PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Rotch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melendez's entrance music is Shinedown - Diamond Eyes. A fine choice. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Melendez
vs
Rotch

175 cm
28
165 lbs
9 - 2 - 2

174 cm
26
162 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

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 9 - 2 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gilbert Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Rotch!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rotch throws a hook but Melendez avoids it easily.

Melendez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rotch sprawls well initially but Melendez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rotch wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rotch tries to kick Melendez off but Melendez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A big right from Rotch misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rotch with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rotch throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Melendez shoots in but Rotch avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Melendez closes the distance and clinches up with Rotch, looking for a takedown. Melendez pushes Rotch against the cage but Rotch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Melendez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rotch misses with a right hand

and Melendez counters with a single leg into guard. Rotch didn't expect that.
Melendez controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gilbert Melendez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rotch throws a series of punches but Melendez avoids them all with ease.
Rotch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rotch uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Melendez has time to react.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rotch bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Melendez's head.
Melendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rotch circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilbert Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melendez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rotch's waist but Rotch gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Melendez off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez fails to land the takedown.
Rotch feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Melendezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rotch lands with a nice body punch.
Rotch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Melendez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rotch.
Rotch rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Melendez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Melendez.
Melendez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Melendez looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gilbert Melendez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Melendez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rotch.

Melendez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rotch was covering up waiting for the punch and Melendez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Melendez wants to pass the guard but Rotch is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Melendez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A big left from Rotch misses.
Nice sprawl there from Rotch as Melendez shoots in.
Rotch misses with an uppercut
and Melendez counters with a left and a right that stings Rotch.
Rotch throws a looping overhand right but Melendez ducks down to avoid it.
Rotch scores with a jab to the jaw.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rotch as he avoids it easily.
Melendez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilbert Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rotch throws a poor cross that misses
and Melendez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rotch throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Melendez counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rotch!
Rotch prevents Melendez from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez staying calm.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gilbert Melendez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rotch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rotch connects with a good right hand that stumbles Melendez. Melendez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mike Rotch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rotch throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Melendez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Melendez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Gilbert Melendez just wasn't active enough.
Melendez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rotch throws a hook to the side of Melendez's head but Melendez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Melendez lands in his opponent's guard.
Rotch seems keen to control Melendez's posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mike Rotch.
Rotch leaves Melendez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rotch misses with a lunging right hand

and Melendez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Melendez moves into full mount! Rotch won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melendez controlling his opponent.
Melendez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Melendez dominated that second round.
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!

Melendez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rotch is fending him off so far but Melendez persists. Nope, Rotch circles away and we're back to standing.
Rotch throws a shot from downtown. Melendez moves away and avoids it.
Melendez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rotch swinging wildly here.
Melendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rotch sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Melendez somewhat.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rotch as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilbert Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez shoots for a takedown but Rotch saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gilbert Melendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Melendez.
Rotch lands a jab to the nose.
Rotch keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rotch throws a left and a right that both miss
and Melendez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rotch thows a body shot but no joy.
Melendez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rotch's waist but Rotch gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Melendez off to one side.
Rotch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Melendez manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotch misses with a hook. Melendez ducked under it nicely.
Melendez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rotch tries to avoid it but Melendez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rotch to the ground. Rotch escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Melendez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rotch pinned against the cage. Rotch gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Melendez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rotch.
Rotch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Melendez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Melendez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rotch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rotch rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Melendez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rotch's guard.
Gilbert Melendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gilbert Melendez.
Melendez lands a jab to Rotch's midsection.
Rotch throws a combination that misses
enabling Melendez to counter with a crisp jab.
Rotch connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Melendez momentarily.
Melendez looks for a takedown but Rotch sprawls well.
Nice defenses there by Melendez.
Mike Rotch seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rotch swings widly with a right hand
and Melendez counters with a three punch combo that has Rotch backing up. Rotch nods at Melendez to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Melendez with that takedown attempt.
Rotch throws out a loose jab but Melendez uses good head movement to avoid it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Melendez is defended easily by Rotch.
Melendez looks for a takedown but Rotch sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melendez shoots in and drives through. Rotch sprawls well.
Mike Rotch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melendez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

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 I reckon that's a shut out for Melendez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gilbert Melendez!
Gilbert Melendez thanked the fans post fight for their support.