PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zac Crawford (ranked 5674 p4p, 3995 weight class) and Gilbert Melendez (ranked 455 p4p, 0 weight class). Melendez has chosen Do Ya Thang as his entrance music. Zac Crawford has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Crawford
vs
Melendez

183 cm
22
145
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
154
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Underpant Gnomes
Cobra venom

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zac Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gilbert Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Melendez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Melendez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Crawford defends it easily.
Melendez trying to control the position.
Crawford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Melendez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Crawford can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Crawford wanted to stand there but Melendez had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Melendez has an active guard here but Crawford has managed to pass into half guard.
Melendez manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez controls Crawford momentarily but Crawford frees himself.
Crawford showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Crawford is looking to work some ground and pound but Melendez has wrist control.
Melendez can't keep his opponent in guard - Crawford advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Crawford working the head and body with strikes.

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 trying to control from the bottom.
Crawford controlling the pace.
Crawford not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Melendez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Crawford stands up and waves to Melendez to follow him.
Melendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Melendez fails with the takedown

and Crawford counters with a single leg into guard. Melendez didn't expect that.
Crawford won't allow Melendez to sweep him here.
Crawford trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Melendez working for a triangle but Crawford defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crawford drops back looking for a leg! Melendez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Melendez manages to kick Crawford off! Crawford jumps back into Melendez's guard.
Crawford not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Crawford slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Crawford landing strikes.
Melendez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Crawford connects with a decent elbow.

Crawford decides to stand back up.

Crawford clinches with his opponent.
Crawford unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Crawford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A thudding body kick lands there by Crawford!
Melendez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Crawford half committed to a counter leg kick.
Zac Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Crawford darts in and clinches Melendez up against the cage.
Melendez goes for a takedown attempt but Crawford pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Melendez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Crawford connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Melendez scrambles back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zac Crawford dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Melendez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Crawford gets caught napping as Melendez dives in and scores a takedown. Crawford manages to retain guard.

Crawford has his feet on Melendez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Crawford shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Melendez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melendez can't do much from the bottom here.
Zac Crawford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Crawford controlling from side mount.
Crawford working away.
Crawford in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez wants to control but Crawford postures up.
Melendez stops Crawford from passing to mount.

Crawford stands up.
Melendez shoots in and drives through. Crawford sprawls well.
No luck for Melendez with that takedown attempt.
Zac Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Melendez.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt

and Crawford counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Melendez!
Crawford moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Crawford is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Melendez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Crawford controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Melendez wants to stand up but Crawford is controlling the position.
Melendez is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Crawford gets full guard.
Crawford has a closed guard, preventing Melendez from standing up.

Melendez stands up from Crawford's guard - Melendez perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford throws a head kick but Melendez moves out of range.
Melendez fails with the takedown

and Crawford counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Crawford has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Melendez is trying to keep an underhook but Crawford manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Crawford throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Crawford is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Melendez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Crawford.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crawford is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melendez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Melendez wants to control but Crawford is keeping busy.

Melendez looking for submissions off his back.
Melendez preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Melendez manages to get to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zac Crawford dominated that second round.
That's time! Crawford's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Crawford shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Crawford showed some decent athleticism there.

Melendez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Melendez is looking for a sweep. Crawford is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Crawford trying to control the pace.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez wants to get back to full guard.
Melendez trying to control from the bottom.
Crawford sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Melendez is trying to maintain the position but Crawford is very close to passing his half guard.
Crawford trying to control the pace.
Melendez trying to control but Crawford postures up.
Crawford is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Melendez can do to turn this around?

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.
Crawford scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Crawford throwing shots but Melendez is blocking nicely.
Melendez trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Crawford manages to pass to mount!
Melendez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Melendez tries to improve his position but instead Crawford has taken his back!

Melendez defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to escape the position.

Crawford looking for the choke but no joy.
Melendez can't escape the position.

Crawford looking to break Melendez's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Melendez remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Crawford will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crawford has good solid back control here.
Crawford punches Melendez on the ear.
Crawford seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford tries to keep control of the position but Melendez is staying busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez rolls, trying to escape but Crawford keeps control of the position.
Crawford struggling to keep hold of the position.
Gilbert Melendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melendez is really stuck here.
Melendez breaks Crawford's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Melendez gets to his feet. Crawford looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt - Crawford sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melendez shoots in looking for a takedown but Crawford manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Melendez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zac Crawford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Crawford throws a head kick that Melendez semi-blocks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zac Crawford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Crawford has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zac Crawford!
Gilbert Melendez was interviewed post fight and said 'I'm not scared to lose, I'm not scared to get knocked out. I'm scared of not going for it.'.