PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Melendez (ranked 7144 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jefferson Cooley (ranked 22215 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Melendez
vs
Cooley

176 cm
21
278 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

204 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thomas Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jefferson Cooley!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooley tries a head kick but it misses.
Cooley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Melendez circles away quickly and effectively.
Cooley works Melendez's body with a nice hook.

Cooley sends Melendez crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Cooley is motioning to the referee to let Melendez up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

It looks like Thomas Melendez has been cut.
A low kick from Cooley misses

and Melendez counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cooley!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melendez prevents Cooley from escaping the position.

Melendez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cooley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Melendez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Melendez working the ground and pound but Cooley is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez throws an elbow but Cooley slips to the side and avoids it well.
Melendez working the head with strikes.
Cooley is trying to buck Melendez off.

Melendez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Melendez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cooley is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Melendez is controlling him well.
Melendez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Cooley pushes Melendez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Melendez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Melendez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Melendez cracks Cooley with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez working the ground and pound.
Melendez is chipping away with strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cooley can do anything to dispel that myth.
Melendez landing a few strikes.
Cooley wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Melendez landing a few strikes.
Melendez lands some shots froms side control.

Melendez tries for a kimura but Cooley is defending well.
Cooley pushes Melendez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Melendez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
An elbow from Melendez crashes against the mat.
Melendez scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cooley to see if he's OK.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Melendez in side control, throwing shots but Cooley defends.
Cooley defending against the ground and pound.
Cooley is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Melendez is controlling him well.
Melendez scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cooley to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooley wants to get back to his feet but Melendez drags him back down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Melendez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cooley is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cooley dodges the ground and pound from Melendez.
Melendez prevents Cooley from escaping the position.

Cooley bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Cooley goes for a small jab and connects. Now Cooley goes in closer pressing the issue. Left hook, right straight! Melendez stumbles back but Cooley runs in with a huge uppercut knocking Melendez to the ground! What a finish! You have to wonder if Melendez will ever be the same after a knockout like that.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Jefferson Cooley!