PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lance Kilkenny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduard Melkonyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melkonyan has chosen Boston – More Than A Feeling as his entrance music. Lance Kilkenny has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kilkenny
vs
Melkonyan

186 cm
23
186 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
179 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lance Kilkenny!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eduard Melkonyan!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kilkenny throws a head kick that misses.
Melkonyan slips a jab and a cross from Kilkenny.
Kilkenny scores with the left hand. Melkonyan knows he should have avoided that one.
Kilkenny misses with a wild body shot.
Melkonyan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kilkenny throws a nice looking combination but Melkonyan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Melkonyan avoids the head kick by Kilkenny.
Melkonyan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kilkenny stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Melkonyan blocks the body kick.
Melkonyan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kilkenny.
Kilkenny tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kilkenny thows a left - swing and a miss!
Melkonyan throws a right hand that Kilkenny ducks under and follows up with a left that Kilkenny also avoids with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kilkenny tries a head kick but it misses.
Melkonyan throws a counter combo.
Melkonyan thumps Kilkenny with a low kick.
Kilkenny with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Melkonyan to score with a decent uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Kilkenny.
Kilkenny throws a lazy uppercut
and Melkonyan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kilkenny's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Melkonyan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kilkenny scrambles back to his feet.
Kilkenny throws a head kick but Melkonyan moves out of range.
Melkonyan tries to bum rush Kilkenny with a series of wild strikes but Kilkenny uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Melkonyan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kilkenny misses with a double jab
and Melkonyan counters with a body kick.
Melkonyan scores with a decent looking hook.
Melkonyan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kilkenny's head.
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!
Kilkenny fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Melkonyan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kilkenny misses with a combination
and Melkonyan counters with a series of strikes. Kilkenny will be more careful next time no doubt.
Melkonyan throws a series of punches but Kilkenny moves out of range.
Kilkenny misses with a low kick.
Melkonyan missing with a left hand there. Kilkenny was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kilkenny falls off balance throwing a combination
and Melkonyan counters with a low kick, right behind Kilkenny 's knee.
Kilkenny tried to score with a low kick but Melkonyan checks it.
That kick from Melkonyan tenderised Kilkenny's leg. Kilkenny is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kilkenny lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A head kick misses from Kilkenny.
Sloppy strikes from Kilkenny. Those never looked like landing.
Melkonyan tries a quick counter leg kick but Kilkenny is wise to it.
Kilkenny is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Melkonyan.
Kilkenny misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Melkonyan scores with a nice strike.
Melkonyan lands with a shot to the body.
Melkonyan digs a good hook to Kilkenny's body.
Melkonyan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kilkenny moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Melkonyan scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kilkenny scores with a one two! Melkonyan had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kilkenny has closed the distance and engaged Melkonyan in a clinch.
Kilkenny tries to land knees in the clinch but Melkonyan avoids the damage to the body.
Kilkenny unloads a knee to the mid-section. Melkonyan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kilkenny tries to work over Melkonyan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Kilkenny breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melkonyan throws a sloppy head kick and Kilkenny moves out of range easily.
Melkonyan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
That kick from Melkonyan tenderised Kilkenny's leg. Kilkenny is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kilkenny connects with a crisp jab.
Melkonyan takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Kilkenny lets loose with a powerful body kick. Melkonyan will feel that in the morning.
Melkonyan connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice cross by Melkonyan.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melkonyan avoids a kick to the body.
Melkonyan only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kilkenny staying out of range there.
Kilkenny thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Melkonyan if he has to take too many more of those.
Kilkenny misses with a jab, cross combination.
Melkonyan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Melkonyan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kilkenny misses with a two punch combination.
Melkonyan blocks a low kick nicely.
Nice cross by Melkonyan.
Melkonyan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Melkonyan misses the jab.
Kilkenny tries to land a leg kick but Melkonyan saw it coming and moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melkonyan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A telegraphed right hand from Kilkenny misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eduard Melkonyan will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kilkenny throws a head kick that misses.
Melkonyan lands a head kick!
A chopping leg kick lands by Kilkenny.
Kilkenny tries to bum rush Melkonyan with a series of wild strikes but Melkonyan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice uppercut lands for Melkonyan. That snapped Kilkenny's head back.

Kilkenny moves into range and clinches up with Melkonyan.
Kilkenny throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kilkenny taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Kilkenny escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kilkenny throws a right and a left that both miss.
Melkonyan is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Decent striking displayed by Melkonyan there.
Melkonyan closes the distance and lands a one-two.
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!
Melkonyan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lance Kilkenny is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kilkenny blocks a head kick by Melkonyan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilkenny throws a nice inside leg kick.
Melkonyan throws a right and a left that Kilkenny avoids nicely.
Kilkenny throws a body shot but no joy.
Kilkenny tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Kilkenny lands but Melkonyan takes it in his stride.
Melkonyan throws an off balance right hand
enabling Kilkenny to counter with a crisp jab.
Kilkenny misses with a body kick.
Melkonyan cracks Kilkenny with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kilkenny misses with a double jab.
Melkonyan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Eduard Melkonyan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Melkonyan avoids the head kick by Kilkenny.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melkonyan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kilkenny misses with the combination.
Kilkenny backing away here, and Melkonyan unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Melkonyan throws the kick towards the body but Kilkenny avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Melkonyan throws a right hand that Kilkenny ducks under and follows up with a left that Kilkenny also avoids with ease.
Kilkenny doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Melkonyan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Melkonyan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kilkenny misses with a double jab.
Melkonyan lands a jab-cross combination.
Kilkenny swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kilkenny takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Some wild striking there from Melkonyan.
Kilkenny takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kilkenny throws a leg kick that is checked
and Melkonyan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan misses with an uppercut.
Kilkenny falls off balance throwing a combination
and Melkonyan counters with a one-two to the body.
Melkonyan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Good shot there by Melkonyan.
Kilkenny lands with a nice combination. Melkonyan backs away looking to recover.
Kilkenny fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Melkonyan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Melkonyan jabs at Kilkenny's body.
Melkonyan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kilkenny looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Melkonyan scores with a jab. Kilkenny acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kilkenny closes the distance and pushes Melkonyan back into the cage.
Kilkenny pressing his opponent against the cage.
Melkonyan blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kilkenny tries to throw a body punch but Melkonyan avoids it by throwing Kilkenny back against the cage.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kilkenny trying to land knees to the body.

Melkonyan jumps guard and drags Kilkenny to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Melkonyan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melkonyan keeping moving, preventing Kilkenny from controlling successfully.
Melkonyan wants to control the position but Kilkenny says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kilkenny seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kilkenny tries to pass to full mount but Melkonyan defends it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kilkenny wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melkonyan keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eduard Melkonyan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Melkonyan lands a right hook to the body.
Kilkenny throws a quick inside leg kick.
Melkonyan misses with a few strikes there.
Melkonyan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A leg kick checked by Kilkenny.
Melkonyan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kilkenny throws a head kick but Melkonyan moves out of range.
Kilkenny plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kilkenny lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good leg kick by Melkonyan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kilkenny misses with a head kick.
Kilkenny moves out of range of the body kick.
Kilkenny misses with a lunging right hand
letting Melkonyan counter with a right hand.
Kilkenny looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Melkonyan.
Melkonyan scores with a punch to the head.
Kilkenny tries to clinch up.
Melkonyan connects with a single shot there.
Melkonyan throws a head kick that misses.
Kilkenny was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A right-left combo lands from Kilkenny.
Melkonyan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kilkenny circles away quickly and effectively.
Kilkenny fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kilkenny throws a series of punches but Melkonyan avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Melkonyan.
Kilkenny misses the shot to the body.
Melkonyan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kilkenny throws a combination that misses
and Melkonyan counters with a right hand to the body.
Melkonyan works Kilkenny's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kilkenny gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Melkonyan.
Melkonyan feints and then cracks Kilkenny's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kilkenny down.

Kilkenny rushes Melkonyan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kilkenny lands an elbow inside.
Melkonyan tries to pull guard but Kilkenny holds him up against the cage and eventually Melkonyan drops back down to his feet.

Kilkenny breaks the clinch.
Kilkenny throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kilkenny looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kilkenny is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kilkenny gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Melkonyan.
Kilkenny moves in looking to clinch but Melkonyan pushes him off.
Melkonyan missing with a left hand there. Kilkenny was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Melkonyan ducks under a wild hook from Kilkenny.
Kilkenny throws a leg kick but Melkonyan checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan throws a head kick that Kilkenny semi-blocks.
Melkonyan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Melkonyan throws a leg kick which misses Kilkenny's front leg but catches the back leg as Kilkenny tries to avoid it.
Melkonyan sizes up Kilkenny with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Melkonyan lands a leg kick that knocks Kilkenny off balance momentarily.
Kilkenny keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kilkenny appears to be looking for a big counter.
Melkonyan is looking to slow Kilkenny down with leg kicks.
Melkonyan lands with a hook. Kilkenny tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kilkenny tries to clinch up.
Melkonyan lands a head shot.
Melkonyan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Melkonyan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kilkenny pivots, looking for a leg kick but Melkonyan is out of range and Kilkenny settles back down.
Melkonyan doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melkonyan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kilkenny in his tracks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kilkenny throws a right hand that Melkonyan ducks under and follows up with a left that Melkonyan also avoids with ease.
Melkonyan takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kilkenny takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kilkenny throws a head kick that misses.
Kilkenny throws a low kick but Melkonyan moves out of range easily.
Melkonyan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kilkenny throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Melkonyan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kilkenny ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kilkenny tries to clinch but Melkonyan is having none of it.
Melkonyan thumps Kilkenny with a low kick.
Kilkenny throws a lazy right hand but Melkonyan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Melkonyan lands a front kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kilkenny on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eduard Melkonyan really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Melkonyan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kilkenny throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Melkonyan moves out of range of the body kick from Kilkenny.
Melkonyan scores with a jab.
A head kick misses from Kilkenny.
Melkonyan lands a leg kick that knocks Kilkenny off balance momentarily.
Melkonyan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Melkonyan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kilkenny on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Melkonyan moves forwards but Kilkenny connects with a nice, crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melkonyan fails to land with a series of punches.
Kilkenny tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Melkonyan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kilkenny takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The fighters circle momentarily. Melkonyan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kilkenny blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melkonyan lands with a shot to the body.
Kilkenny lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Melkonyan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kilkenny throws a low kick but Melkonyan moves out of range easily.
Melkonyan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kilkenny throws a body punch but Melkonyan moves out of range.
Melkonyan slips a jab and a cross from Kilkenny.
Kilkenny throws a right and a left that both miss.
Melkonyan avoids the head kick by Kilkenny.
Melkonyan throws a counter combo.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Kilkenny misses with a head kick.
Kilkenny has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Melkonyan.
Kilkenny moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Melkonyan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kilkenny lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Melkonyan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Melkonyan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kilkenny fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Melkonyan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A punch combination from Melkonyan misses.
Nice uppercut there from Melkonyan.
Kilkenny walks into a straight right hand from Melkonyan.
Melkonyan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Melkonyan connects with an inside leg kick.
Melkonyan jabs Kilkenny right on the nose. Kilkenny blinks but takes it well.
Kilkenny fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Melkonyan.
Kilkenny misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kilkenny misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kilkenny tries to move into range but Melkonyan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A combination from Kilkenny does no damage.
Melkonyan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kilkenny circles away quickly and effectively.
Melkonyan lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kilkenny takes a step back to recover.
Melkonyan looks to land a combination but Kilkenny avoids it well.
Melkonyan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kilkenny.
Kilkenny misses with a few strikes there.
Melkonyan throws a nice head kick!
Kilkenny tries a head kick but it misses.

Kilkenny has managed to clinch.
Kilkenny working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kilkenny walks away with a smile on his face. Melkonyan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Melkonyan misses with a wild combination.
A slapping leg kick lands for Melkonyan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melkonyan lands a head kick. Kilkenny smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kilkenny throws a right and a left that Melkonyan avoids nicely.
Kilkenny has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kilkenny scores with a nice strike.
Kilkenny throws a front kick aimed at Melkonyan's knee but Melkonyan avoids it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kilkenny misses with a jab, cross combination.
Melkonyan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kilkenny's head.
Nice body kick there by Melkonyan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eduard Melkonyan dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Melkonyan throws a hook to the side of Kilkenny's head but Kilkenny sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Melkonyan throws a head kick but Kilkenny moves out of range.
A big right from Kilkenny misses.
Kilkenny tried to score with a low kick but Melkonyan checks it.
Kilkenny jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A countering left hand to the body from Melkonyan misses.
Kilkenny throws a head kick that misses.
Melkonyan keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kilkenny swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little jabbing left from Melkonyan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kilkenny takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kilkenny looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melkonyan tries to land a front kick but Kilkenny steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kilkenny looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Melkonyan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kilkenny looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kilkenny throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilkenny throws a nice looking combination but Melkonyan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A shot to the body from Kilkenny misses
and Melkonyan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kilkenny blocks a head kick by Melkonyan.
Melkonyan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Melkonyan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Melkonyan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kilkenny scores with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Melkonyan.
It looked like Kilkenny was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Melkonyan scores with a hook to the body. Kilkenny takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kilkenny misses with a body kick.
A swing and a miss from Melkonyan.
Kilkenny uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Melkonyan.
Kilkenny jabs Melkonyan to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Melkonyan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melkonyan throws a body shot but no joy.
A quick step to the side and Kilkenny tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Melkonyan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kilkenny works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Melkonyan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Melkonyan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Melkonyan throws a right and a left that Kilkenny avoids nicely.
Lance Kilkenny has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melkonyan misses with a low kick.
Kilkenny throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kilkenny tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kilkenny throws a sloppy head kick and Melkonyan moves out of range easily.
Eduard Melkonyan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Melkonyan fails to land with a series of punches.
Kilkenny misses with a body shot.
Kilkenny scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Melkonyan throws a body kick that misses.
Melkonyan lands with a hook. Kilkenny tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Melkonyan misses with a body kick.
Melkonyan throws a low kick, looking for Kilkenny's leg but Kilkenny calmly moves out of range.
Kilkenny lands with a right hand.
Melkonyan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kilkenny.
Kilkenny throws a head kick that misses.
Nice shot lands for Melkonyan.
Melkonyan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Melkonyan connects with an inside leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kilkenny.
Melkonyan is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Melkonyan throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kilkenny rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Melkonyan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kilkenny throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Melkonyan misses with a body kick.
Kilkenny misses with an uppercut.
Melkonyan looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kilkenny is looking to slow Melkonyan down with leg kicks.
Kilkenny waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Melkonyan.
Melkonyan slips a jab from Kilkenny.
Melkonyan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kilkenny.
Melkonyan has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Kilkenny.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Melkonyan checks a leg kick.
Melkonyan looks to land a combination but Kilkenny avoids it well.
Kilkenny drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kilkenny finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Melkonyan looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kilkenny tries to land a body kick
and Melkonyan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kilkenny thinking.
Kilkenny throws a sloppy head kick and Melkonyan moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lance Kilkenny.
I think Melkonyan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 46:49
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 46:49
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eduard Melkonyan!
Eduard Melkonyan is the new welterweight champion!
Eduard Melkonyan was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.