PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Uriah Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uriah Cruz is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Cruz
vs
Melendez

175 cm
27
143 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

168 cm
27
143 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Uriah Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Bruno Lombardi and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Melendez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Cruz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Melendez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cruz is in Melendez's guard.
Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Melendez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cruz manages to get himself to full guard.

Melendez with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez content to stall in guard here.
Melendez wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Melendez passes into side control.
Melendez working the ground and pound but Cruz is defending the strikes.
Cruz looking for a sweep but Melendez has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two 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.
Melendez controlling his opponent.
Cruz manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Cruz is staying active underneath Melendez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cruz is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Melendez controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez is working for a kimura but Cruz is defending it quite comfortably.
Cruz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cruz tries to get out of the position.
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.
Melendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Cruz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Melendez is looking to control Cruz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Melendez avoid being mounted?
Melendez connecting with a few gentle strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Melendez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Melendez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.
Melendez holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Melendez is trying to get back to full guard.
Cruz seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Melendez tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.
Cruz seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melendez has a takedown stuffed.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Melendez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uriah Cruz dominated that 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.

Melendez gets caught flat footed, as Cruz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cruz pushing down on Melendez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Melendez can do to turn this around?
Melendez wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cruz wants to control but Melendez is keeping him busy.

Cruz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Melendez controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Melendez is just riding it out for now. Cruz eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez wants to get back to full guard.
Melendez trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Melendez defends it well.
Melendez is trying to control but can't.
Melendez wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.
Cruz with the ground and pound but Melendez uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Melendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melendez working a defensive guard here.
Melendez looking for a sweep. Not yet Melendez, not yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Melendez misses with a kick to the body

and Cruz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Melendez's guard.
Melendez keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz is really struggling to control Melendez but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Melendez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Uriah Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is posturing up here but Melendez has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Cruz tries to roll out but it's too tight and Cruz has to tap! Slick submission there by Melendez!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Anthony Melendez!