PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erin Melcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Willie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Willie's choice of entrance music: I wanna rock. Erin Melcher could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Brian Willie's chin.

Melcher
vs
Willie

170 cm
20
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Erin Melcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brian Willie!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Melcher closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melcher happy to just control the position for now.
Melcher tries to stand but Willie is controlling his head.
Willie trying his best to control but Melcher has mounted him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melcher tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Willie wants to hold on but Melcher pushes him away.
Melcher wants to control the pace but Willie is squirming around nicely.
Melcher unloads with some shots from mount but Willie bucks and avoids them well.
Willie wants to hold on but Melcher pushes him away.
Melcher looking to control and managing it successfully.
Willie tries to hold on but Melcher postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willie is trying to escape the mount.
Melcher sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Melcher looking to control but Willie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Melcher controlling from mount.

That's two 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.
Melcher prevents Willie from getting the reversal.
Willie tries to hold on but Melcher pushes him away.
Melcher tries to control but Willie wriggling away.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Erin Melcher just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A combination from Willie does no damage.
The crowd cheers as Willie lands an impressive looking overhand right. Melcher doesn't seem phased though.
Willie misses with a takedown attempt - Melcher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Melcher.

Willie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Melcher wants to sweep but no luck.
Melcher has Willie pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willie stopping the sweep attempt from Melcher.
Melcher is breathing heavily.
Willie wants to control from the top but Melcher keeps moving.
Willie controlling from the top position.
Willie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Willie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Willie wanted to stand there but Melcher had control of the position.
Melcher throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Willie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Willie trying to control the position from guard on top but Melcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melcher has a closed guard, preventing Willie from standing up.
Willie won't allow Melcher to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Willie looks for a takedown but Melcher sprawls well.
Both fighters circling a little - Melcher finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
No luck for Melcher with that takedown attempt.
Melcher fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Melcher fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erin Melcher 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.

Willie scores with a nice body kick.
Brian Willie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Willie shoots in looking for a takedown. Melcher tries to sprawl out of it but Willie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Melcher manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice body kick there by Willie.
Melcher tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Willie swivels and escapes.
Melcher looks for a takedown but Willie sprawls well.
Melcher shoots in for a takedown but Willie shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erin Melcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melcher doesn't manage to clinch there - Willie circles away.
Melcher tries to clinch but Willie is having none of it.
Willie keeps the fight on the outside.
Willie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Willie dodges the punch combination from Melcher.
Willie wants to clinch.
Willie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Melcher swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willie connects with a looping right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Melcher. No joy for Willie on that attempt.
Melcher looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Melcher doesn't manage to clinch there - Willie circles away.
Willie misses with a two punch combination.
Melcher cracks the inside of Willie's front leg.
Melcher misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Willie takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Melcher fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Willie blocks a head kick by Melcher.
Erin Melcher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Willie moves into the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Melcher just misses with a elbow thrown towards Willie's brow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Melcher as Willie tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melcher changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Willie fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Willie moves in looking to clinch but Melcher pushes him off.
Melcher shoots in but no luck this time.

Willie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Willie wants to stand but Melcher is controlling his arm.
Melcher is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Willie asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Melcher struggling a bit here.
Willie wants to control but Melcher is keeping him busy.
Melcher is trying to control Willie's posture but Willie avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Willie crashes against the mat.
Willie controlling the position.
Melcher struggling a bit here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Willie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Melcher closes the distance looking to clinch
and Willie counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Willie tries to clinch up but Melcher circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Melcher is looking to slow Willie down with leg kicks.
Melcher shoots in for a takedown but Willie shows good takedown defense.
Willie throws a series of punches but Melcher avoids them all with ease.
No luck for Melcher with that takedown attempt.
Willie throws a right hand that Melcher ducks under and follows up with a left that Melcher also avoids with ease.
Willie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Melcher misses with a low kick.
Melcher avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Melcher circles away from the clinch attempt
and Melcher counters with a body kick.
Melcher fails in his attempt to clinch.
Melcher wants to clinch.
Melcher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Willie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Willie scores with a kick to the midsection.
Melcher moves in looking to clinch but Willie pushes him off.
Willie fails with the takedown.
Melcher wants to clinch.
Melcher showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Willie.
Willie wants to clinch.
Melcher throws a leg kick but Willie checks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melcher tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Willie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Melcher moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Melcher scores with a leg kick.
Melcher shoots in and drives through. Willie sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melcher tries to clinch up.
Melcher shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Willie pinned against the cage. Willie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Willie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Willie slips a jab and a cross from Melcher.
Willie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Melcher but Melcher pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Melcher tries to close the distance and clinch but Willie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Melcher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Willie circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Willie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Melcher throws a sloppy head kick and Willie moves out of range easily.
Melcher looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Melcher throws a sloppy head kick and Willie moves out of range easily.
Willie stalks Melcher and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Melcher's face. Melcher staggers backwards, shaken.
Melcher tries to close the distance and clinch but Willie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Melcher tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Willie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Melcher ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Willie moves away.
Willie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Melcher counters by moving into the clinch.
Willie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Melcher is trying to break free.
Willie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Willie.
Melcher missing with knees to the body.
Willie stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Willie tries for a takedown but Melcher manages to get underhooks.
Erin Melcher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Willie.
Melcher on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Melcher being controlled against the cage.
Willie using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Melcher has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Melcher tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Melcher is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Willie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melcher fails with the takedown
and Willie counters with a three punch combo that has Melcher backing up. Melcher nods at Willie to acknowledge the strikes.
Melcher swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Willie tries to close the distance and clinch but Melcher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Melcher tries to clinch up
enabling Willie to counter with a crisp jab.
Willie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A slapping leg kick lands for Melcher.
Melcher throws a leg kick which misses Willie's front leg but catches the back leg as Willie tries to avoid it.
Melcher wants to clinch up but Willie keeps it at a distance.
Melcher tries to close the distance and clinch up but Willie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Melcher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Willie lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Melcher backs up against the cage.

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.
Melcher moves in looking to clinch but Willie pushes him off.
Willie throws a right and a left that Melcher avoids nicely.
A low kick from Willie is predictable there
and Melcher counters with a nice low kick that buckles Willie's knee momentarily.
Melcher misses with a leg kick

and Willie holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Melcher throws an elbow but it misses.
Willie avoids the elbow strike from Melcher, against the cage.

Willie manages to break the clinch.
Melcher fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Willie lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Willie.
Willie lands a glancing blow to the side of Melcher's head.
Melcher keeps Willie at a distance using the push kick.
Melcher fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
An inside leg kick from Melcher misses.

Willie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Melcher pushes Willie off and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Willie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Willie has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Willie!