PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Kingston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kingston comes to the cage accompanied by 2pac - I'm Soulja. Melendez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 2Pac-Ballad of a Dead Soulja. The key to victory for Nate Kingston has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kingston
vs
Melendez

186 cm
21
169 lbs
2 - 1 - 2

175 cm
26
165 lbs
5 - 1 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nate Kingston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gilbert Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kingston throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Melendez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kingston is trying to maintain the position but Melendez is very close to passing his half guard.

Kingston looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kingston is trying to get back to full guard.

Kingston looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kingston is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Melendez pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kingston wants to get back to full guard.
Kingston is pressing down on Melendez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Kingston looking for a guillotine here but Melendez defends easily.

Kingston is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Melendez is aware though and is defending well.
Kingston will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kingston escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Melendez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Melendez looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kingston escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Melendez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kingston is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Melendez defends well.
Kingston not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kingston has an active guard here but Melendez has managed to pass into half guard.
Kingston is trying to stand.
Kingston is looking for a sweep. Melendez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kingston regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kingston bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Melendez's guard.
Kingston wants to pass the guard but Melendez is keeping the position.
Melendez has control of Kingston's left arm, preventing Kingston from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kingston drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Melendez dives on top into guard.

Kingston working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Melendez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Melendez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Kingston is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Melendez is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kingston throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kingston wants to sweep here but Melendez controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Kingston dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Melendez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kingston.
Kingston wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kingston pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Melendez back to the cage. Kingston follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Gilbert Melendez has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Kingston. Those never looked like landing.
Kingston throws a combination that misses

and Melendez counters with a shoot takedown. Kingston fights it but they end up in guard.

Melendez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kingston has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Melendez has managed to get both his arms back between Kingston's legs - danger averted.

Kingston working for a triangle but Melendez defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melendez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kingston pulls Melendez in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Melendez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gilbert Melendez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kingston misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kingston fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kingston throws a nice looking combination but Melendez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kingston tries to land a leg kick but Melendez saw it coming and moves away.
Kingston throws a right and a left that Melendez avoids nicely.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kingston lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Melendez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Melendez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Melendez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kingston, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kingston gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Melendez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kingston is defending well.
Melendez is working for takedown but Kingston is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nate Kingston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.
Melendez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kingston is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Melendez gets through Kingston's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Melendez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Melendez has Kingston pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kingston manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Melendez slows down the pace here.

Melendez gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kingston slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Kingston looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Kingston is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kingston working for a triangle but Melendez defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kingston looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gilbert Melendez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gilbert Melendez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kingston leaves Melendez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kingston throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kingston swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kingston's corner calls for a 1-2. Kingston obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Melendez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nate Kingston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Melendez. Kingston does a little dance to reset his feet.
Melendez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kingston.
Kingston misses with a two punch combination.
Kingston looks to land a combination but Melendez avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kingston misses with a double jab.
A leg kick checked by Melendez.

Melendez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kingston, pushing him back against the cage.

Melendez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Kingston is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Melendez is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kingston working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Melendez has passed into half guard!
Kingston trying to control from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Melendez in particular looking to stall.
Kingston is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Melendez jumps into side control!
Kingston tries to buck Melendez off but Melendez is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kingston seems a little lost for a moment, as Melendez dominates the positioning.
Kingston wants to control but Melendez postures up.
Kingston gets back to half guard.
Melendez trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gilbert Melendez.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but Kingston shows good takedown defense.
Nate Kingston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melendez forces Kingston back against the cage and clinches.

Melendez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Kingston clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Kingston trying to control the hands but Melendez breaks the grip.
Melendez is hanging on to Kingston's back as he tries to escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kingston trying to control the hands but Melendez won't let him.
Kingston can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gilbert Melendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Melendez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gilbert Melendez!
Gilbert Melendez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.