PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lucio Melton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ajit Aravinda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aravinda is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Om Namai Shivai. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Melton
vs
Aravinda

197 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

189 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown 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 - 5 - 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, Ajit Aravinda!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aravinda with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Melton to counter with a crisp jab.
Aravinda misses with a takedown
and Melton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Melton connects with a high kick.
Aravinda throws a lazy head kick
and Melton counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Aravinda with a poor takedown
and Melton counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lucio Melton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ajit Aravinda.

Melton gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Aravinda struggling a bit here.
Aravinda tries to buck Melton off but Melton is having none of it.
Aravinda managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Melton.
Aravinda is looking to regain half guard here but Melton keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Melton crashes against the mat.
Aravinda is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Melton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Aravinda looking for submissions off his back.
Melton slips a nice elbow through Aravinda's hands, connecting with Aravinda's forehead.
Aravinda trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melton working the head and body with strikes.
Melton looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Aravinda with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Melton misses with a head shot. Aravinda uses the momentum to regain guard.
Melton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Melton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Melton stands up over Aravinda, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Aravinda looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Melton puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Melton scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Aravinda trying to control here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aravinda is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aravinda actively working from the bottom here.
Melton tries to stand but can't do so whilst Aravinda controls his leg.
We've been informed that Aravinda has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Aravinda is trying to stand back up but Melton is controlling him
Aravinda is pressing down on Melton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Aravinda trying to keep a closed guard but Melton is proving a slippery customer.
Melton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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.
Melton has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aravinda is proving hard to escape from.
Melton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Aravinda is trying to control the position but Melton postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Aravinda gets a clinch.

Aravinda manages to pull guard.
Aravinda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aravinda avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aravinda is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucio Melton dominated that round.
That's time! Melton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Aravinda misses with a hook
and Melton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Aravinda shoots for a takedown but Melton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Melton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Aravinda moves into full guard.
Melton tries to stand but Aravinda is controlling from the bottom.
Aravinda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lucio Melton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aravinda works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aravinda working a defensive guard here.
Melton content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Melton throws a big elbow that misses.

Aravinda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Melton postures up.
Melton works over Aravinda with some ground and pound from guard.
Melton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Aravinda on the ground.

Aravinda looking for a guillotine here but Melton defends easily.
Melton wants to stand but Aravinda has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Melton lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Aravinda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aravinda might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Melton haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Aravinda will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Melton looking to score a takedown here. Aravinda is defending well but Melton drives through and ends up in Aravinda's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aravinda working for a triangle but Melton defends it easily.
Melton working some strikes from top position.
Aravinda controls Melton momentarily but Melton frees himself.
Aravinda wants to get back to his feet but Melton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Melton throws an elbow that misses. Aravinda uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Melton's guard. Nice move by Aravinda!

Melton wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Aravinda is now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melton tries to roll over but Aravinda keeps him under control.
Aravinda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Melton does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Aravinda is working for a submission of some sort.
Aravinda wants to take a breather but Melton is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucio Melton dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Melton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Melton shoots in and bounces Aravinda off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Melton stands up over Aravinda, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Melton stopping the sweep attempt from Aravinda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melton throws a big right hand that misses.
Aravinda tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Melton's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Aravinda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Melton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aravinda is on top in guard.

Melton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aravinda is one step ahead there.
Aravinda is looking to pass into half guard but Melton pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Melton is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aravinda utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Melton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aravinda can do to turn this around?
Melton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aravinda works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aravinda looking for a sweep. Not yet Aravinda, not yet.
Aravinda is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Melton is controlling him.
Aravinda lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Aravinda postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Melton is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Aravinda, into his guard.

Melton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aravinda working a defensive guard here.

Aravinda working for a triangle but Melton defends it easily.

Aravinda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Melton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aravinda controls Melton momentarily but Melton frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Aravinda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melton is one step ahead there.
Aravinda working a defensive guard here.
Melton is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Melton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ajit Aravinda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lucio Melton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Melton chips away with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucio Melton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Melton, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucio Melton!
Ajit Aravinda was interviewed post fight and said 'It was a good fight, he deserves the Win, but make no mistake ill be back an continuing my quest for Gold!! Once again I Thank the fans for the support.'.