PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brody Parks (ranked 3324 p4p, 3173 weight class) and Blake Melendez (ranked 218 p4p, 211 weight class). Brody Parks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Parks
vs
Melendez

170 cm
26
145
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
135
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brody Parks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Melendez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Parks is trying to stand.

Melendez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Parks defends it well.
Melendez trying to control from Parks's half guard. Parks has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Parks wants to sweep here but Melendez controlling him for the moment.
Parks definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Parks managing to control the position.
Parks on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Parks tries to get out of the position.

Parks scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez closes the distance and clinches up with Parks, looking for a takedown. Melendez pushes Parks against the cage but Parks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Melendez fails with the takedown
and Parks counters with a nice body shot.
Melendez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Parks counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Melendez thinking.
Brody Parks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Melendez.
Melendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Parks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Melendez somewhat.
Melendez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Parks sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Parks throws a one two combo.
Parks lands a slapping body shot.
A jab from Parks finds it's way through Melendez's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Parks ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Parks connects with a nice looking jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Melendez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Parks manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Melendez won't allow Parks to sweep him here.
Parks wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Melendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Parks is retaining full guard.
Melendez won't allow Parks to get back to his feet.
Melendez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez being controlled here, momentarily.

Melendez looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Parks has picked Melendez up and slammed him! Melendez can't keep hold of the triangle and Parks manages to pass to side control!
Melendez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Parks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Melendez on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Melendez's face as Parks controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Melendez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Parks is positioning himself well to prevent Melendez advancing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez wants to pass the guard but Parks is defending well.
Melendez prevents Parks from standing back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brody Parks 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 with a lazy takedown attempt
and Parks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt - Parks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Parks as he avoids it easily.
Brody Parks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Melendez.
Parks lands with a nice body punch.
Parks lands a nice looking body shot.
Melendez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Parks avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, jab by Parks - just one landing.
Melendez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parks stalks Melendez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Melendez's face. Melendez staggers backwards, shaken.
Melendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Parks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Melendez somewhat.
Melendez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Parks swivels and escapes.
Parks jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Melendez misses with a takedown
and Parks counters with a nice uppercut.
Melendez is breathing heavily.
Parks digs a good hook to Melendez's body.
Parks connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Parks lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melendez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Parks lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Melendez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Parks to counter with a crisp jab.
Parks digs a good hook to Melendez's body.
Parks jabs Melendez right on the nose. Melendez blinks but takes it well.
Melendez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Parks throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Melendez on the side of the head.
Melendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Decent striking displayed by Parks there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parks tests Melendez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Melendez misses with a takedown attempt
and Parks counters with a right hand to the body.
Melendez misses with a takedown
and Parks counters with a straight right hand.
Parks connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Melendez has his takedown stuffed
enabling Parks to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice cross by Parks.
Melendez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Melendez walks into a left hand.
A lazy left from Parks finds it's target.

Melendez is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Melendez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Parks connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Melendez scrambles back to his feet.
Melendez is still on wobbly legs! Can Parks finish him?
Parks lands with a good body shot.
Melendez seems to have recovered his senses.
Parks lands with a good body shot.
Parks scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Melendez tries for a takedown but Parks circles away easily
and Parks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Brody Parks is winning the standup battle so far.
Parks cracks a nice hook into Melendez's ribs.
Melendez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Parks pinned against the cage. Parks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A counter left hand to the body from Parks misses its target.
Parks scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Melendez doesn't seem bothered though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brody Parks dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Parks lands a nice looking body shot.
Melendez fails with the takedown
and Parks counters with a nice uppercut.
A right-left combo lands from Parks.
Melendez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Parks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Melendez can do to turn this around?
Parks throws a good cross that connects.
Parks lands with an uppercut that bounces Melendez off the cage and back into range.
Melendez misses with a takedown
and Parks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Melendez fails with the takedown
and Parks counters with a right hand to the body.
Brody Parks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Melendez.
Melendez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Parks smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Parks with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parks with a nice cross.
Parks connects with a body shot that sends Melendez's belly button to the back.
Brody Parks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Melendez with a poor takedown
enabling Parks to counter with a crisp jab.
Parks lands with a hook. Melendez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Parks changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Melendez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Parks lands a body shot.
Parks throws a shot to the body.
Melendez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Parks avoids it really well and circles away.
Parks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Parks lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Parks throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Melendez on the side of the head.
Parks lands a jab to the nose.
Parks scores with a decent looking hook.
Melendez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Melendez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Parks lands with a nice body punch.
Blake Melendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Melendez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Parks lands an overhand right.
Parks scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Melendez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Parks's guard.

Parks is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Melendez presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Brody Parks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Parks breaks the clinch.
Parks lands a head shot.
Donk. Parks catches Melendez right on the button with a cross.
The fighters circle momentarily. Parks darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Melendez with a poor takedown
and Parks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Parks cracks Melendez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Good shot there by Parks.
Melendez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Parks connects with a body shot.
Parks thuds a left hand into Melendez's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Parks dips to his left and cracks Melendez with an uppercut!
Parks lands a jab.
Parks cracks a nice hook into Melendez's ribs.
Parks cracks Melendez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Parks, as that shot connected.
Parks lands a really nice looking cross but Melendez seems unphased.
Parks connects with a body shot.
Parks scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melendez has his takedown stuffed
enabling Parks to counter with a crisp jab.
Blake Melendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Parks lands with a hook. Melendez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brody Parks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Parks 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:25
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:25
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brody Parks!