PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentin Milev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Melendez
vs
Milev

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricardo Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valentin Milev!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Milev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Melendez did well to prevent Milev getting side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Milev is keen to just control but Melendez is a slippery customer.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Milev in particular looking to stall.
Melendez gets back to full guard.
Milev prevents Melendez from getting back to his feet.
Melendez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Valentin Milev.

Milev clinches.

Milev pulls guard effortlessly.

Melendez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Milev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Melendez has managed to get both his arms back between Milev's legs - danger averted.
Melendez content to stall in guard here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melendez is working Milev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Melendez is in close to Milev's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Melendez stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Milev shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Melendez is trying to defend but Milev finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Melendez wants to get back to full guard.

Melendez looking for subs from the bottom but Milev mounts him!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez wants to hold on but Milev pushes him away.
Melendez regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to improve his position but Milev is controlling well.
Melendez works his way to full guard. Good work.
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 looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Melendez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Milev postures up in Melendez's guard and throws a big left but Melendez blocks it.

Melendez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Milev defends it easily.
Melendez trying to keep a closed guard but Milev is proving a slippery customer.

Melendez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Milev defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milev tries to stand but Melendez is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melendez controlling the position.
Milev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Melendez trying to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Milev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Melendez looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricardo Melendez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Milev cracks Melendez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Milev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Milev trying to mount his opponent but Melendez defends it.
Milev thows a huge punch but Melendez dodges it nicely.

Melendez actively working from the bottom here.
Melendez is breathing heavily.
Milev is pressing down on Melendez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Melendez is holding on for now.
Milev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Milev wants to work for an arm triangle but Melendez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valentin Milev will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Milev darts in and clinches Melendez up against the cage.

Milev jumps guard.
Melendez trying to control but Milev is working from the bottom.
Melendez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Milev's head.
Melendez connects with a couple of short punches.
Milev keeping moving, preventing Melendez from controlling successfully.
Melendez postures up.
Melendez passes Milev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Milev tries to get to full guard but Melendez has control of the leg.
Milev is trying to control but Melendez passes into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milev takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Melendez scores with a couple of short elbows.
Melendez in side control, throwing shots but Milev defends.
Melendez advances nicely into full mount.
Melendez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Milev's face.

Milev has left one of his arms exposed and Melendez doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Milev screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ricardo Melendez!