|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Skarstad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
 |
|
 |
| 201 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 6 - 0 |
|
188 cm
25
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced |
|
BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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
1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raphael Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erik Skarstad!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez tries to close the distance and clinch but Skarstad swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Skarstad looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Melendez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Melendez keeping moving, preventing Skarstad from controlling successfully.
Melendez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Skarstad controls the pace.
Melendez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Melendez controls Skarstad momentarily but Skarstad frees himself.
Skarstad tries to stand but Melendez is controlling from the bottom.
Skarstad stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melendez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Skarstad stands up and waves to Melendez to follow him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Skarstad pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Melendez is keeping the position for now.
Melendez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Skarstad drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Melendez dives on top into guard.
Melendez postures up.
Skarstad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melendez is one step ahead there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skarstad wants to stand but Melendez is controlling the position.
Skarstad is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Skarstad is looking to stand up but Melendez isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Skarstad is trying to control the position but Melendez postures up.
Skarstad avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Skarstad looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Skarstad is on top in guard.
Skarstad trying to control the position from guard on top but Melendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melendez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Skarstad defends well.
Melendez looking for a sweep. Not yet Melendez, not yet.
Skarstad trying to control but Melendez is working from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Erik Skarstad.
Skarstad lands a slapping body shot.
Skarstad closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Melendez quickly recovers to half guard.
Skarstad content to control rather than advance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skarstad is trying to work for a kimura but Melendez is defending well.
Skarstad perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Erik Skarstad 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.
Skarstad closes the distance and clinches.
A right hook to the body lands for Skarstad.
Skarstad jumps guard.
Skarstad wants to stand up but Melendez is controlling him.
Melendez postures up.
Skarstad preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Melendez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Skarstad is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Skarstad is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Skarstad is stalling here. Melendez is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Skarstad seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Melendez has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Melendez working the ground and pound but Skarstad is defending the strikes.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Skarstad struggling a bit here.
Skarstad is looking to regain half guard here but Melendez keeps moving and retains side control.
Melendez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Skarstad sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Skarstad gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Melendez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Melendez is thwarting Skarstad's attempts to control the position.
Skarstad tries to kick Melendez off but Melendez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skarstad is looking to improve his position.
Skarstad manages to get to full guard.
Skarstad utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Skarstad is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Melendez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Skarstad has control of Melendez's left arm, preventing Melendez from doing any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Melendez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez stops Skarstad from standing up.
Skarstad manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Erik Skarstad has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melendez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Melendez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Melendez postures up.
Melendez stops Skarstad from standing up.
Melendez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Skarstad has control of Melendez's left arm, preventing Melendez from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Skarstad is on top in guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skarstad wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
Melendez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Melendez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Skarstad manages to get himself to full guard.
Melendez postures up and lands a big shot to Skarstad's brow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skarstad manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skarstad takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Erik Skarstad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Skarstad goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A clash of legs there as Skarstad blocks the low kick.
Skarstad gets a takedown into half guard.
Skarstad is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Melendez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Melendez tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Skarstad manages to move to mount!
Skarstad wants to control the pace but Melendez is squirming around nicely.
Skarstad wants to finish this one by submission but Melendez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Skarstad.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez wants to control but Skarstad is having none of it.
Skarstad thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Skarstad trying to control but Melendez is having none of it.
Melendez holds on, trying desperately to control.
Skarstad trying to control but he's not successful this time.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skarstad controlling from the full mount.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Skarstad trying to control but Melendez is having none of it.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Erik Skarstad.
A nice combination there by Skarstad.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skarstad decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Skarstad controlling the pace.
Melendez wants to improve his position but Skarstad is controlling well.
Well, if Skarstad 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Erik Skarstad.
Skarstad lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Melendez circles away quickly and effectively.
Melendez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Skarstad is trying to defend but Melendez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Skarstad tries to roll over but Melendez keeps him under control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skarstad is looking to control Melendez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Skarstad avoid being mounted?
Skarstad pushes Melendez off looking to stand but Melendez dives back in and keeps control.
Skarstad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Skarstad has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Melendez is working away from the top position though.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Skarstad tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Melendez has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skarstad is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Skarstad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Skarstad has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Skarstad!
Erik Skarstad was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
63% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
