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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melendez comes to the cage accompanied by Rage Against The Machine - Bulls On Parade. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.
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| 175 cm
19
142 lbs
2 - 3 - 0 |
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168 cm
19
135 lbs
1 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricky Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Lewis!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez throws a front kick that sends Lewis stumbling back into the cage.
Melendez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Nonprofit Vegas Elite $50 ($1000 value) in the buildup to the fight.
Melendez fails to land the takedown.
Melendez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lewis misses with a series of wild punches.
Lewis avoids the head kick by Melendez.
Lewis lands an overhand right.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melendez moves in looking to clinch but Lewis pushes him off.
Melendez looking to score a takedown here. Lewis is defending well but Melendez drives through and ends up in Lewis's guard.
Lewis wants to sweep here but Melendez controlling him for the moment.
Lewis is working an open guard so Melendez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis sizes up Melendez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Melendez tries to clinch but Lewis moves away
and Lewis counters with a two punch combo.
Melendez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lewis wants to get back to his feet.
Melendez working away.
Melendez stands up.
Melendez closes the distance and clinches up with Lewis, looking for a takedown. Melendez pushes Lewis against the cage but Lewis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lewis jabs Melendez right on the nose. Melendez blinks but takes it well.
Melendez has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lewis finds it's way round the side to connect with Melendez's head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melendez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lewis sprawls well. Lewis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Melendez gets slowly back to his feet.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Lewis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lewis sprawls well. Lewis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Melendez gets slowly back to his feet.
Melendez is breathing heavily.
Melendez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Lewis. No joy for Melendez on that attempt.
Lewis connects with a jab.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez darts in looking for a takedown but Lewis gets double underhooks and turns Melendez into the cage.
Melendez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lewis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Melendez pushes Lewis up against the cage in a clinch.
Melendez tries to break the clinch but Lewis is controlling the position.
Melendez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Melendez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lewis swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Melendez.
Melendez has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Melendez there as he acknowledges the shot.
Melendez darts in looking for a takedown but Lewis gets double underhooks and turns Melendez into the cage.
Lewis tightens his grip and picks Melendez up, before dumping him to the ground. Melendez manages to land in guard.
Lewis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lewis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lewis trying to control the position from guard on top but Melendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis won't allow Melendez to get back to his feet.
Lewis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lewis wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
Lewis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lewis throwing strikes but missing.
Lewis looking to pass the guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lewis wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Melendez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick from Melendez lands but Lewis takes it in his stride.
Lewis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lewis showed some decent athleticism there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Joe Lewis dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Melendez moves into the clinch successfully.
Lewis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lewis throws a head kick that misses.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Melendez looks for a takedown but Lewis sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lewis scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Melendez throws out a loose jab but Lewis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Melendez dives in and grabs Lewis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lewis pushes down on Melendez's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Crunch! Melendez slams his shin into Lewis's torso.
Melendez wants to clinch.
Melendez gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melendez decides to return to a standing position.
Melendez dives in for a single leg takedown but Lewis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Lewis pulls guard successfully.
Lewis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lewis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melendez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Lewis as Melendez shoots in.
Joe Lewis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Melendez closes the distance and clinches.
Melendez breaks from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good standup being displayed there by Lewis as he connects with a hook.
Melendez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Melendez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lewis swivels and escapes.
Melendez tries to close the distance and clinch but Lewis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ricky Melendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lewis has closed the distance and engaged Melendez in a clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Melendez uses from the top position.
Melendez gets to his feet - Lewis follows without any prompting.
Melendez clinches up with Lewis and pushes him back against the cage.
Melendez breaks from the clinch.
Lewis looks to land a combination but Melendez avoids it well.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt - Lewis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Melendez shoots in looking for a takedown. Lewis tries to sprawl out of it but Melendez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lewis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lewis feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Melendez keeping moving, preventing Lewis from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lewis passes Melendez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Melendez manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Lewis keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
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!
Melendez breaks from the clinch.
Lewis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Melendez.
Lewis swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Melendez.
Melendez dives in and grabs Lewis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lewis pushes down on Melendez's head and hops out.
Lewis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lewis has managed to clinch.
Lewis misses with an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Joe Lewis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Melendez lands a head kick!
A left lands for Melendez.
Melendez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lewis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Melendez.
Melendez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lewis throws out a powerful jab.
Lewis throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melendez dives in and grabs Lewis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lewis pushes down on Melendez's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lewis paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Melendez shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lewis pushes Melendez up against the cage in a clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lewis is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Melendez to the mat. Melendez regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lewis is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lewis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Melendez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Melendez uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Lewis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Melendez.
The fight stays on the outside here - Melendez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lewis scores with a one two! Melendez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis slaps away a takedown attempt from Melendez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lewis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melendez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Lewis controlling the position from side mount.
Lewis in side control, throwing shots but Melendez defends.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez parries the strikes from Lewis easily there. Lewis is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Melendez to escape.
Lewis thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Melendez is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Lewis is controlling him well.
Melendez is not content to let Lewis control the position.
Melendez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Melendez sneaks out the side door and pushes Lewis away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Melendez moves in looking to clinch but Lewis pushes him off.
Lewis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Melendez.
Melendez gets tackled into the cage by Lewis. Lewis maintains the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez avoiding damage as Lewis throws knees to the body.
Melendez breaks the clinch.
Melendez dives in for a single leg takedown but Lewis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ricky Melendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lewis breaks the clinch.
Lewis works over Melendez's head and body with a nice combination.
Melendez drives through with a takedown into Lewis's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melendez gets to his feet - Lewis follows without any prompting.
Melendez lands with a slapping head kick.
Melendez dives in for a single leg takedown but Lewis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Joe Lewis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Melendez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lewis's elbow.
And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Lewis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lewis winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Lewis!
The defeated Ricky Melendez had this to say: 'Fuck.'.
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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
30% |
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