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melendez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dean's head.
Melendez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Melendez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Melendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gino Melendez dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Melendez fails with a takedown attempt.

Melendez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dean sprawls well initially but Melendez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Dean is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Melendez pulls his head out easily.
Nice strikes from Melendez there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dean keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dean takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dean blocking the ground and pound attempt from Melendez.

Melendez seems to be working for a kimura but Dean defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melendez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dean tries to get to full guard but Melendez has control of the leg.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Melendez lands a nice short elbow.

Dean is defending against the submission attempts here by Melendez.

Melendez is working for a kimura but Dean is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dean tries to roll over but Melendez keeps him under control.
Melendez is nestled in close to Dean, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Melendez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dean has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean is trying to stand.
Dean wants to control but Melendez is keeping busy.
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 Dean's temple.
Dean tries to kick Melendez off but Melendez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Melendez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Melendez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dean trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Melendez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dean to the ground. Melendez is now in Dean's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean wants to sweep here but Melendez controlling him for the moment.
Melendez scoring with some ground and pound.
Dean looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melendez is one step ahead there.
Melendez tries to stand but Dean is controlling from the bottom.
Melendez chips away with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melendez is looking to work some ground and pound but Dean has wrist control.
Melendez throwing strikes but missing.
Melendez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dean's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gino Melendez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Melendez 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:26
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

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