PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monte Melkonian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor comes into the arena with This Fire Burns blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Melkonian's choice of entrance music: Artsakh Music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Taylor
vs
Melkonian

190 cm
28
240 lbs
4 - 6 - 1

180 cm
30
222 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

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 4 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shawn Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Monte Melkonian!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melkonian fails to land the takedown.
Taylor dives in for a single leg takedown but Melkonian sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Melkonian avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Melkonian unleashes a big counter combination but Taylor bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Taylor doesn't manage to clinch there - Melkonian circles away.

Melkonian drops Taylor with a right and a left! Melkonian comes rushing in but Taylor regains his composure and manages to keep Melkonian in guard.

It looks like Shawn Taylor has been cut.
Melkonian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Melkonian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Melkonian wants to pass the guard but Taylor is keeping the position.
Melkonian stopping the sweep attempt from Taylor.
Melkonian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor wants to sweep but no luck.
Melkonian controls from within his opponent's guard.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melkonian is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Melkonian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Melkonian tries to free his leg and advance position but Taylor is retaining full guard.
Melkonian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Melkonian drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Melkonian wants to stand but Taylor has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Melkonian from controlling successfully.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Melkonian trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Melkonian sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melkonian trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Melkonian is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Taylor is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Taylor has escaped and now he's on top!

Melkonian pulls Taylor 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Melkonian is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Melkonian avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Melkonian wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Taylor is now in half guard.
Taylor trying to control the action but Melkonian is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Melkonian is trying to stand back up but Taylor is controlling him
Melkonian is doing well to control the position and prevent Taylor from advancing to side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Melkonian tries for a takedown but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Melkonian throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taylor was covering up waiting for the punch and Melkonian finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Melkonian won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Melkonian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taylor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Melkonian dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shawn Taylor's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Melkonian throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Melkonian is in Taylor's guard.
Monte Melkonian has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melkonian tries to free his leg and advance position but Taylor is retaining full guard.
Melkonian trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Melkonian won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.

Melkonian postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Taylor is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Melkonian, into his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor trying to control but Melkonian is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melkonian pulls Taylor in close to prevent any damage.
Melkonian is looking to sweep but instead, Taylor has passed into half guard.
Taylor prevents Melkonian from improving his position.
Melkonian on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Taylor tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Melkonian.

Melkonian makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Melkonian shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Melkonian's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Taylor with a lazy takedown attempt

and Melkonian counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Taylor!

Melkonian is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taylor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Taylor throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Taylor sneaks back into half guard.
Melkonian has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Taylor wants to control but Melkonian is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melkonian working for a submission but Taylor is keeping him at bay.
Melkonian thowing shots but they're missing.
Melkonian avoids the attempt from Taylor to control.
Melkonian trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Melkonian working for a guillotine from mount but Taylor is in no mood to give up.
Melkonian throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Melkonian trying to control but Taylor is having none of it.
Melkonian looking to finish with strikes here!
Melkonian wants to control the pace but Taylor is squirming around nicely.
Melkonian landing strikes from the mount and Taylor is in trouble!

Melkonian with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor gets back to half guard.
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 cut man is working on Shawn Taylor's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taylor tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A right-left combo lands from Melkonian.

Shawn Taylor's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Melkonian scores with a takedown into Taylor's guard.

Taylor scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Taylor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Taylor is looking for a counter combo.

Melkonian shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Taylor's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Melkonian trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taylor looking to control.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melkonian is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Melkonian from controlling successfully.
Taylor is trying to keep Melkonian in close.
Melkonian preventing the sweep.
Melkonian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor looking to control but Melkonian passes into half guard.
Taylor slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Melkonian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Melkonian trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Taylor is on top in guard.

Melkonian wants to improve his position but instead Taylor has moved into half guard.
Melkonian is trying to maintain the position but Taylor is very close to passing his half guard.
Taylor wants to get back to his feet.
Melkonian works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonian controlling Taylor's posture.
Melkonian keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.

Taylor stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Taylor throws a half hearted mid kick.
Taylor stuns Melkonian with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Melkonian closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Melkonian is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Taylor is just riding it out for now. Melkonian eventually gives up the hold.
Taylor is trying to get back to full guard.
Melkonian trying to control the action but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Shawn Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Melkonian is working away from the top position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Monte Melkonian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

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).
Shawn Taylor was interviewed post fight and said 'He was..just....He was the better fighter tonight. I'm down but not out. It's not about the knockdown, it's about the get-up. I'll be back, better than ever. '.