PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mantak Cebu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Melendez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cebu
vs
Melendez

182 cm
18
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mantak Cebu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Cebu.
Melendez throws a jab but it's blocked by Cebu.
Cebu quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
A head kick by Melendez misses
and Cebu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Melendez throws a head kick that misses
and Cebu counters with a leg kick.
Melendez takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Melendez throws a right hand that misses
and Cebu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A head kick misses from Melendez.
Melendez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cebu counters with a nice body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melendez throws a head kick that misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Cebu as he connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Cebu.
Melendez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Melendez shoots and misses
and Cebu counters with a stiff right hand.
Cebu throws a head kick that Melendez semi-blocks.
Melendez throws a lazy head kick
and Cebu counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Cebu lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cebu thuds his right hand into Melendez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Melendez throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Melendez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cebu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
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!
Melendez tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Melendez goes for a double leg but Cebu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cebu continues to drive forward.
Mantak Cebu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Melendez.
Melendez scores with a jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cebu, right into the meat.
Cebu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cebu sprawls well. Cebu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Melendez gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cebu blocks a head kick by Melendez.
Melendez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cebu counters with a stiff right hand.

Melendez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

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

Cebu is defending against the submission attempts here by Melendez.
Cebu keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to pass the guard but Cebu defending well.
Cebu tries to roll over but Melendez keeps him under control.

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

Melendez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cebu definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cebu is concentrating on defense, preventing Melendez from advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mantak Cebu 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.

A decent looking body kick lands there for Cebu.
Melendez looks to land a left hand but Cebu moved out of range nicely.
Melendez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cebu connects with a crisp jab.
Cebu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Melendez misses with a hook
letting Cebu counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cebu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Melendez's sensitive parts.
A head kick by Melendez misses
and Cebu counters with a stiff right hand.

Cebu forces Melendez back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Cebu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cebu.

Cebu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mantak Cebu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cebu with a nice cross.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cebu but Cebu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Melendez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cebu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Melendez can do to turn this around?
Nice sprawl there from Cebu as Melendez shoots in.
Cebu lands a lovely overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cebu throws a head kick that Melendez semi-blocks.
Cebu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Melendez at a distance.
Melendez throws a lazy head kick
and Cebu counters with a left to the body.
A head kick misses from Melendez.
Cebu swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cebu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Melendez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Melendez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cebu connects with a body shot that sends Melendez's belly button to the back.
Mantak Cebu is winning the standup battle so far.
That kick from Cebu tenderised Melendez's leg. Melendez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Melendez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cebu gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Cebu manages to break the clinch.
Cebu scores with a spinning back kick!
Cebu is looking to slow Melendez down with leg kicks.
Cebu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cebu scores with a kick to the body.
Cebu scores with a spinning back kick!
Cebu lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cebu is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez throws a lazy head kick
and Cebu counters with an inside leg kick.
Melendez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cebu counters with a straight right hand.
Mantak Cebu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Melendez.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cebu throws a shot to the body.
Melendez misses with a lunging right hand
and Cebu counters with a head kick.
A head kick by Melendez misses
and Cebu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cebu scores with a spinning back kick!
Melendez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cebu counters with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mantak Cebu dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Cebu - that will leave a mark!
Melendez ducks right into an uppercut from Cebu.
Melendez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cebu scores with a spinning back kick!
Cebu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Melendez's sensitive parts.
Cebu connects with a crisp jab.
Cebu cracks Melendez with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melendez throws a lazy uppercut
and Melendez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Melendez throws a half hearted mid kick.
Melendez misses with a hook
and Cebu counters with a stiff right hand.

Melendez is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cebu scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Melendez is still on wobbly legs! Can Cebu finish him?
A slapping leg kick lands for Cebu.
Cebu lands an overhand right.
Cebu connects with a nice looking jab.
Cebu cracks Melendez with a hook to the temple - Melendez is on wobbly legs here! Cebu swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Melendez falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Cebu wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Mantak Cebu!
Mantak Cebu spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.