PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juan Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Dela Cruz could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Anthony Melendez's chin.

Dela Cruz
vs
Melendez

160 cm
25
130 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

168 cm
26
143 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Top Dogs

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juan Dela Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Melendez!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dela Cruz goes for a double leg but Melendez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Melendez continues to drive forward.
Dela Cruz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Melendez pulls his leg out and moves away.

Melendez feints and as Dela Cruz raises his hands in defense, Melendez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Melendez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Melendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dela Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Melendez content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dela Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Melendez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz keeping moving, preventing Melendez from controlling successfully.
Melendez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Melendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dela Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Melendez landing with the ground and pound.
Dela Cruz is looking to stand up but Melendez isn't so interested in that idea.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Dela Cruz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Melendez wants to control but Dela Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Melendez tries to get to full guard but Dela Cruz has control of the leg.
Melendez is staying active underneath Dela Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Melendez gets back to full guard.
Melendez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dela Cruz's guard.

Melendez is working Dela Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Dela Cruz keeps moving.
Dela Cruz being controlled here, momentarily.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Dela Cruz keeps moving.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Melendez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dela Cruz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Melendez, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Melendez controlling Dela Cruz's posture.
Melendez wants to improve his position but instead Dela Cruz has moved into half guard.
Melendez holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Melendez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dela Cruz shoots in but Melendez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dela Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Melendez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dela Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dela Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Melendez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Melendez is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Dela Cruz can't fight it off and eventually Melendez manages to take the fight to the floor. Dela Cruz looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Melendez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Melendez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez stops Dela Cruz from standing up.
Melendez stays in close to Dela Cruz's body and controls the position.
Melendez pushes down on Dela Cruz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Melendez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dela Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Melendez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Melendez is working for a kimura but Dela Cruz is defending it quite comfortably.
Dela Cruz is looking to escape.
Melendez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Melendez in particular looking to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Melendez trying to control from half guard but Dela Cruz is working away.
Melendez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Melendez trying to control from half guard but Dela Cruz is working away.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Melendez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dela Cruz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Melendez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is refusing to be controlled, as Melendez sits in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Melendez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dela Cruz taking some punishment here, with Melendez in his half guard.
Melendez works his way into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melendez wants to control but Dela Cruz is keeping him busy.
Melendez passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Dela Cruz!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Melendez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Melendez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Melendez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dela Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Melendez is looking for a kimura here.
Dela Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Melendez wants to work for an arm triangle but Dela Cruz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Dela Cruz wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez is looking to advance position but Dela Cruz won't allow it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melendez is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dela Cruz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Melendez's waist but Melendez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dela Cruz off to one side.

Melendez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Melendez stalling.
Dela Cruz is not content to let Melendez control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Anthony Melendez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dela Cruz is trying to stand back up but Melendez is controlling him
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Melendez in particular looking to stall.
Dela Cruz is not content to let Melendez control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Melendez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Melendez is putting a hurting on Dela Cruz here, landing some big shots from side control.
Melendez in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Melendez tries to move to mount but Dela Cruz blocks the move with his legs.
Melendez is putting a hurting on Dela Cruz here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez scores with punches from side control.
Melendez is working Dela Cruz over with some ground and pound from side control.
Melendez advances to mount.
Melendez landing strikes from the mount and Dela Cruz is in trouble!
Juan Dela Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melendez trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Melendez moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Dela Cruz has worked his arm free - good work by Dela Cruz!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dela Cruz is looking to get back to his feet here but Melendez is keeping cool and he's managed to take Dela Cruz's back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Melendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Melendez 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 25:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Melendez!