PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcin Lasota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Melendez
vs
Lasota

168 cm
26
143 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

165 cm
25
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Hellbent

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 Las Vegas, Anthony Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcin Lasota!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Columbo Gatti and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lasota scores with a crisp jab that stopped Melendez in his tracks.
Melendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Melendez misses with a kick to the body.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Lasota closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lasota is trying to stall.
Lasota lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lasota gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Melendez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melendez is trying to break the clinch but Lasota has him pressed against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Lasota.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez has Lasota pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lasota manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A bit of stalling here from Lasota.

Lasota has clasped his hands together around Melendez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Melendez tries to buck Lasota off but Lasota is having none of it.
Melendez is working hard here to advance position.
Lasota throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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Melendez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Melendez wants to get back to full guard.
Lasota not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Melendez trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Lasota manages to pass to mount!
Poor strikes thrown by Lasota there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Melendez blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lasota controlling from the full mount.
Melendez slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Melendez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lasota wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melendez keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lasota slows the pace down in half guard.
Melendez trying to control here.
Lasota is pressing down on Melendez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Melendez is holding on for now.
Melendez wants to control but Lasota is keeping busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lasota lands a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcin Lasota dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lasota keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lasota looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Lasota circles away easily
and Lasota counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Melendez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lasota sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lasota tries to counter by closing the distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lasota has a takedown stuffed.
Melendez looks for a takedown but Lasota sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melendez drops his hands momentarily and Lasota takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt
and Lasota counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lasota tries to close the distance and clinch up but Melendez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lasota has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melendez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lasota defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Melendez.
Melendez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Melendez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lasota defends it nicely.
Lasota clobbers Melendez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Melendez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lasota tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Melendez is in Lasota's guard.
Melendez is looking to work some ground and pound but Lasota has wrist control.
Melendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lasota is keeping the position for now.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Lasota is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lasota wants to stand and escape but Melendez is having none of it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Our spies down at at The Iron Palace inform us that Lasota has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Lasota preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marcin Lasota seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lasota scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez ducks right into an uppercut from Lasota.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Melendez shoots in but Lasota avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Melendez takes one to the chin there.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but Lasota shows good takedown defense.
Lasota clobbers Melendez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Melendez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Melendez is trying to keep Lasota in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lasota wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
Melendez controls Lasota momentarily but Lasota frees himself.
Melendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lasota is pushing down on Melendez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Melendez is fighting to maintain full guard but Lasota has managed to sneak the leg through.
Melendez trying to hold on to Lasota's head to control him but Lasota postures up.
Melendez wants to improve his position but Lasota is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcin Lasota showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Lasota closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Melendez quickly recovers to half guard.
Melendez tries to roll over but Lasota keeps him under control.
Lasota trying to control the action but Melendez is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lasota wants to stand up but Melendez has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lasota not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Melendez moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lasota preventing the sweep.
Melendez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A punch lands to the side of Melendez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lasota lands with an overhand left.
Lasota might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Lasota looks for a takedown but Melendez sprawls well.
Melendez is looking to counter the offense by Lasota and move into the clinch.
Melendez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt - Lasota sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lasota is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Lasota. No joy for Melendez on that attempt.
Melendez throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Lasota counters with a single leg into guard. Melendez didn't expect that.

Lasota got a little sloppy there for a moment and Melendez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lasota has managed to get both his arms back between Melendez's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lasota thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lasota's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez keeping full guard, as Lasota tries to pass.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Melendez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Melendez dives in and grabs Lasota's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lasota pushes down on Melendez's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lasota stuffs the takedown.
Melendez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lasota avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Melendez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lasota gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Melendez lands a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Lasota keeps moving.
Melendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Lasota is retaining full guard.
Marcin Lasota is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Melendez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Melendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Melendez lands a couple of digs.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Lasota is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lasota wants to sweep here but Melendez controlling him for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcin Lasota comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lasota 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcin Lasota!
A very excited looking Marcin Lasota rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.