PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kimo Saunafinne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melendez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. El Coo Cooi kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Saunafinne
vs
Melendez

176 cm
19
161 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
19
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kimo Saunafinne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Xavier Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez avoids the head kick by Saunafinne.
Melendez dodges the punch combination from Saunafinne.
Melendez connects with a nice looking jab.

Melendez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Melendez distracts Saunafinne with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Melendez advances to half guard.
Melendez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Melendez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Saunafinne is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melendez throwing shots but Saunafinne is blocking nicely.

Saunafinne actively working from the bottom here.
Melendez is taking a breather. Saunafinne says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez stops Saunafinne from getting back to his feet.
Well, if Melendez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Some wild striking there from Saunafinne.

Melendez takes the fight into the clinch.

Melendez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Saunafinne is trying to keep an underhook but Melendez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Saunafinne is looking to escape.
Melendez moves into full mount! Saunafinne won't be happy about that!
Melendez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Melendez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Saunafinne looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez controlling from the full mount.
Saunafinne is in a horrible position here. Melendez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Melendez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saunafinne is looking to escape.
Melendez landing strikes, looking to finish!
Saunafinne keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Melendez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Saunafinne looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Melendez cracks Saunafinne with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Melendez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Saunafinne turns into him and now he's in Melendez's guard.
Melendez pulls Saunafinne in close to his closed guard and prevents Saunafinne from doing any damage or advancing position.

Saunafinne gets to his feet - Melendez follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melendez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Melendez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Saunafinne is bucking up trying to escape but Melendez cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
A nice elbow there by Melendez.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melendez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Saunafinne is in all sorts of trouble here.
Saunafinne is breathing heavily.
Melendez wants to control the pace but Saunafinne is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melendez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Melendez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Melendez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Melendez clinches.
Melendez wants a takedown.
Saunafinne tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Melendez smiles and moves away.
Kimo Saunafinne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saunafinne moves in looking to clinch but Melendez pushes him off.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Melendez.
Saunafinne can't do much from the bottom here.
Saunafinne tries to buck Melendez off but Melendez is having none of it.
Melendez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Melendez happy to just control the position for now.
Saunafinne manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez tries to roll over but Saunafinne keeps him under control.
Xavier Melendez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Saunafinne stands up from half guard.

Melendez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Melendez is breathing heavily.
Melendez wants to pass to mount but Saunafinne is defending the position.
Melendez trying to control from Saunafinne's half guard. Saunafinne has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Melendez scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to control but Saunafinne is working from the bottom.
Saunafinne is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melendez scoring with some ground and pound.

Saunafinne working for a triangle but Melendez defends it easily.
Melendez lands a couple of digs.
Melendez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Melendez works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunafinne wants to control but Melendez is keeping busy.
Saunafinne is trying to stand.
Melendez is just content to waste time from the top position. Saunafinne takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Melendez working some strikes from top position.
Melendez stands up over Saunafinne, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Melendez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Melendez looking to sit in guard and control but Saunafinne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Saunafinne wanted to stand there but Melendez had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Saunafinne would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Melendez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Saunafinne closes the distance but Melendez moves to the side

and Melendez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Melendez.
Melendez chips away with some ground and pound.
Melendez working some strikes from top position.
Melendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Saunafinne is retaining full guard.
Melendez passes Saunafinne's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Melendez is nestled in close to Saunafinne, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Melendez is looking to stall here but Saunafinne recovers full guard.
Melendez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Saunafinne's head.
Melendez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Melendez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Melendez trying to control but Saunafinne is working from the bottom.
Melendez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saunafinne working for submissions but it's allowed Melendez to get to half guard.
Melendez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Melendez punishing his opponent with strikes.
Melendez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Melendez content just to control the position here.
Saunafinne working to try and regain half guard.
Xavier Melendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez content just to control the position here.
Saunafinne tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Melendez controlling his opponent.
Saunafinne is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez content just to control the position here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Xavier Melendez just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Melendez tries to bum rush Saunafinne with a series of wild strikes but Saunafinne uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Saunafinne tries a head kick but it misses.
Melendez misses with a series of wild punches.

Melendez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Saunafinne!
Saunafinne is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kimo Saunafinne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

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