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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 has chosen Eminem - Survival as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 172 cm
26
165 lbs
6 - 5 - 0 |
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175 cm
30
165 lbs
13 - 4 - 2 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine |
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Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank |
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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 - 5 - 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
13 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gilbert Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Melendez tries to pass.
Diaz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Melendez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Melendez has control of the leg.
Still in half guard, Melendez seems content to control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Melendez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Diaz!
Melendez controlling his opponent.
Diaz tries to reverse the position but Melendez maintains control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Diaz is wriggling around trying to escape.
Melendez controlling the position easily from mount.
That's three 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.
Gilbert Melendez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Melendez lands with a nice body punch.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Melendez has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez shoots in looking for a takedown but Diaz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Melendez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Diaz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Melendez blocks a jab.
Diaz stalks Melendez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Melendez's face. Melendez staggers backwards, shaken.
Melendez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Diaz defends it nicely.
Melendez walks into a jab.
Melendez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Diaz quickly recovers to half guard.
Melendez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Gilbert Melendez 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.
A big right from Diaz misses.
Diaz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Diaz throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Melendez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
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.
Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Diaz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Melendez shoots for a takedown but Diaz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.
Norman Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.
Diaz scores with a three punch combo!
It looks like Gilbert Melendez has been cut.
Diaz scores with a punch to the head.
Diaz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Diaz misses with a hook.
Melendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Norman Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melendez slips under a jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz has managed to clinch.
Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz tries to clinch up but Melendez circles away and keeps his distance.
Melendez dives in and scores a takedown into Diaz's guard.
Melendez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Diaz has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Melendez has passed into side control.
Diaz trying to remain calm as Melendez controls from the top position.
Diaz is looking to regain half guard here but Melendez keeps moving and retains side control.
Diaz is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz regains half guard.
Melendez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Diaz manages to get to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Diaz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Melendez controls the pace.
OK we're going to have a standup here. Gilbert Melendez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Diaz misses with a left hand
and Melendez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Melendez.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to stand but Melendez is controlling the position.
Melendez preventing the sweep.
Melendez content to stall in guard here.
Diaz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melendez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
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.
The cut man is working on Gilbert Melendez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Diaz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Diaz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Melendez counters with a shoot takedown. Diaz fights it but they end up in guard.
Diaz wants to stand but Melendez is controlling the position.
Gilbert Melendez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melendez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Melendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez stops Diaz from standing up.
Diaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melendez is one step ahead there.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gilbert Melendez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Diaz connects with a looping right hand.
Diaz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Melendez counters with a right hand to the body.
Melendez is looking to clinch.
Diaz looks to clinch
enabling Melendez to counter with a crisp jab.
Diaz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Melendez looking to pass the guard.
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.
Diaz controls Melendez momentarily but Melendez frees himself.
Diaz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Diaz is working hard here to advance position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Norman Diaz.
Melendez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Diaz has Melendez up against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
Diaz wants to clinch but Melendez slips to the side
and Melendez counters with a stiff right hand.
Diaz wants to clinch.
Diaz throws a body punch but Melendez moves out of range.
Diaz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Melendez, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Melendez against the cage but Melendez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A lazy left from Diaz finds it's target.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a lunging right hand
and Melendez moves into the clinch.
Diaz tries to stall but Melendez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Melendez goes for a takedown attempt but Diaz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Melendez has picked Diaz up and slammed him! Diaz can't keep hold of the triangle and Melendez manages to pass to side control!
Melendez controls the position.
Melendez advances to full mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melendez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gilbert Melendez.
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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gilbert Melendez!
Gilbert Melendez decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
50% |
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