PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AkoSii Gajo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Melendez
vs
Gajo

183 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gilbert Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, AkoSii Gajo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gajo has Melendez pressed against the cage, preventing Melendez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Melendez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gajo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gajo goes for a takedown attempt but Melendez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Melendez looks to land a combination but Gajo avoids it well.
Melendez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Gajo has Melendez up against the cage in a clinch.

Melendez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck for Gajo with that takedown attempt.
Melendez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Melendez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Melendez tries to sprawl but Gajo drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Gajo seems to be working for a kimura but Melendez defends the submission attempt.
Melendez pushes Gajo off looking to stand but Gajo dives back in and keeps control.

Gajo decides to return to a standing position.
A punch combination from Melendez misses.

Gajo has Melendez up against the cage in a clinch.
Melendez is trying to break the clinch but Gajo has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to break free but Gajo has control.
Melendez is trying to break the clinch but Gajo has him pressed against the cage.
Gajo stalling in the clinch.
Gajo is looking for a takedown.
Gilbert Melendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AkoSii Gajo.
Gajo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Melendez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gajo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Melendez tries to avoid it but Gajo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Melendez to the ground. Melendez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
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 throws a combination that misses
and Gajo counters with a three punch combo that has Melendez backing up. Melendez nods at Gajo to acknowledge the strikes.
Gajo shoots in looking for a takedown but Melendez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gajo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gajo looks winded!
Melendez misses with a double jab
and Gajo counters with a one-two to the body.

Gajo rushes Melendez and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gajo has Melendez pressed against the cage, preventing Melendez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Gajo manages to break the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Gajo blocks the leg kick.
Melendez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gajo.
Melendez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gajo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Melendez misses with a combination

and Gajo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Melendez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gajo is trying to force a seperation but Melendez has the dominant position.
Gajo missing with knees to the body.

Gajo pulls Melendez into guard.
Melendez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gajo is proving hard to escape from.
Gajo controlling the position.

Gajo scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Melendez leaves Gajo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Melendez stuffs the takedown attempt from Gajo. Gajo gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gajo shoots for a double leg takedown but Melendez sprawls well. He's pushed Gajo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Melendez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Melendez misses with the combination.
Good standup being displayed there by Melendez as he connects with a hook.
Melendez avoids the head kick by Gajo.
Melendez moves in looking to clinch but Gajo pushes him off.
Melendez throws a right and a left that Gajo avoids nicely.
Gajo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Gajo tries for a takedown but Melendez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gajo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Melendez sprawls well. Melendez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gajo gets slowly back to his feet.
Gajo shoots in but no luck this time.
Gilbert Melendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AkoSii Gajo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez throws the kick towards the body but Gajo avoids it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melendez tries to bum rush Gajo with a series of wild strikes but Gajo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Gajo clinches up against the cage.

Gajo decides to pull guard.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Gajo keeps moving.
Gajo trying to control the position.
Melendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gajo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Gajo is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Gajo has his foot on Melendez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Melendez works his way back into a safe position though.

Gajo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Melendez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gajo keeping full guard, as Melendez tries to pass.
Melendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Gajo is looking for a triangle but Melendez pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gajo has Melendez pulled in close to control his posture.
Melendez looking to sit in guard and control but Gajo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Melendez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gajo on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gajo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Melendez managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gajo.
Gajo remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Gajo tries for a kimura but Melendez is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gajo sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Melendez is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Gajo decides to stand back up.
Gilbert Melendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Melendez. No joy for Gajo on that attempt.
Gajo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Melendez is fending him off so far but Gajo persists. Nope, Melendez circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gajo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
AkoSii Gajo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gajo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice uppercut there from Gajo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AkoSii Gajo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

No luck for Gajo with that takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gajo is defended easily by Melendez.
Melendez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gajo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gajo closes the distance and clinches up with Melendez, looking for a takedown. Gajo pushes Melendez against the cage but Melendez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gilbert Melendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AkoSii Gajo.

Gajo gets tackled into the cage by Melendez. Melendez maintains the clinch.
Gajo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gajo tries to pull guard but Melendez won't allow it.
Melendez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gajo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gajo is trying to pull guard but Melendez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Melendez is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez wants to get back to striking at distance but Gajo won't allow it.
Melendez tries to break free but Gajo pushes him back against the cage.
Gajo is working for takedown but Melendez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gajo keeps control of Melendez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Melendez has had enough of the clinch but Gajo keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Melendez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Melendez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Melendez wants to get back to striking at distance but Gajo won't allow it.
Melendez avoiding damage as Gajo throws knees to the body.

Melendez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Melendez does no damage.
Gajo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gajo eats them both and turns towards Melendez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Melendez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gajo tries for a takedown but Melendez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gajo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Melendez as he jumps to the side.
Melendez with a jab.
Gajo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Melendez avoids it really well and circles away.
A punch combination from Melendez misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez forces Gajo back against the cage and clinches.
A left hand lands to the body for Gajo.

Gajo pulls guard successfully.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gajo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Melendez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gajo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Melendez has Gajo in his guard.
Gajo controlling from the top position.
Gajo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Melendez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gajo is controlling him.
Melendez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gajo controlling from the top position.
Gajo forces his way into half guard.
Gilbert Melendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
AkoSii Gajo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gajo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gilbert Melendez.
Well Gajo 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AkoSii Gajo!