PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Ashton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giblert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ashton's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Zombie Nation. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Ashton
vs
Melendez

182 cm
20
200 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

183 cm
19
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Machine Fight Gear

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Eric Ashton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Giblert Melendez !
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ashton fails with a takedown attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from Melendez misses.
Melendez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Melendez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Melendez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ashton circles away quickly and effectively.
Ashton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Melendez manages to avoid it.
Ashton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Melendez 's waist but Melendez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ashton off to one side.
Melendez doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Melendez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ashton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Melendez but Melendez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Ashton. 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.
Ashton takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Ashton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ashton swings around for an armbar but Melendez sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ashton's guard.
Melendez sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashton pulls Melendez in close to prevent any damage.
Ashton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melendez is one step ahead there.

That's two 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.
Ashton managing to control the position.
Melendez stopping the sweep attempt from Ashton.
Melendez being controlled here momentarily.
Ashton controls Melendez momentarily but Melendez frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashton keeping full guard, as Melendez tries to pass.
Ashton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ashton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Melendez manages to get himself to full guard.

Ashton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Melendez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ashton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ashton throws an elbow that misses. Melendez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ashton's guard. Nice move by Melendez !

Ashton is controlling Melendez 's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashton has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Melendez has passed into side control.
Ashton is looking for a sweep.
Ashton prevents Melendez from improving position.
Ashton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ashton keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giblert Melendez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Melendez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Melendez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Melendez wants it to stay on the feet.
Melendez swings for the body but Ashton moves out of range.
Melendez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ashton manages to avoid it.
Ashton closes the distance and clinches up with Melendez , looking for a takedown. Ashton pushes Melendez against the cage but Melendez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Melendez swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Ashton counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Melendez is refusing to be controlled, as Ashton sits in half guard.
Eric Ashton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ashton is looking to stall here but Melendez recovers full guard.
Ashton preventing the sweep.
Ashton advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ashton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Ashton is working for a kimura but Melendez is defending it quite comfortably.
Ashton is looking to take a break and control but Melendez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ashton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Ashton wants to work for an arm triangle but Melendez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Ashton is looking for a kimura here.
Melendez felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Ashton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Melendez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ashton.
Melendez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ashton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ashton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Melendez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
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.

Ashton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Melendez taking some punishment here, with Ashton in his half guard.
Ashton looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Ashton is working for a submission of some sort.
Melendez wants to get back to full guard.

Ashton is working for a submission of some sort.

Ashton is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Melendez sees it coming and defends easily.

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.
Ashton thows a huge punch but Melendez dodges it nicely.
Ashton is thwarting Melendez 's attempts to control the position.
Ashton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ashton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melendez keeps working.
Ashton slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melendez stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Ashton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melendez lands a jab to the nose.
Melendez with a nice cross.
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 Eric Ashton will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ashton closes the distance and clinches up with Melendez , looking for a takedown. Ashton pushes Melendez against the cage but Melendez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Melendez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Melendez throws a body shot but no joy.
Melendez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Melendez stuffs the takedown attempt from Ashton. Ashton gets slowly back to his feet.
Ashton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Melendez defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Ashton. 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.
Ashton doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Melendez lands with a shot to the body.
Ashton takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez sizes up Ashton with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Melendez looks to land a combination. Ashton sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A shot to the liver by Melendez . Beautiful body shot.
Melendez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Melendez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ashton takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Melendez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ashton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Melendez pinned against the cage. Melendez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Melendez lands with a nice body punch.
Ashton tries for a takedown but Melendez circles away easily
and Melendez counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melendez connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ashton's hands.
Ashton takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A shot to the liver by Melendez . Beautiful body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Melendez throws a good cross that connects.
Melendez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Melendez closes the distance and pushes Ashton back into the cage.
Melendez is pushing Ashton up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Melendez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Melendez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Melendez stalling.
Melendez lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Melendez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ashton tries to score a body lock takedown but Melendez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ashton is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Melendez is defending well.

Ashton has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Melendez is trying to keep an underhook but Ashton manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Ashton is pressing down on Melendez 's thigh, looking to free his foot. Melendez is holding on for now.

Ashton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Melendez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ashton.
Melendez is looking to improve his position.
Ashton is looking to advance position but Melendez won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ashton is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Melendez is just riding it out for now. Ashton eventually gives up the hold.
Melendez is looking to improve his position.
Ashton trying to pass the guard but Melendez defending well.
Melendez is trying to control but can't.
Ashton trying to control the action but Melendez is working from the bottom.
We've been hearing that Ashton has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Ashton trying to mount his opponent but Melendez defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giblert Melendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Melendez 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giblert Melendez !
A relieved looking Giblert Melendez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.