PBP Commentary

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

Melendez
vs
Curtin

150 cm
19
130 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

179 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jesus Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Curtin!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez with a poor takedown

and Curtin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Melendez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Curtin is trying to keep an underhook but Melendez manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Melendez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Curtin is just riding it out for now. Melendez eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curtin wants to control but Melendez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Curtin wants to improve his position but Melendez is controlling well.

Melendez is trying to work for a kimura but Curtin is defending well.

Melendez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Curtin defends it well.
We've been hearing good reports from Melendez's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Curtin is defending against the submission attempts here by Melendez.

Melendez is working for a kimura but Curtin is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Curtin wants to get back to full guard.

Curtin pushes Melendez off and gets back to his feet.
Curtin fails to land the takedown.
Melendez darts in looking for a takedown but Curtin gets double underhooks and turns Melendez into the cage.

Melendez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Curtin can't find room to land a body shot as Melendez controls the action.
Melendez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Curtin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jesus Melendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Melendez with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesus Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Curtin stuffs the takedown.

Melendez pushes Curtin up against the cage in a clinch.
Curtin tries to pull guard but Melendez won't allow it.
Melendez wants to take the fight to the mat but Curtin manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Curtin tries to pull guard but Melendez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Curtin jumps guard and drags Melendez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
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!
Curtin pulls Melendez in close to prevent any damage.
Melendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Curtin is keeping the position for now.
Curtin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Melendez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Melendez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Curtin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Melendez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Melendez advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez seems to be working for a kimura but Curtin defends the submission attempt.
Curtin gets back to full guard.

Melendez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

Melendez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Curtin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Curtin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Curtin!

Melendez is not content to let Curtin control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Curtin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Curtin slows the pace down in half guard.
Curtin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jesus Melendez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Melendez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Melendez shoots in looking for a takedown. Curtin tries to sprawl out of it but Melendez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Curtin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Melendez shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesus Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Curtin as Melendez shoots in.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Curtin.

Melendez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Curtin trying to control the position.
Jesus Melendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Melendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Curtin is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Melendez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Curtin controls Melendez momentarily but Melendez frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Curtin thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Curtin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Melendez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Curtin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Curtin has escaped and now he's on top!

Curtin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Melendez wants to sweep here but Curtin controlling him for the moment.

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.
Curtin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Curtin throws an elbow that misses. Melendez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Curtin's guard. Nice move by Melendez!

Melendez throwing strikes from guard but Curtin blocks nicely.

Melendez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Melendez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Melendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Melendez is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Curtin has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Melendez is looking to defend but Curtin has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Melendez! Curtin pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Melendez taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Sam Curtin!