PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Adams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monte Melkonian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melkonian has chosen Artsakh Music as his entrance music. Samuel Adams has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Adams
vs
Melkonian

190 cm
19
260 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
29
221 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Samuel Adams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Monte Melkonian!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Adams misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Melkonian scoring well with a low kick there.
Adams misses with a takedown attempt - Melkonian sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Melkonian lets loose with a powerful body kick. Adams will feel that in the morning.
Melkonian lands with a thumping leg kick.
Adams is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Melkonian looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Adams can't keep his opponent in guard - Melkonian advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Adams is not content to let Melkonian control the position.

Melkonian seems to be looking for submissions.
Melkonian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Adams keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adams trying to control here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Melkonian lands a nice short elbow.

Adams is defending against the submission attempts here by Melkonian.
Adams is trying to control but can't.

Melkonian is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Melkonian seems to be working for a kimura but Adams defends the submission attempt.

Melkonian is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Adams has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adams holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Adams could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Melkonian wants to take a breather but Adams is having none of it.
Melkonian passes to full mount!

Melkonian looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Adams tries to hold on but Melkonian pushes him away.

Melkonian is working for a guillotine from mount but Adams frees his head quite easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melkonian tries to control but Adams wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adams is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Melkonian is working for a guillotine from mount but Adams frees his head quite easily.
Adams is looking to improve his position but Melkonian isn't that keen on the idea.

Melkonian goes for an armbar but Adams turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Adams.
Melkonian looking for a sweep. Not yet Melkonian, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adams postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Adams is looking to pass into half guard but Melkonian pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Melkonian is in guard.
Melkonian won't allow Adams to sweep him here.
Melkonian passes Adams's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Melkonian wants to work for an arm triangle but Adams is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Adams is trying to get back to full guard.
Melkonian wants to advance to full mount but Adams doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melkonian preventing the sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Adams wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Melkonian sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Melkonian dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Adams fails to land the takedown.
Melkonian throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Adams's waist but Adams gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Melkonian off to one side.

Melkonian throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Adams was covering up waiting for the punch and Melkonian finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Adams not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Adams working a defensive guard but Melkonian passes into half guard.
Adams gets full guard.
Melkonian is looking to stand up but Adams won't let him.
Melkonian trying to control the position from guard on top but Adams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melkonian would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Adams is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melkonian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Adams swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Adams is pulling down on Melkonian's head. It's preventing any offense from Melkonian, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Adams closes this distance looking for a takedown but Melkonian circles away.

Melkonian gets a double leg takedown into Adams's guard.

Adams looking for a guillotine here but Melkonian defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melkonian wants to pass the guard but Adams is keeping the position.
Melkonian must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adams looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melkonian is one step ahead there.
Adams controls Melkonian momentarily but Melkonian frees himself.
Melkonian throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Adams works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melkonian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Melkonian trying to control the position from guard on top but Adams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Monte Melkonian.
Adams closes the distance and clinches up with Melkonian, looking for a takedown. Adams pushes Melkonian against the cage but Melkonian circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Adams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melkonian shoots in but no luck this time.
Adams tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Melkonian swivels and escapes.
Adams tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Melkonian swivels and escapes.
Melkonian has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Adams is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Melkonian fails with the takedown.
Adams closes this distance looking for a takedown but Melkonian circles away.

Adams gets the takedown into side control.
Melkonian tries to escape but Adams is in control.
Melkonian struggling a bit here.

Adams goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Melkonian has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Adams but great work by Melkonian.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melkonian tries for a kimura but Adams is defending well.
Adams is not content to let Melkonian control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Adams can't do much from the bottom here.
Melkonian misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Adams seems a little lost for a moment, as Melkonian dominates the positioning.

Melkonian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Adams tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Melkonian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Melkonian closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Adams quickly recovers to half guard.
Adams trying to hold on to Melkonian's head to control him but Melkonian postures up.
Melkonian wants to control but Adams is keeping him busy.

Melkonian seems to be working for a kimura but Adams defends the submission attempt.
Adams has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Melkonian is working away from the top position though.
Melkonian is keen to just control but Adams is a slippery customer.

Melkonian is working for a kimura but Adams is defending it quite comfortably.

Melkonian seems to be working for a kimura but Adams defends the submission attempt.
Melkonian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adams moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Adams avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Melkonian has gone for a leg lock! Adams slips out almost immediately though and dives into Melkonian's guard.
Adams landing with the ground and pound.
Adams connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adams content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Melkonian not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Adams tries to stand but Melkonian is controlling from the bottom.
Melkonian keeping moving, preventing Adams from controlling successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melkonian tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Adams wants to control from the top but Melkonian keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Adams closes the distance and clinches.

Melkonian pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Adams.
Adams fails with the takedown

and Melkonian counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Adams tries to score a body lock takedown but Melkonian shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Adams. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Melkonian jumps guard and drags Adams to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Adams looking to sit in guard and control but Melkonian gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Monte Melkonian has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melkonian wants to control from the top but Adams keeps moving.
Melkonian slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adams tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Melkonian wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Melkonian working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Melkonian is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Adams has escaped the position, nice work there.
Samuel Adams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melkonian in side control, throwing shots but Adams defends.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melkonian sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Adams is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Adams struggling a bit here.
Monte Melkonian is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Adams misses with a strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Monte Melkonian.
Well Melkonian 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monte Melkonian!
Monte Melkonian gave a mention to Das Labor in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).