PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cristoff Melkovick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joaquin Herrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Herrera has chosen Daddy Yankee - Gasolina as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Joaquin Herrera has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Cristoff Melkovick's chin.

Melkovick
vs
Herrera

174 cm
23
149 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cristoff Melkovick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joaquin Herrera!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melkovick scores with a jab to the head.
A head kick misses from Herrera.
Melkovick smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Herrera throws a lazy head kick

and Melkovick counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Melkovick tries to break free but Herrera pushes him back against the cage.
Melkovick throws a punch but it's blocked by Herrera.
Herrera told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Herrera is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Herrera lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Melkovick.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Melkovick's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A decent looking cross lands there for Melkovick.
Herrera swings away with a body shot that misses
and Melkovick counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Herrera throws a head kick that misses.
Herrera is looking to slow Melkovick down with leg kicks.
Herrera lands a jab to the nose.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Herrera takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Herrera misses with a looping right.
Melkovick scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Melkovick was well out of range. Poor timing from Herrera.
Melkovick swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Herrera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Melkovick moves away.
We've been hearing reports that Melkovick has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Herrera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Herrera shoots in and drives through. Melkovick sprawls well.
Melkovick slips under a jab from Herrera.
Herrera throws a sloppy head kick and Melkovick moves out of range easily.
Melkovick swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Herrera on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sloppy strikes from Herrera. Those never looked like landing.
Melkovick dodges the punch combination from Herrera.
As Herrera tries to get set, Melkovick tries to push him back and clinch up but Herrera manages to avoid the attempt.
Herrera has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Melkovick finds it's way round the side to connect with Herrera's head.
Joaquin Herrera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Herrera scores with a nice body kick.
Herrera closes the distance but Melkovick moves to the side
and Melkovick counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herrera does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Melkovick blocks the body kick.

Melkovick gets tackled into the cage by Herrera. Herrera maintains the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melkovick takes a knee to the side of the body.
Melkovick can't break the clinch.
Melkovick lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Herrera or not.
Melkovick is looking to break free of the clinch but Herrera has double underhooks.

Melkovick breaks from the clinch.
Melkovick lands a head shot.
Melkovick is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Herrera takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Herrera rushes Melkovick and presses him up against the cage.
Herrera has Melkovick pushed against the cage.
Herrera is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cristoff Melkovick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joaquin Herrera.

Herrera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melkovick rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Herrera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Melkovick.
Herrera tries to clinch up.
Herrera lands a nice shot to the body.
Melkovick cracks Herrera with a good jab.
Herrera tries to clinch
and Melkovick counters with a straight right hand.
Herrera throws a low kick but it's checked well by Melkovick.
Melkovick lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A head kick misses from Herrera.
Herrera throws a wild body kick that Melkovick sees coming a mile off.
Herrera thows a leg kick but Melkovick checks it
and Melkovick counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Herrera pushes Melkovick up against the cage in a clinch.
Herrera working Melkovick over with knees to the body.
Herrera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Melkovick takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Herrera creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melkovick scores with a nice hook to the head.

Herrera is rocked!

Melkovick has Herrera pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Melkovick pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Herrera tumbling to the mat - Melkovick dives into Herrera's guard.
Herrera is still in real trouble! Can Melkovick finish him?
Melkovick sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Herrera's guard.

Melkovick is working for a kimura but Herrera is defending it quite comfortably.
Melkovick sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Melkovick working Herrera over with strikes.
Melkovick controlling the action here.
Melkovick looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Herrera wants to get back to full guard.
Herrera wants to get back to full guard but Melkovick has mounted him!
Melkovick lands a big shot to the head and Herrera winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Cristoff Melkovick!