PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lucio Melton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Rushkinoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Lucio Melton has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Lucio Melton seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Melton
vs
Rushkinoff

197 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

191 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 3 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Viktor Rushkinoff!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rushkinoff is trying hard to land a takedown here. Melton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rushkinoff is trying hard to land a takedown here. Melton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Melton appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Melton tries to keep at a distance but Rushkinoff has taken the fight into the clinch.
Melton is trying to break the clinch but Rushkinoff is controlling him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Melton decides to pull guard.
Rushkinoff trying to control the position from guard on top but Melton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rushkinoff decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Melton tries to keep at a distance but Rushkinoff has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rushkinoff on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rushkinoff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rushkinoff fails with the takedown.
Lucio Melton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Rushkinoff.

Rushkinoff instigates a clinch.
Melton wants to break free but Rushkinoff has control.
Rushkinoff prevents a body shot from Melton.
Melton is looking to break free of the clinch but Rushkinoff has double underhooks.

Rushkinoff manages to break the clinch.
Rushkinoff shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Melton as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rushkinoff misses with a takedown
and Melton counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rushkinoff goes for a double leg but Melton avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Melton continues to drive forward.
Melton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rushkinoff clinches up against the cage.
Rushkinoff stalling against the cage.
Melton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rushkinoff avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Rushkinoff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rushkinoff shoots in looking for a takedown. Melton tries to sprawl out of it but Rushkinoff keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Melton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A counter left hand to the body from Melton misses its target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melton fails with a takedown attempt.
Melton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rushkinoff drives through and clinches with Melton against the cage.
Melton can't break the clinch.
Melton is looking to break free of the clinch but Rushkinoff has double underhooks.

Rushkinoff manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Melton is looking to work some ground and pound but Rushkinoff has wrist control.
Rushkinoff utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Melton throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rushkinoff is trying to control the position but Melton postures up.
Rushkinoff wants to sweep here but Melton controlling him for the moment.

Rushkinoff is working an open guard so Melton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Melton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rushkinoff's waist but Rushkinoff gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Melton off to one side.
Melton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Rushkinoff closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rushkinoff - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Rushkinoff dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Melton has his takedown stuffed
and Rushkinoff connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Rushkinoff closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Melton's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Melton is trying to push Rushkinoff away but Rushkinoff has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rushkinoff has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Melton after a bit of a struggle.
Melton misses with a hook to the ribs.
Melton takes a knee to the side of the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melton fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rushkinoff lands a knee to the body.
Melton swings wildly with an uppercut but Rushkinoff uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rushkinoff utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Melton breaks from the clinch.
Rushkinoff is trying hard to land a takedown here. Melton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rushkinoff has a takedown stuffed.
Lucio Melton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Rushkinoff.

Rushkinoff drives through and clinches with Melton against the cage.
Rushkinoff is trying to pull guard but Melton has him pressed against the cage.

Rushkinoff breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melton stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rushkinoff.
Rushkinoff shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Melton as he jumps to the side.
Rushkinoff shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Melton as he jumps to the side.
Rushkinoff is breathing heavily.
Rushkinoff has his takedown stuffed
and Melton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rushkinoff shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Melton as he avoids it easily.
Viktor Rushkinoff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rushkinoff pinned against the cage. Rushkinoff gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rushkinoff tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rushkinoff manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rushkinoff walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Melton checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Melton closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rushkinoff counters with a thumping low kick.
Nice takedown defense from Melton. No joy for Rushkinoff on that attempt.
Melton looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Melton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Melton is looking to counter with head kicks.

Melton feints and as Rushkinoff raises his hands in defense, Melton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rushkinoff wants to get back to his feet but Melton passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melton scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Melton looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Melton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melton working over Rushkinoff with some ground and pound. Rushkinoff looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
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 Lucio Melton will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Melton misses with a takedown attempt - Rushkinoff sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rushkinoff feints the counter takedown.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rushkinoff.
Rushkinoff shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Melton as he avoids it easily.
Rushkinoff misses with a takedown
and Melton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rushkinoff pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rushkinoff sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Rushkinoff forces Melton back against the cage and clinches.
Melton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melton is trying to break the clinch but Rushkinoff has him pressed against the cage.
Melton is trying to break the clinch but Rushkinoff has him pressed against the cage.
Melton working hard to break the clinch.

Rushkinoff breaks the clinch.
Rushkinoff misses with a head kick.
Melton quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Melton misses with a takedown attempt - Rushkinoff sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucio Melton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rushkinoff darts in looking for a takedown but Melton gets double underhooks and turns Rushkinoff into the cage.
Rushkinoff takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Melton stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rushkinoff.

Rushkinoff has closed the distance and engaged Melton in a clinch.
Rushkinoff 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Melton takes an elbow to the temple.
Rushkinoff missing with knees to the body.

Melton jumps guard.
Rushkinoff is fighting to break Melton's control of his arms but Melton is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rushkinoff sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Melton keeping moving, preventing Rushkinoff from controlling successfully.
Rushkinoff throws a strike but Melton rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rushkinoff tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Melton gets to his feet. Rushkinoff looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Melton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rushkinoff goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Rushkinoff moves into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Melton.
Rushkinoff misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rushkinoff pulls guard.
Melton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Melton is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Rushkinoff has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Melton is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Melton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rushkinoff lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Melton is trying to drag Rushkinoff to the mat but Rushkinoff just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melton misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Rushkinoff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rushkinoff 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Rushkinoff!
After the fight, Viktor Rushkinoff was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.