PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eduard Melkonyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melkonyan comes to the cage accompanied by Boston – More Than A Feeling . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Melkonyan
vs
Smith

175 cm
23
179 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
29
170 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eduard Melkonyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrew Smith!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melkonyan lands a head kick!
Smith has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Melkonyan.
Melkonyan looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Smith tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Melkonyan scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Melkonyan throws a low kick, looking for Smith's leg but Smith calmly moves out of range.

Smith closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Melkonyan did well to prevent Smith getting side control.
Melkonyan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
Melkonyan tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.

Melkonyan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Melkonyan gets back to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Melkonyan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is in close to Melkonyan's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Melkonyan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Melkonyan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Melkonyan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Melkonyan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Melkonyan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Melkonyan 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.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith stands up over Melkonyan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Melkonyan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Melkonyan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Smith passes into half guard.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Melkonyan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Melkonyan moves into full guard.
Smith passes into half guard.

Melkonyan looking for submissions off his back.
Melkonyan manages to get to full guard.
Melkonyan working a defensive guard here.
Smith won't allow Melkonyan to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melkonyan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Melkonyan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Melkonyan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Melkonyan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Melkonyan's legs - danger averted.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Melkonyan wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Melkonyan keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Eduard Melkonyan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Melkonyan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Melkonyan's head.
Melkonyan works his way to full guard. Good work.

Melkonyan has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith lands a couple of digs.

Melkonyan pushes a forearm under Smith's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Smith is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Eduard Melkonyan!
Eduard Melkonyan 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.