PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Blair Melton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Poole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Melton
vs
Poole

156 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

EVOLUTION Clothing LKO
KnockOut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blair Melton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Poole!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Poole is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Melton's half guard.
Poole performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melton is looking for a sweep. Poole is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Melton slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Poole wants to control from the top but Melton keeps moving.

Poole avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Poole controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poole trying to control but Melton is working from the bottom.
Melton has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Poole has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melton tries to improve position but can't.
Melton defending against the ground and pound.
Melton manages to work his way to half guard, despite Poole's best efforts.
Melton wants to get back to full guard.
Melton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Melton scores with a few weak punches.
Poole controlling the action here.
Poole trying to control the action but Melton is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melton is looking for a sweep. Poole is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Melton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Melton is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Poole jumps into side control!
Melton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Melton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Melton is trying to get back to half guard.
Melton is not content to let Poole control the position.
Melton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Melton is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Poole stalls from top position.
Melton tries to buck Poole off but Poole is having none of it.

Poole decides to stand back up. Poole steps back and let's Melton get back to his feet.
Melton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Poole cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Melton breaks the clinch.

Poole changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Melton looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Poole throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Melton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Poole stalls from top position.
Melton is trying to get back to half guard.
Melton is not content to let Poole control the position.
Melton is trying to get back to half guard.
Poole wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melton keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melton tries to buck Poole off but Poole is having none of it.

Poole stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Poole shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Melton tries to get to full guard but Poole has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poole sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Poole trying to mount his opponent but Melton defends it.
Melton regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melton is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Melton trying to mount his opponent but Poole defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melton scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Melton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Poole is trying to control but can't.
Poole is looking for a sweep. Melton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Melton working the head and body with strikes.
Poole trying to control from the bottom.

Melton is working for a submission of some sort.

Poole looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Melton connects with a nice short shot to Poole's temple.
Poole trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Melton manages to pass to mount!
Poole regains half guard.
Melton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Poole is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Poole is still trying to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melton is trying to work for a kimura but Poole is defending well.
Poole trying to control here.
Poole has hold of Melton's hands but Melton slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
It looks like Melton is going to stand back up.

That's four 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 looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Poole with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Melton is trying to work for a kimura but Poole is defending well.
Melton working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Melton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Poole doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Melton.
Melton is thwarting Poole's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blair Melton dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Poole changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Melton looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Melton is looking for a sweep.
Melton manages to get back to half guard.
Melton is trying to control but can't.
Poole missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Poole is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Poole trying to pass the guard but Melton defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melton is trying to get back to full guard.
Poole trying to control the action but Melton is working from the bottom.
Poole wants to stand but Melton has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poole missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Melton is pressing down on Poole's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Melton looking for a sweep. Not yet Melton, not yet.
Melton is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Melton working Poole over with strikes.
Poole is trying to maintain the position but Melton is very close to passing his half guard.

Melton is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Melton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melton is working for a kimura but Poole is defending it quite comfortably.

Poole looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Melton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Poole's head.
Poole wants to improve his position but Melton is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poole is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Melton jumps into side control!
Melton working the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Poole's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Poole regains half guard.
Poole takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Melton throwing shots but Poole is blocking nicely.
Poole moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Melton stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Melton gets caught flat footed, as Poole shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melton controls Poole momentarily but Poole frees himself.
Melton looking for a sweep. Not yet Melton, not yet.
Melton keeping moving, preventing Poole from controlling successfully.
Melton keeping full guard, as Poole tries to pass.
Melton wants to sweep here but Poole controlling him for the moment.
Melton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Melton is on top in guard.

Poole had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Melton defends it 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 Blair Melton.
I think Melton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ryan Poole!