PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lucio Melton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Cranston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kyle Cranston looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Melton
vs
Cranston

197 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lucio Melton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kyle Cranston!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cranston rushes Melton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cranston prevents Melton from breaking the clinch.
Cranston throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Knees to the body from Cranston.
Cranston landing knees to the head.

It looks like Lucio Melton has been cut.
Cranston lands a damaging elbow.
Melton avoids a wild elbow strike from Cranston.
Melton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Melton tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cranston just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cranston is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Melton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cranston throws a head kick but Melton moves out of range.
Cranston throws a head kick that misses.
Melton quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Melton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cranston misses with a head kick.

Melton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cranston, pushing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melton wants to break the clinch but can't.
Melton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cranston.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranston lands an elbow inside that Melton shrugs off.

Cranston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Cranston, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cranston with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cranston throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Melton's head.
Cranston looks winded!

Cranston clinches up with Melton and pushes him back against the cage.
Melton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cranston misses with an elbow over the top.
Melton jumps guard but Cranston stands there with Melton around his waist. Melton gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Melton fails to land.
Cranston connects with a nasty looking knee right to Melton's face.
Melton avoids a wild elbow strike from Cranston.
Melton wants to get back to striking at distance but Cranston won't allow it.
Cranston missing with knees to the body.
Cranston tries to break free but Melton pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranston creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Melton is trying to push Cranston away but Cranston has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cranston working Melton over with knees to the body.
Melton trying to land knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Melton tries to break the clinch but Cranston is controlling the position.

Cranston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Melton avoids the head kick by Cranston.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Melton.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucio Melton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Melton drives through and clinches with Cranston against the cage.

Cranston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cranston misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Melton showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cranston.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cranston moves into the clinch successfully.
Melton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cranston gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cranston misses with a knee strike.

Melton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Melton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melton works over Cranston with some ground and pound from guard.
Melton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Melton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Melton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cranston has momentary wrist control but Melton slips an elbow through the middle.
Melton working some strikes from top position.
Melton is working Cranston over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Melton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Melton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Melton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cranston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Melton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Cranston dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lucio Melton's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Melton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cranston tries a head kick but it misses.
Cranston misses with a few strikes there.
Melton scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cranston doesn't seem bothered though.

Cranston gets a clinch.
Melton jumps guard but Cranston stands there with Melton around his waist. Melton gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Melton tries to work over Cranston's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cranston lands an elbow that stopped Melton in his tracks for a moment.
Melton can't break the clinch.
Melton tries to score a body lock takedown but Cranston shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucio Melton. 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.
Cranston working Melton over with knees to the body.
Cranston on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Melton is trying to force a seperation but Cranston has the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cranston using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cranston is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Melton is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cranston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice sprawl there from Cranston as Melton shoots in.
Cranston lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Melton circles away quickly and effectively.
Cranston throws a one two combo.
Cranston misses with a head kick.

Melton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cranston!

Cranston throws Melton to one side and escapes!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Melton gets tackled into the cage by Cranston. Cranston maintains the clinch.
Cranston misses with an elbow strike.
Cranston drops down looking for an ankle pick but Melton pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kyle Cranston seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Melton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cranston sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Melton somewhat.
Kyle Cranston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melton fails with a takedown attempt.
Cranston's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cranston duly obliges.
Melton avoids the head kick by Cranston.
Melton thinks about countering with a head kick.
Melton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Melton goes for a double leg but Cranston avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cranston continues to drive forward.
Cranston looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Melton throws a counter high kick but Cranston was just alert enough to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Cranston.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melton dodges the punch combination from Cranston.

Melton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Melton lands in his opponent's guard.

Cranston pushes Melton off and scrambles back to his feet.
Cranston lands a nice leg kick that just misses Melton's sensitive parts.

Melton clinches.
Cranston lands an elbow inside that Melton shrugs off.

Melton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cranston throws a chopping leg kick but Melton manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melton avoids the head kick by Cranston.
An attempted straight right counter from Melton misses the target.

Melton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cranston wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Melton cracks Cranston with a big elbow.
Melton lands a decent elbow from side control.

Melton working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Melton working the body and head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Cranston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lucio Melton's cut.
That's time! Melton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cranston rushes Melton and presses him up against the cage.
Cranston throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Melton blocks it with crossed arms.
Cranston looking to throw knees to the head but Melton is blocking nicely.
Cranston lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Melton is trying to force a seperation but Cranston has the dominant position.
Kyle Cranston seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Melton tries to break the clinch but Cranston is controlling the position.
Melton avoiding damage as Cranston throws knees to the body.

Melton pulls guard effortlessly.

Melton is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Cranston presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Cranston on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Melton breaks from the clinch.
Cranston shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Melton manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cranston on his heels. He'll look to pass Cranston's guard now, I'm sure.
Melton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melton postures up and lands a big shot to Cranston's brow.
Melton connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melton is working Cranston over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Melton stops Cranston from standing up.
Lucio Melton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Melton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Melton tries for a takedown but Cranston sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cranston fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Melton, pushing him back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Melton.
Melton tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cranston just stands there and leans against the cage.
Melton jumps guard but Cranston turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucio Melton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cranston blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cranston lands a nice knee to the body.
Cranston with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Melton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cranston rushes Melton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cranston lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Melton pulls guard successfully.
Cranston being controlled here momentarily.

Cranston is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Melton is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Melton has escaped and now he's on top!

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melton cracks Cranston with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cranston has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melton cracks Cranston with a solid left hand.
Melton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Melton stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Melton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Melton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Melton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Melton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cranston avoids the head kick by Melton.
Cranston lands with a nice combination. Melton backs away looking to recover.
A head kick misses from Melton.
Kyle Cranston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cranston has taken the fight to the clinch.
Melton can't break the clinch.
Cranston misses with a knee to the head.
Melton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cranston is defending well for now.
Cranston misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Melton.
Melton lands with a short shot to the head.
Cranston with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cranston tries to land a knee to the head but Melton blocks with his arms.

Melton breaks the clinch.
Cranston tries a head kick but it misses.
Melton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cranston sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Melton somewhat.
Lucio Melton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cranston with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lucio Melton.
I think Cranston 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Cranston!
Kyle Cranston decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.