PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cristoff Melkovick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iker Dedal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iker Dedal will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Melkovick
vs
Dedal

174 cm
24
149 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

170 cm
28
147 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cristoff Melkovick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Iker Dedal!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dedal is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice body punch from Dedal.
Dedal stuns Melkovick with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Melkovick throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dedal was covering up waiting for the punch and Melkovick finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Melkovick throwing strikes but missing.
Melkovick trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melkovick throwing strikes but missing.
Melkovick 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.
Melkovick postures up in Dedal's guard and throws a big left but Dedal blocks it.
Melkovick trying to control the position from guard on top but Dedal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melkovick throws a strike but Dedal rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Melkovick wants to sweep here but Dedal controlling him for the moment.

Melkovick has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dedal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Melkovick escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dedal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Melkovick throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Melkovick 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.
Melkovick is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dedal showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dedal's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkovick bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dedal's guard.

Melkovick is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Holding Cell that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Dedal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Melkovick is looking to work some ground and pound but Dedal has wrist control.
Melkovick throwing strikes from guard but Dedal blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Melkovick accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Melkovick throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dedal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melkovick throws a big elbow that misses.
Melkovick with a nice head shot there.
Melkovick looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melkovick trying to control the position from guard on top but Dedal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melkovick postures up in Dedal's guard and throws a big left but Dedal blocks it.
Melkovick makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dedal is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Melkovick is controlling him.
Melkovick is looking to work some ground and pound but Dedal has wrist control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dedal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Melkovick.
Dedal wants to stand but Melkovick is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristoff Melkovick dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dedal throws a body punch but Melkovick moves out of range.
Melkovick changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Dedal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dedal. Melkovick does a little dance to reset his feet.

Melkovick rushes Dedal and presses him up against the cage.
Melkovick swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Melkovick manages to break the clinch.
Melkovick throws the left hand but Dedal avoids the punch easily.
Dedal loads up on a big right hand but Melkovick slips the punch.
Melkovick is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dedal can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dedal staying out of range there.
Melkovick tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dedal swivels and escapes.
Dedal swings for the body but Melkovick moves out of range.
Melkovick drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dedal sprawls and moves away.
Melkovick slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Dedal misses.
It looked like Melkovick wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Melkovick throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dedals head.
Dedal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Melkovick working aggressively here.
Dedal blocks a body shot from Melkovick.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Melkovick.
Melkovick misses with a punch on the inside.
Dedal blocks an uppercut.
Melkovick goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melkovick lands an uppercut.
Dedal working hard to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dedal.
Melkovick tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dedal's elbow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Melkovick.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Dedal.
Dedal blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Melkovick lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Dedal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Dedal blocks a body shot from Melkovick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkovick throws a head punch that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Melkovick.
Melkovick throws a punch but it's blocked by Dedal.
Melkovick lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Melkovick misses with the head strike.
Melkovick misses with some punches.
Melkovick swings wildly with an uppercut but Dedal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dedal is trying to break the clinch but Melkovick has him pressed against the cage.
Melkovick gets through Dedal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dedal blocking some punches.
Melkovick swings wildly with an uppercut but Dedal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Melkovick misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Melkovick fails to land.
Dedal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dedal tries to break the clinch but Melkovick is controlling the position.
Dedal tries to stall but Melkovick uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Melkovick's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A big right from Melkovick misses.
A nice side step and Dedal releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Dedal is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Melkovick rather than just go for the knockout.
Melkovick is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dedal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristoff Melkovick dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Melkovick misses with a straight right.
Melkovick throws a hook but Dedal blocks it.
Dedal takes a swing at Melkovick's ribcage but misses.
Dedal throws a series of punches but Melkovick moves out of range.
Melkovick drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dedal sprawls and moves away.
Dedal misses with a head kick.
Melkovick doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dedal counters with a series of strikes. Melkovick will be more careful next time no doubt.
Dedal takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melkovick misses with a body punch
and Dedal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Melkovick throws a right hand that misses
and Dedal counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Melkovick misses the jab.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melkovick creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dedal sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dedal can do anything to dispel that myth.
Melkovick cracks Dedal with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Melkovick looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Melkovick throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Melkovick prevents Dedal from escaping the position.
Melkovick scoring with punches and elbows.
Melkovick misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melkovick is trying to get an arm triangle but Dedal is defending well.
Melkovick postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Melkovick wants to control but Dedal is keeping him busy.
Melkovick in side control, throwing shots but Dedal defends.
Dedal on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Melkovick tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The strikes coming from Melkovick are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkovick looks up at the clock and then as Dedal takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Melkovick smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Dedal dodges the ground and pound from Melkovick.
Melkovick trying to control the action but Dedal is working from the bottom.
Melkovick is really struggling to control Dedal but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Melkovick in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Melkovick throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Melkovick sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Dedal is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Dedal is pushing Melkovick's head away, looking to escape. Melkovick manages to hold on to the position though.
Melkovick has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Melkovick landing shots from mount.
Iker Dedal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melkovick landing strikes from the mount and Dedal is in trouble!
Melkovick lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Melkovick goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Dedal turns into him and now he's in Melkovick's guard.
Melkovick 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cristoff Melkovick showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Melkovick, 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cristoff Melkovick!
During a confident post fight interview, Cristoff Melkovick thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.