PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Per Saukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduard Melkonyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saukko
vs
Melkonyan

192 cm
34
272 lbs
26 - 13 - 0

183 cm
34
253 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Per Saukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eduard Melkonyan!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saukko misses with a wild body shot.
Melkonyan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Melkonyan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Saukko to the mat! Saukko manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saukko looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Melkonyan puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Melkonyan is thwarting Saukko's attempts to control the position.
Melkonyan controlling the action here.

Melkonyan is working for a kimura but Saukko is defending it quite comfortably.

Saukko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Melkonyan pulls his head out easily.
Melkonyan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Saukko trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melkonyan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saukko's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saukko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Melkonyan is working away from the top position though.
Saukko is concentrating on defense, preventing Melkonyan from advancing position.
Melkonyan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Saukko clinches with his opponent.
A right hand to the body from Saukko.
A head punch on the inside from Saukko fails to land.

Saukko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Melkonyan uses from the top position.
Melkonyan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saukko is looking to sweep but instead, Melkonyan has passed into half guard.
Well, if Melkonyan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan wants to free his trapped foot but Saukko is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Melkonyan is trying to work for a kimura but Saukko is defending well.
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!
Saukko trying to control but Melkonyan postures up.
Saukko keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Saukko is pressing down on Melkonyan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Saukko keeping full guard, as Melkonyan tries to pass.
Melkonyan trying to control but Saukko is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melkonyan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Saukko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Melkonyan wants to pass the guard but Saukko is keeping the position.
Melkonyan wants to control from the top but Saukko keeps moving.

Melkonyan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Melkonyan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Melkonyan is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan postures up in Saukko's guard and throws a big left but Saukko blocks it.
Melkonyan looking to pass the guard.

Saukko working for a triangle but Melkonyan defends it easily.
Saukko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Melkonyan trying to control the position from guard on top but Saukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saukko seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melkonyan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Saukko is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Melkonyan scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eduard Melkonyan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Saukko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Saukko keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Per Saukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Melkonyan lands a nice shot that snaps Saukko's head back.
Saukko swinging wildly here.
Saukko has a takedown stuffed.
Melkonyan closes the distance and clinches up with Saukko, looking for a takedown. Melkonyan pushes Saukko against the cage but Saukko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Saukko connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Saukko misses the body punch

and Melkonyan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Saukko won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saukko is looking to reverse the position.
Saukko tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Melkonyan presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Melkonyan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Melkonyan tries to control but Saukko wriggling away.
Saukko gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melkonyan wants to control but Saukko is keeping him busy.
Eduard Melkonyan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melkonyan is just content to waste time from the top position. Saukko takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Melkonyan trying to control but Saukko is working from the bottom.

Saukko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Melkonyan. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Saukko looking for a guillotine here but Melkonyan defends easily.
Melkonyan cracks Saukko with a solid left hand.
Melkonyan controlling from the top position.

Saukko looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Melkonyan passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saukko is not content to let Melkonyan control the position.
Saukko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Melkonyan looking to pass the guard.

Saukko working for a triangle but Melkonyan defends it easily.
Melkonyan throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Saukko keeping moving, preventing Melkonyan from controlling successfully.
Melkonyan looking to sit in guard and control but Saukko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Saukko forces his way into half guard.
Saukko prevents Melkonyan from improving his position.
Saukko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Melkonyan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Saukko prevents Melkonyan from improving his position.
Saukko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saukko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Saukko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Melkonyan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
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. Saukko connects with a nice short shot to Melkonyan's temple.
Melkonyan wants to get back to full guard.
Saukko is trying to control the action in half guard but Melkonyan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melkonyan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saukko lands with a punch from half guard.

Saukko wants to work for an arm triangle but Melkonyan is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Melkonyan is trying to get back to full guard.

Saukko is working for a kimura but Melkonyan is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Per Saukko will probably get the nod.
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 telegraphed takedown attempt from Saukko is defended easily by Melkonyan.
Saukko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Melkonyan avoids the head kick by Saukko.

Saukko fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Melkonyan to the ground. Saukko is now in Melkonyan's guard.

Melkonyan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Melkonyan looking for a sweep. Not yet Melkonyan, not yet.

Melkonyan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Saukko wants to control from the top but Melkonyan keeps moving.
Melkonyan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saukko is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saukko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melkonyan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Melkonyan trying to keep a closed guard but Saukko is proving a slippery customer.
Saukko working some strikes from top position.
Saukko preventing the sweep.
Melkonyan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saukko scoring with punches to the head and body.

Saukko drops back looking for a leg! Melkonyan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Melkonyan manages to kick Saukko off! Saukko jumps back into Melkonyan's guard.
Saukko throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan wants to hit a switch here but Saukko passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Melkonyan there!
Melkonyan is squirming around, avoiding Saukko's attempts to control the action.
Saukko looking to finish Melkonyan with some ground and pound. This is bad for Melkonyan!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saukko is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Oooh a big shot lands for Saukko! Melkonyan is out! The ref dives in to save him from more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Per Saukko!