PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Blake Melendez (ranked 4095 p4p, 4254 weight class) and Naoya Li (ranked 245 p4p, 253 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Melendez
vs
Li

173 cm
25
135
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
135
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Naoya Li!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Li shoots in but no luck this time.

Melendez dives in and scores a takedown into Li's guard.
Melendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Li trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Melendez preventing the sweep.
Melendez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Li throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Li really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Melendez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Melendez drops back looking for a leg! Li is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Li manages to kick Melendez off! Melendez jumps back into Li's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Melendez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Li did well to prevent Melendez getting side control.

Li manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Melendez keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Melendez turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Melendez manages to end up in side control.

Melendez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Li has escaped the position, nice work there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melendez controls the position from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li looks to move to half guard but instead Melendez has passed into mount! Damn!
Li tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Li gets back to half guard.

Melendez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Li defends it well.
Li slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to pass the guard but Li is keeping the position.
Melendez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Li trying to control the position.
Melendez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Li wants to sweep but no luck.
Melendez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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.
Li is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Li is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Li wants to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Blake Melendez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Horrible takedown attempt by Li or perhaps it was just good defense by Melendez, which made it look bad.

Melendez gets the takedown into side control.
Li wants to control but Melendez postures up.
Melendez gets to mount! Li was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Melendez controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melendez is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Melendez extends the arm and Li is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Blake Melendez!
Blake Melendez thanked the fans post fight for their support.