PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alfonso Melendez (ranked 25255 p4p, 4096 weight class) and Mitsubasa Midoriya (ranked 0 p4p, 251 weight class). Mitsubasa Midoriya has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Melendez
vs
Midoriya

180 cm
24
135
1 - 5 - 0

171 cm
25
140
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Alfonso Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mitsubasa Midoriya!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Melendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Midoriya circles away.
Midoriya is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Midoriya swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Melendez counters by moving into the clinch.
Midoriya creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Melendez can't break the clinch.

Melendez decides to pull guard.
Midoriya trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Midoriya postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Midoriya missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Midoriya postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Midoriya postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Midoriya gets to his feet - Melendez follows without any prompting.

Melendez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Melendez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A big right from Midoriya misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Midoriya as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alfonso Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Midoriya throws a sloppy head kick and Melendez moves out of range easily.

Midoriya has Melendez up against the cage in a clinch.
Melendez trying to control the position but instead, Midoriya has worked for underhooks and has pushed Melendez into the cage.

Melendez pulls guard successfully.
Midoriya distracts Melendez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Midoriya throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Midoriya won't allow Melendez to sweep him here.
Melendez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Midoriya scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Midoriya preventing the sweep.
Midoriya throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez has momentary wrist control but Midoriya slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Midoriya trying to control the position from guard on top but Melendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Midoriya is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Midoriya's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Midoriya looking to pass the guard.
Midoriya postures up.
Midoriya trying to control but Melendez is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Midoriya working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Midoriya keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Melendez's head.
Melendez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Midoriya lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Melendez is trying to hold Midoriya in close to prevent damage but Midoriya has managed to pass into half guard.
Midoriya lands strikes from half guard.
Midoriya looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Melendez trying to control here.
Midoriya controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to control here.
Midoriya throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Melendez has hold of Midoriya's hands but Midoriya slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Midoriya working over Melendez with some ground and pound. Melendez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Melendez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Melendez.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Midoriya drops back, looking for a kneebar! Melendez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Melendez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Melendez!

Melendez has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsubasa Midoriya dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Melendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Midoriya circles away.

Midoriya moves into the clinch.
Melendez lands a knee to the body.
Midoriya is trying to push Melendez away but Melendez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Melendez jumps into guard, dragging Midoriya to the mat.
Midoriya lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Midoriya throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Melendez wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Midoriya is now in half guard.
Midoriya thows a huge punch but Melendez dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Midoriya prevents Melendez from improving his position.
Midoriya is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Midoriya controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez tries to lock up and control but Midoriya gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Melendez in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Melendez is wriggling around trying to escape.

Midoriya swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Melendez is now in Midoriya's guard. A big mistake from Midoriya there, giving up the dominant position!
Midoriya keeping moving, preventing Melendez from controlling successfully.
Midoriya manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Melendez manages to get himself to full guard.

Midoriya keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Melendez's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Midoriya wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
Melendez wants to stand and escape but Midoriya is having none of it.

Melendez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Melendez is pulling down on Midoriya's head. It's preventing any offense from Midoriya, at least for the moment.
Mitsubasa Midoriya has got the better of the ground game so far.
Midoriya missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Midoriya postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Midoriya lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Midoriya scoring with punches to the head and body.

Midoriya gets to his feet - Melendez follows without any prompting.
Midoriya lands with a kick to the ribs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Melendez prevents Midoriya from breaking the clinch.
Melendez blocks an elbow strike.
Midoriya has Melendez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Melendez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Melendez is trying to pull guard but Midoriya turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Melendez taking a breather.
Midoriya looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Midoriya tries to land knees in the clinch but Melendez avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Midoriya lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Midoriya breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Midoriya stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Midoriya wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alfonso Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Midoriya connects with a solid leg kick.

Midoriya scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Melendez is trying to escape the position but Midoriya is controlling the position.
Melendez is not content to let Midoriya control the position.
Midoriya working the ground and pound but Melendez is defending the strikes.
Midoriya is looking to take a break and control but Melendez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Midoriya scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Melendez to see if he's OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsubasa Midoriya showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Midoriya ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Midoriya is looking to clinch.
Melendez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Midoriya fails to land the takedown.
Midoriya connects with a solid leg kick.
Midoriya tries to clinch up but Melendez circles away and keeps his distance.
Midoriya fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Melendez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Melendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Midoriya.
Midoriya has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Midoriya.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melendez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Midoriya.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Midoriya sprawls well. Midoriya wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Melendez gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez dives in and grabs Midoriya's left leg, looking for a takedown. Midoriya pushes down on Melendez's head and hops out.

Midoriya moves into the clinch.
Midoriya stalls.
Melendez is trying to push Midoriya away but Midoriya has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Midoriya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Melendez looking to score a takedown here. Midoriya is defending well but Melendez drives through and ends up in Midoriya's guard.

Midoriya wriggles free and stands up.
Alfonso Melendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Midoriya scores with a hook.
Midoriya tries to clinch there but Melendez circles away.

Midoriya closes the distance and pushes Melendez back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Melendez is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Midoriya can't fight it off and eventually Melendez manages to take the fight to the floor. Midoriya looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Melendez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Midoriya is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Melendez presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Melendez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Midoriya to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alfonso Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Midoriya misses with an elbow strike.
Midoriya lands an elbow just above Melendez 's eye.
Midoriya lands a nice elbow.
Midoriya is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Melendez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Midoriya is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Midoriya throws a knee to the head but misses.
Melendez is trying to drag Midoriya to the mat but Midoriya just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Midoriya breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez works Midoriya's body with a nice hook.
Melendez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Midoriya shoots for a double leg takedown but Melendez sprawls well. He's pushed Midoriya's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Midoriya gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Melendez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Melendez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Melendez leaning against his opponent.
Midoriya looking to throw knees to the head but Melendez is blocking nicely.
Melendez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Melendez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Midoriya wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Melendez has him pressed against the cage.

Midoriya breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Midoriya closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Midoriya.
Midoriya misses with an elbow strike.
Melendez blocks an elbow strike.

Melendez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A shot to the liver by Melendez. Beautiful body shot.
Melendez lands with an overhand left.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Some wild striking there from Midoriya.

Melendez instigates a clinch.
Midoriya tries a body shot but Melendez blocks it.
Melendez is pushing Midoriya up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Alfonso Melendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mitsubasa Midoriya is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Midoriya breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitsubasa Midoriya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Midoriya has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitsubasa Midoriya!