PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Janik Sarkisyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sarkisyan comes to the cage accompanied by "Smack My Bitch Up" by Prodigy. Joshua Melendez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Janik Sarkisyan's chin.

Sarkisyan
vs
Melendez

164 cm
21
138 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Janik Sarkisyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joshua Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Sarkisyan misses.
Melendez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sarkisyan.

Sarkisyan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sarkisyan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Melendez controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Melendez tries to roll over but Sarkisyan keeps him under control.
Melendez pushes Sarkisyan off looking to stand but Sarkisyan dives back in and keeps control.
Melendez wants to get back to full guard.
Melendez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sarkisyan is working away from the top position though.
Sarkisyan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez is trying to control but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sarkisyan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Melendez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sarkisyan is thwarting Melendez's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sarkisyan.
Melendez tries to kick Sarkisyan off but Sarkisyan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Melendez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Melendez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sarkisyan really wants to buck Melendez off and get back to his feet.
Sarkisyan is breathing heavily.
Melendez pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Melendez lands a heavy elbow.
You get the feeling that Sarkisyan really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Melendez is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarkisyan trying desperately to get to his feet.
Melendez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sarkisyan hang on?
Sarkisyan is trying to stand.
Melendez working the ground and pound effectively.
Melendez scoring with strikes but Sarkisyan is staying in there.
Melendez working the ground and pound effectively.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Melendez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Melendez working the ground and pound effectively.

Sarkisyan is rocked!

Sarkisyan defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Melendez.
Oh Sarkisyan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
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 pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez unloading with bombs!
Sarkisyan seems to have got his legs back now.
Melendez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sarkisyan is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Melendez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Melendez working Sarkisyan over with strikes here.
Melendez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sarkisyan hang on?
Melendez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Melendez landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Melendez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sarkisyan really wants to buck Melendez off and get back to his feet.
Melendez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sarkisyan looks a forlorn figure.
Sarkisyan wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Melendez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sarkisyan hang on?
Melendez controlling his opponent.
Melendez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Sarkisyan somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Melendez throws a leg kick but Sarkisyan moved away.
Nice takedown defense from Sarkisyan. No joy for Melendez on that attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sarkisyan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sarkisyan throwing strikes from guard but Melendez blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sarkisyan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Melendez 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.

Melendez tries to clinch there but Sarkisyan circles away.
Melendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sarkisyan circles away.

Melendez drives through and clinches with Sarkisyan against the cage.
Melendez tries a body shot but Sarkisyan blocks it.
Sarkisyan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Melendez.
Sarkisyan goes for a takedown attempt but Melendez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Melendez as Sarkisyan shoots in.
Melendez shoots and misses

and Sarkisyan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Janik Sarkisyan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Melendez.
Sarkisyan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sarkisyan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Melendez defending well though.
Melendez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sarkisyan landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Melendez is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sarkisyan is looking to stand up but Melendez isn't so interested in that idea.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Sarkisyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melendez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sarkisyan kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sarkisyan wants to get back to his feet but Melendez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Melendez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sarkisyan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sarkisyan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Melendez.
Melendez postures up in Sarkisyan's guard and throws a big left but Sarkisyan blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Melendez misses with a double jab.
Sarkisyan fails to land with a series of punches.
Janik Sarkisyan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melendez closes the distance and clinches up with Sarkisyan, looking for a takedown. Melendez pushes Sarkisyan against the cage but Sarkisyan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Sarkisyan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Melendez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Melendez pushes Sarkisyan off and gets back to his feet.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Melendez throws a nice looking combination but Sarkisyan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Sarkisyan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Joshua Melendez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melendez is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Melendez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Melendez is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Melendez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sarkisyan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sarkisyan throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarkisyan in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
You can see the frustration on Melendez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sarkisyan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sarkisyan slips a jab and a cross from Melendez.
Sarkisyan's corner calls for a 1-2. Sarkisyan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Melendez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Melendez tries to clinch up but Sarkisyan circles away and keeps his distance.
Melendez fails to land the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sarkisyan is defended easily by Melendez.
Sarkisyan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Melendez.

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.
Sarkisyan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Melendez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sarkisyan shoots in for a double leg but Melendez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Melendez manages to break the clinch.

Melendez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Melendez scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sarkisyan to see if he's OK.
Sarkisyan is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Melendez lands an elbow.
Melendez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Janik Sarkisyan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sarkisyan avoids the head kick by Melendez.
Sarkisyan slaps away a takedown attempt from Melendez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A punch combination from Sarkisyan misses.
Melendez tries to clinch there but Sarkisyan circles away.
Melendez tries for a takedown but Sarkisyan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Melendez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Melendez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sarkisyan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Janik Sarkisyan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sarkisyan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Melendez momentarily.

Sarkisyan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Melendez is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Melendez taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez is looking to improve his position but Sarkisyan isn't that keen on the idea.
Sarkisyan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Melendez really wants to buck Sarkisyan off and get back to his feet.
Sarkisyan working Melendez over with strikes here.
Sarkisyan scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Melendez?
Sarkisyan working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Melendez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Melendez is trying to escape the mount.
Sarkisyan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sarkisyan lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sarkisyan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Melendez regains half guard.
Melendez trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sarkisyan thows a huge punch but Melendez dodges it nicely.
Sarkisyan thows a huge punch but Melendez dodges it nicely.
Melendez tries to roll over but Sarkisyan keeps him under control.
Sarkisyan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Melendez tries to get to full guard but Sarkisyan has control of the leg.
Melendez has hold of Sarkisyan's hands but Sarkisyan slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Sarkisyan decides to return to a standing position.
Melendez wants to clinch.
Melendez tries to clinch
and Sarkisyan counters with a two punch combo.
Melendez tries to clinch
and Sarkisyan counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sarkisyan throws a shot to the body.
Melendez wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is looking to clinch but Sarkisyan is avoiding it.
Melendez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sarkisyan.
Melendez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sarkisyan.

Melendez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sarkisyan wants to get back to his feet but Melendez drags him back down.
Melendez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Melendez stands up and beckons Sarkisyan to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez shoots for a takedown but Sarkisyan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Janik Sarkisyan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Melendez.
Some wild striking there from Sarkisyan.
Melendez shoots in and drives through. Sarkisyan sprawls well.
Sarkisyan looks to land a combination. Melendez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Melendez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sarkisyan scores with a shot to the body.
Melendez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sarkisyan.
Melendez clinches but Sarkisyan breaks the clinch

and Sarkisyan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sarkisyan.
Sarkisyan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Melendez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sarkisyan manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sarkisyan wants to stand up but Melendez is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Janik Sarkisyan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sarkisyan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Janik Sarkisyan!