PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Espiridion Araya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monte Melkonian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melkonian has chosen Artsakh Music as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Araya
vs
Melkonian

201 cm
19
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
197 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Espiridion Araya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Monte Melkonian!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melkonian tries to clinch but Araya moves away

and Araya moves into the clinch.
Araya is trying to pull guard but Melkonian turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Araya is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Melkonian pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Melkonian stalls.
Araya looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Espiridion Araya. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Melkonian pulls Araya into guard.

Melkonian looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Araya postures up and lands a big shot to Melkonian's brow.
Araya wants to pass the guard but Melkonian is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melkonian not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araya controls from within his opponent's guard.
Melkonian looking for a sweep. Not yet Melkonian, not yet.
Melkonian trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Monte Melkonian.
A left and a right from Araya both land. Nice combination.
Araya tries to score a power double leg takedown but Melkonian sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Araya somewhat.
Araya misses the body punch

and Melkonian counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Araya moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araya is trying to control the position but Melkonian postures up.

Melkonian stands up and waves to Araya to follow him.
Nice sprawl there from Araya as Melkonian shoots in.

Melkonian darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Melkonian wants to pass to mount but Araya is defending the position.
Araya tries to kick Melkonian off but Melkonian keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian trying to control the action but Araya is working from the bottom.
Melkonian is looking to advance position but Araya won't allow it.
Araya holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Melkonian is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Araya is just riding it out for now. Melkonian eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Araya lands a couple of sideways elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araya is refusing to be controlled, as Melkonian sits in half guard.
Melkonian uses his free foot to push down on Araya's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Araya.
Araya has given up his back here.
I really don't envy Araya right now.
Araya just trying to survive but Melkonian is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melkonian controlling well, preventing Araya from escaping the position.
Melkonian is not going to allow Araya to sit and survive in this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Melkonian looking for the RNC.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Araya is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Melkonian gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Melkonian dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A looping hook to the body misses from Araya. Melkonian does a little dance to reset his feet.
Araya tries to clinch up but Melkonian circles away and keeps his distance.
Araya fakes the leg kick and cracks Melkonian in the body.
Melkonian tries to clinch but Araya moves out of range.
Araya misses with an attempted mid kick.
Melkonian fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Araya avoids it really well and circles away.
Araya misses with a few strikes there.

Araya gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Melkonian to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Melkonian throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araya pulls Melkonian in close to prevent any damage.
Melkonian preventing the sweep.
Melkonian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Araya is keeping the position for now.
Melkonian won't allow Araya to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Espiridion Araya wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Araya lands a head shot.

Araya tries to keep at a distance but Melkonian has taken the fight into the clinch.
Melkonian tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Araya looking to slow down the pace here.
Melkonian stalling against the cage.
Araya jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Melkonian walks away with a smile on his face. Araya gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Melkonian is trying hard to land a takedown here. Araya sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Espiridion Araya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monte Melkonian.
Araya throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Melkonian scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araya looks like he's trying to stand up.
Araya wants to improve his position but Melkonian is controlling well.
Araya trying to control here.
Araya works his way to full guard. Good work.
Melkonian stopping the sweep attempt from Araya.
Araya doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Araya really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araya not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Melkonian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Araya is keeping the position for now.
Araya controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Espiridion Araya just wasn't active enough.
Araya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Melkonian paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Melkonian shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Araya pinned against the cage. Araya gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A head kick misses from Araya.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Araya throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Espiridion Araya dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Melkonian fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Araya to the ground. Melkonian is now in Araya's guard.
Melkonian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Araya is keeping the position for now.
Araya keeping moving, preventing Melkonian from controlling successfully.
Araya not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Melkonian sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Araya's guard.
Monte Melkonian has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melkonian is taking a breather. Araya says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Araya is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Araya tries to roll over but Melkonian keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araya is working hard here to advance position.
Araya is not content to let Melkonian control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Melkonian shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Araya defends it nicely.
Melkonian shoots in but no luck this time.
Melkonian fails in his attempt to clinch.

Melkonian closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Araya to the mat! Araya manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian trying to control the position from guard on top but Araya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Araya will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Melkonian stopping the sweep attempt from Araya.
Araya is trying to control the position but Melkonian postures up.
Melkonian stays in close to Araya's body and controls the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Araya wants to sweep here but Melkonian controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Monte Melkonian.

Melkonian gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian prevents Araya from standing back up.
Araya is trying to maintain the position but Melkonian is very close to passing his half guard.
Melkonian prevents Araya from improving his position.
Araya works his way to full guard. Good work.
Melkonian passes Araya's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Melkonian is trying to control the action in half guard but Araya is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Melkonian throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Araya is looking for a sweep. Melkonian is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Araya tries to kick Melkonian off but Melkonian keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Melkonian tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Araya is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Melkonian is pressing down on Araya's thigh, looking to free his foot. Araya is holding on for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melkonian works his way into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Monte Melkonian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Melkonian has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monte Melkonian!
Monte Melkonian really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Das Labor logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.