PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerrold Melton (ranked 8062 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard Coles (ranked 3755 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Melton
vs
Coles

200 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

210 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jerrold Melton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Howard Coles!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Coles shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Melton kicks Coles off and gets back to his feet.
Coles throws a right and a left that Melton avoids nicely.

Coles clinches up against the cage.

Coles escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Coles darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Melton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Coles trying to control but Melton is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coles slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Melton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Coles manages to get himself to full guard.

Coles 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.

Coles looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Coles can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Melton controls the pace.

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.
Coles 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.
Melton seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Coles has his hands on Melton's head, controlling the position.
Melton stopping the sweep attempt from Coles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melton postures up.
Melton controlling from the top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Melton fails to land the takedown.

Melton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Coles napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Coles wants to control but Melton postures up.
Coles is trying to get back to half guard.
Coles looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melton is staying tight to Coles's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Melton is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Coles knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melton staying calm.
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 Jerrold Melton will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Coles manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Melton on his heels. He'll look to pass Melton's guard now, I'm sure.

Melton uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Melton avoids the head kick by Coles.
Melton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Coles as he avoids it easily.
Coles is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Coles has closed the distance and engaged Melton in a clinch.

Melton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melton goes for a double leg but Coles avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Coles continues to drive forward.
Coles has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Melton.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Melton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coles tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Melton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Coles is trying to buck Melton off.
Coles tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Melton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Coles struggling a bit here.
Coles is breathing heavily.
Coles might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Melton haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
A lull in the action here as Melton stalls from top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Coles is trying to improve his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Melton takes the fight into the clinch.
Melton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Coles pulls guard.
Melton wants to control from the top but Coles keeps moving.
Coles looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melton wants to control from the top but Coles keeps moving.
Melton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Jerrold Melton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Coles shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Melton is trying to defend but Coles finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Melton wants to control but Coles is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Coles throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Coles wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melton keeps working.
Melton trying to control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Melton has one foot on Coles's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Coles misses with a head kick.
Melton went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerrold Melton dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Melton moves into the clinch.
Melton lands an elbow inside that Coles shrugs off.

Coles gets control of Melton's arms and successfully pulls guard. Coles will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Coles wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Melton is now in half guard.
Coles is trying to get back to full guard.
Coles trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Melton manages to pass to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melton working Coles over with strikes here.
Melton takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coles tries to control Melton's body but Melton pushes him off. Coles squirms to his side and now Melton has his back!
Coles takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Coles wants to control his opponent's hands but Melton gets his hands free.
Melton keeps control of the position easily here as Coles tries to buck him off.
Coles rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Coles tries to get to full guard but Melton has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melton not doing much here.

Coles is defending against the submission attempts here by Melton.
Melton controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Melton slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four 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.
Melton's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Melton scores with a takedown into Coles's guard.
Melton wants to control from the top but Coles keeps moving.
Coles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melton's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Howard Coles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jerrold Melton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerrold Melton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Melton, 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerrold Melton!