PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Zerra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyron Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zerra
vs
Melendez

168 cm
19
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

181 cm
26
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Zerra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Tyron Melendez!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jonathan Paton and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zerra fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but Zerra shows good takedown defense.
Melendez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zerra counters with an inside leg kick.
Zerra lands a right hook to the body.
Melendez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zerra misses with the combination.
Zerra swinging wildly here.
Melendez keeps the fight on the outside.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zerra!
Melendez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melendez looks for a takedown but Zerra sprawls well.
Matt Zerra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyron Melendez.

Melendez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zerra is looking to reverse the position.
Melendez wants to control but Zerra is keeping him busy.
Melendez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Zerra tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zerra sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Zerra is trying to maintain the position but Melendez is very close to passing his half guard.
Melendez prevents Zerra from improving his position.
Zerra trying to hold on to Melendez's head to control him but Melendez postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zerra is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Matt Zerra wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Zerra sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zerra connects with a body shot.
Zerra waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Melendez.
Nice cross by Zerra.
Zerra misses with an uppercut. Melendez saw that one coming.
Zerra works over Melendez's head and body with a nice combination.
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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zerra throws the left hand but Melendez avoids the punch easily.
Melendez checks the leg kick nicely there.
A big right from Zerra misses.
Melendez looks for a takedown but Zerra sprawls well.
Melendez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zerra fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Melendez manages to avoid it.
Zerra throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zerra defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Melendez.

Melendez shoots in and bounces Zerra off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Melendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Zerra is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerra wants to sweep here but Melendez controlling him for the moment.
Zerra is working hard here to advance position.
Melendez stops Zerra from standing up.
Zerra controls Melendez momentarily but Melendez frees himself.

Melendez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zerra has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Melendez has managed to get both his arms back between Zerra's legs - danger averted.
Zerra has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Melendez has passed into side control.
Melendez is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Zerra is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Zerra's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Melendez wants to control but Zerra is keeping him busy.
Melendez is staying tight to Zerra's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Zerra wants to get back to his feet.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zerra bucks up and tries to throw Melendez off but instead Melendez has got his back!
Melendez keeps control of the position easily here as Zerra tries to buck him off.
Zerra is trying to get back to his feet but Melendez has full control of the position and if anything, Zerra has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Zerra dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zerra tests Melendez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zerra connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Zerra stuffs the takedown.

Melendez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Melendez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zerra looking to control.
Zerra wants to sweep but no luck.
Melendez passes Zerra's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Melendez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Zerra is trying to get back to full guard.
Zerra is refusing to be controlled, as Melendez sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez is controlling the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Melendez defending well as Zerra loads up on a big left hand.
Matt Zerra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zerra wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Melendez avoids the body shot from Zerra.
Zerra throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zerra swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zerra looks to land a combination but Melendez avoids it well.
Melendez closes the distance and clinches up with Zerra, looking for a takedown. Melendez pushes Zerra against the cage but Zerra circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Melendez.
Matt Zerra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyron Melendez.
Melendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zerra circles away.
Matt Zerra is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zerra keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Melendez is breathing heavily.

Zerra has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zerra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Melendez shoots in but no luck this time.
Zerra tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zerra shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Melendez eats them both and turns towards Zerra to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zerra gets caught napping as Melendez dives in and scores a takedown. Zerra manages to retain guard.
Melendez postures up.
Melendez throwing strikes from guard but Zerra blocks nicely.

Zerra has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Melendez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Melendez won't allow Zerra to get back to his feet.
Melendez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Zerra thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez 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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zerra 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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tyron Melendez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Melendez fails with the takedown.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Zerra circles away easily
enabling Zerra to counter with a crisp jab.
Melendez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Melendez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zerra avoids it really well and circles away.
Zerra lands a lovely overhand right.
Zerra is looking to clinch.
Zerra lands a jab to Melendez's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zerra connects with a body shot.
Nice body punch from Zerra.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zerra lands with a nice body punch.
Zerra lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zerra lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zerra.
Melendez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zerra lands with a shot to the body.
Zerra catches Melendez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Melendez gets tackled into the cage by Zerra. Zerra maintains the clinch.
Zerra lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zerra working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Zerra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Left hook, right uppercut from Zerra.
Melendez walks into a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Zerra dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Zerra cracks Melendez with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Melendez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Zerra wants to get back to full guard.
Zerra punching from the bottom.

Zerra is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Melendez pulls his head out easily.
Melendez is thwarting Zerra's attempts to control the position.
Well, if Melendez 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.
Zerra is looking to escape.

Zerra looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Well, if Melendez 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 one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Let's hope that Melendez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tyron Melendez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Melendez takes one on the button.
Zerra swinging wildly here.
Zerra fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Melendez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Melendez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zerra sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez walks into a straight right hand from Zerra.
Melendez looks for a takedown but Zerra sprawls well.
Matt Zerra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyron Melendez.
Melendez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Melendez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zerra connects with a solid leg kick.
Zerra tries to close the distance and clinch up but Melendez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
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!

Zerra has Melendez up against the cage in a clinch.
Melendez avoids the elbow strike from Zerra, against the cage.

Zerra manages to break the clinch.
Zerra scores with a jab to the body.
Melendez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zerra looks to score with a jab to the body but Melendez is just out of range.

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

Zerra breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez closes the distance and clinches up with Zerra, looking for a takedown. Melendez pushes Zerra against the cage but Zerra circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zerra fails to land with a series of punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Melendez.
Zerra scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zerra wants to clinch.
Zerra stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zerra wants it to stay on the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Melendez shoots in looking for a takedown but Zerra manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Melendez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zerra misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Melendez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zerra lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Zerra throws a series of punches but Melendez avoids them all with ease.
Melendez takes a jab right on the kisser.

Melendez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zerra is trying to defend but Melendez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Melendez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Matt Zerra is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zerra is not content to let Melendez control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melendez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Melendez is thwarting Zerra's attempts to control the position.
Tyron Melendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zerra moves into full guard.
Melendez controlling from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zerra not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Zerra showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zerra, 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Zerra!
Our winner, Matt Zerra, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.