PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Norman Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melendez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eminem - Survival kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Diaz
vs
Melendez

172 cm
25
165 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

175 cm
29
165 lbs
11 - 3 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear
LOD: Affordable Quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Norman Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gilbert Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Melendez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Diaz misses with a straight left.
Diaz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Norman Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz misses with the combination.
Diaz misses with a hook

so Melendez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Diaz is looking for a triangle here but Melendez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Diaz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Melendez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Diaz is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Melendez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
It looks like Melendez might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Melendez is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.
Melendez prevents Diaz from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz trying to hold on to Melendez's head to control him but Melendez postures up.
Melendez controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Norman Diaz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Some wild striking there from Diaz.
Melendez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
Melendez slaps away a takedown attempt from Diaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Melendez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Melendez tries to score with some ground and pound. Diaz controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
Diaz is being controlled here.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom here.
Melendez taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Silverback MMA Academy (Elite + Sauna & 160VM) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Diaz is not content to let Melendez control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A control attempt from Diaz but he's now mounted!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Melendez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Melendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Melendez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Diaz's guard.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melendez is stalling in the full guard.
Melendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.
Diaz controls Melendez momentarily but Melendez frees himself.
Diaz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Norman Diaz.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diaz throws a right hand that Melendez ducks under and follows up with a left that Melendez also avoids with ease.
Melendez keeps the fight on the outside.
Diaz throws a predictable looking body shot
and Melendez counters with a left and a right that stings Diaz.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Melendez.
Melendez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Diaz defends well and Melendez ends up having to push Diaz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Norman Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.
Diaz jumps guard but Melendez stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Melendez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Diaz prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.
Diaz lands a glancing blow to the side of Melendez's head.
Diaz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Melendez.
Melendez keeps the fight on the outside.
Diaz slaps away a takedown attempt from Melendez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Melendez circles away.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Melendez avoids them all with ease.
Melendez has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Melendez 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.
Melendez prevents Diaz from improving his position.
Melendez not doing much here.
Diaz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
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.
Melendez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez controlling from side mount.
Diaz manages to get back to half guard.
Melendez is thwarting Diaz's attempts to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melendez stops Diaz from getting back to his feet.
Melendez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diaz defending well though.
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 Norman Diaz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Diaz. No joy for Melendez on that attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Diaz lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Melendez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Melendez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Melendez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Diaz.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Melendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diaz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Melendez somewhat.
Diaz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Diaz misses with an uppercut

and Melendez counters with a shoot takedown. Diaz fights it but they end up in guard.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz trying to control the position.
Melendez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
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.

Norman Diaz has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Diaz misses with a left hand

and Melendez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Melendez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Melendez is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is pressing down on Diaz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Diaz is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Diaz wants to improve his position but Melendez is controlling well.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Melendez is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gilbert Melendez.
Melendez tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Diaz misses the target.

Diaz clinches up against the cage.
Diaz has had enough of the clinch but Melendez keeps him there for the moment.

Melendez gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Melendez stops Diaz from getting back to his feet.
Melendez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Melendez is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Diaz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Diaz.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gilbert Melendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Melendez 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gilbert Melendez!
During a confident post fight interview, Gilbert Melendez thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.