PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Cracker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lanel John Melegrito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Cracker
vs
John Melegrito

195 cm
25
235 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
24
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jack Cracker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lanel John Melegrito!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Santiago Holmes and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Melegrito darts in and clinches Cracker up against the cage.
Melegrito is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cracker is defending well for now.

Cracker breaks the clinch.
Melegrito with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cracker to score with a decent uppercut.
Cracker shoots in but Melegrito avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Cracker rushes Melegrito and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Melegrito tries to land a knee to the head but Cracker blocks with his arms.

Melegrito pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Melegrito's coach down at Evolution MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Melegrito's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Melegrito throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melegrito is looking to clinch but Cracker is avoiding it.

Cracker closes the distance and pushes Melegrito back into the cage.

Melegrito breaks the clinch.
Cracker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melegrito avoids the head kick by Cracker.
Cracker looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cracker tries a low kick but Melegrito avoids it.

Melegrito gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Melegrito blocking some punches.
Melegrito tries to land a knee to the head but Cracker blocks with his arms.
Cracker has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Melegrito after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Cracker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Melegrito breaks from the clinch.

Melegrito tries to keep at a distance but Cracker has taken the fight into the clinch.

Melegrito manages to break the clinch.
Cracker is trying hard to land a takedown here. Melegrito sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Cracker moves into range and clinches up with Melegrito.

Melegrito escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Melegrito scores with a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melegrito clinches with his opponent.

Melegrito breaks from the clinch.

Melegrito clinches up with Cracker and pushes him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee calls for Melegrito to work.
Melegrito with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Melegrito leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cracker wants to get back to striking at distance but Melegrito won't allow it.

Melegrito breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Melegrito moves in looking to clinch but Cracker pushes him off.
Cracker half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cracker swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Melegrito counters with a good, hard body kick but Cracker shrugs it off.
Lanel John Melegrito is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Melegrito tries to close the distance and clinch but Cracker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cracker appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Some wild striking there from Melegrito.
Cracker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cracker dives in and grabs Melegrito's left leg, looking for a takedown. Melegrito pushes down on Cracker's head and hops out.

Melegrito forces Cracker back against the cage and clinches.
Cracker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Melegrito missing with knees to the body.

Melegrito escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Melegrito jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Melegrito wants to clinch up but Cracker keeps it at a distance.
Cracker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Melegrito swivels and escapes.
Melegrito is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melegrito tries to clinch there but Cracker circles away.
It looked like Cracker wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Both fighters circling a little - Melegrito finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A jab from Cracker misses.
Cracker dives in and grabs Melegrito's left leg, looking for a takedown. Melegrito pushes down on Cracker's head and hops out.
Melegrito looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cracker is breathing heavily.
Cracker shoots in but Melegrito avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Melegrito takes the fight into the clinch.
Melegrito with an attempt at a knee that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Melegrito breaks the clinch.
Melegrito avoids a punch combination nicely.
Melegrito tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cracker shoots in for a double leg but Melegrito sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lanel John Melegrito dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Melegrito tries to clinch up but Cracker circles away and keeps his distance.
Melegrito tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cracker counters with a left and a right that stings Melegrito.
Melegrito looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cracker lands with an overhand left.
Melegrito misses with a series of wild punches.
Melegrito throws a head kick that Cracker semi-blocks.

It looks like Jack Cracker has been cut.
Lanel John Melegrito seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melegrito scores with a leg kick.
Melegrito is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A punch combination from Melegrito misses.
Melegrito steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Cracker. That one must have hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cracker takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Cracker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Melegrito throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cracker has a takedown stuffed.
Cracker slips a jab and a cross from Melegrito.
Melegrito misses with a series of wild punches.
Jack Cracker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cracker has managed to clinch.

Cracker manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Melegrito showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Melegrito is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cracker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Melegrito won't allow Cracker to sweep him here.
Melegrito throwing strikes from guard but Cracker blocks nicely.

Cracker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melegrito is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melegrito postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cracker is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Melegrito, into his guard.

Melegrito wants to stand up but Cracker is controlling him.
Cracker is looking to work some ground and pound but Melegrito has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cracker works over Melegrito with some ground and pound from guard.

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

Cracker gets to his feet - Melegrito follows without any prompting.
Melegrito slaps away a takedown attempt from Cracker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Good leg kick by Melegrito there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cracker shoots for a double leg takedown but Melegrito sprawls well. He's pushed Cracker's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Cracker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melegrito misses with a jab, cross combination.

Melegrito moves into the clinch.
Cracker is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Melegrito is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lanel John Melegrito will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jack Cracker's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Melegrito goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Cracker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Melegrito circles away.
Melegrito looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Melegrito wants to clinch up but Cracker keeps it at a distance.

Melegrito closes the distance and clinches.

Melegrito pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Melegrito clinches with his opponent.
Cracker goes for a takedown attempt but Melegrito pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Cracker moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melegrito throws a head punch that misses.
Melegrito is leaning against Cracker and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cracker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melegrito breaks from the clinch.
Melegrito wants to clinch up but Cracker keeps it at a distance.
Cracker goes for a double leg but Melegrito avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Melegrito continues to drive forward.
Cracker sets himself, and Melegrito steps forward looking for the clinch! Cracker avoids it this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Cracker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters circling - Melegrito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cracker shoots in but no luck this time.

Cracker instigates a clinch.
Melegrito has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melegrito pressing his opponent against the cage.
Cracker has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Melegrito avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Melegrito breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Melegrito has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melegrito is pushing Cracker up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Melegrito is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cracker has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Melegrito after a bit of a struggle.

Melegrito breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cracker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Melegrito pinned against the cage. Melegrito gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Melegrito gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Melegrito has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cracker off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Melegrito. No joy for Cracker on that attempt.
Cracker closes the distance and clinches up with Melegrito, looking for a takedown. Cracker pushes Melegrito against the cage but Melegrito circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Melegrito misses with a jab, cross combination.

Melegrito clinches up with Cracker and pushes him back against the cage.

Melegrito breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Melegrito tries to bum rush Cracker with a series of wild strikes but Cracker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Melegrito is looking to clinch but Cracker is avoiding it.
Cracker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Melegrito moves into the clinch successfully.

Melegrito breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cracker stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Melegrito.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melegrito closes the distance and pushes Cracker back into the cage.

Melegrito escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cracker tries to keep at a distance but Melegrito has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cracker drops down looking for an ankle pick but Melegrito pulls his leg out and moves away.
Melegrito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cracker seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Cracker changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Melegrito looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Melegrito is trying to improve his position.
Jack Cracker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
You can see the frustration on Melegrito's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Melegrito tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lanel John Melegrito comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Melegrito 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lanel John Melegrito!