PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Melton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Bola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melton's entrance music is The Bouncing Souls- The Gold Song. A fine choice. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Melton
vs
Bola

190 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
245 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Melton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Junior Bola!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Melton shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bola is trying to stand.
Melton tries to stand but can't do so whilst Bola controls his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bola actively working from the bottom here.

Melton decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Melton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bola but Bola pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Melton keeps the fight on the outside.
Melton wants to clinch up but Bola keeps it at a distance.
Bola misses with a double jab.
Melton stuffs the takedown attempt from Bola. Bola gets slowly back to his feet.
Melton could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bola dives in and grabs Melton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Melton pushes down on Bola's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melton shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Melton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Melton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Melton postures up in Bola's guard and throws a big left but Bola blocks it.

Melton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Bola shoots in looking for a takedown. Melton tries to sprawl out of it but Bola keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Melton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
John Melton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Bola.
Bola looks gassed!
Bola tries for a takedown but Melton circles away easily

and Melton counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Melton is looking to stand up but Bola won't let him.
Melton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Melton trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bola's guard.
Melton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bola on the ground.

Bola is working an open guard so Melton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bola misses with a takedown attempt

and Melton counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Melton looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Melton connects with a nice short shot to Bola's temple.
Bola wants to get back to his feet.
Melton thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bola trying to control but Melton postures up.
Bola gets back to full guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Melton gets to his feet - Bola follows without any prompting.
Bola tries to clinch but Melton is having none of it.

Melton feints and as Bola raises his hands in defense, Melton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Melton decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bola, up you get!

Melton gets a clinch.
Melton trying to stall but Bola improves his position.
Bola drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Melton gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Melton taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melton fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bola.
Melton prevents the takedown attempt.

Melton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Melton with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bola counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bola blocks the strikes from Melton.
Melton missing with punches from the bottom.

Melton kicks off Bola and gets to his feet.
Bola tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Melton swivels and escapes.
Bola with a lazy takedown attempt

and Melton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Melton.
Bola wants a takedown but no success here.

Melton tightens his grip and picks Bola up, before dumping him to the ground. Bola manages to land in guard.
Melton tries to free his leg and advance position but Bola is retaining full guard.

Bola is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Melton is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bola looking to control.
Melton wants to get up but he can't break Bola's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Melton gets to his feet - Bola follows without any prompting.
Melton tries to clinch but Bola is having none of it.
Bola tries for a takedown but Melton circles away easily

and Melton counters by moving into the clinch.

Melton has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Bola clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Melton misses with an elbow to the head.
Melton throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Melton is working the ground and pound. Can Bola escape?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Melton throwing sloppy strikes.
Bola covering up well under a series of strikes from Melton.
Bola prevents Melton from getting a body triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Melton 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.

Bola defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Melton.

Melton shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bola manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bola 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.
Melton trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bola manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Bola trying to control the position from guard on top but Melton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melton wants to get back to his feet but Bola is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bola trying to stand up but can't free himself from Melton's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bola stands up over Melton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bola shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Melton sprawls well. Melton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bola gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Bola or perhaps it was just good defense by Melton which made him look bad.

Melton has managed to clinch.
Come on Melton - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Bola drags the fight down to the ground.
Melton postures up in Bola's guard and throws a big left but Bola blocks it.

Bola working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Melton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Melton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Melton throwing strikes but missing.
Bola wants to get back to his feet but Melton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Melton stands up over Bola, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bola trying to keep a closed guard but Melton is proving a slippery customer.

Melton gets to his feet. Bola looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
John Melton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Melton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bola wants to clinch up but Melton keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bola shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Melton but Melton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
John Melton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Bola.
Melton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bola.
Bola throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Melton is defended easily by Bola.
Melton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bola.
Bola lands a with a good body shot.

Melton moves into the clinch successfully.
Melton throws a head punch that misses.
Bola wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Melton tries to pull guard but Bola holds him up against the cage and eventually Melton drops back down to his feet.

Bola pulls Melton into guard.

Melton stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bola looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Melton shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Melton was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
BOOM! Melton connects with a massive shot to the dome!
BOOM! Melton connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Bola working to try and regain half guard.
Bola is squirming around, avoiding Melton's attempts to control the action.
Melton lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Melton prevents Bola from getting the reversal.
Melton can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bola is looking to escape.
Bola is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Melton dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Melton stuffs the takedown attempt from Bola. Bola gets slowly back to his feet.
Melton throws a head kick that misses.
Bola clinches but Melton breaks the clinch

and Melton counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Melton decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bola, up you get!
Melton shoots in looking for a takedown. Bola tries to sprawl out of it but Melton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bola manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bola fails to land the takedown.
Melton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bola but Bola pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bola clinches but Melton breaks the clinch

and Melton counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bola actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Melton looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bola with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Melton with the ground and pound but Bola uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Melton throws a big right hand that misses.
John Melton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bola looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bola wants to stand up but Melton is controlling him.

Melton gets to his feet - Bola follows without any prompting.

Melton feints and as Bola raises his hands in defense, Melton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Melton decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bola, up you get!
Bola moves in looking to clinch but Melton pushes him off.
Bola fails with the takedown

and Melton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Melton.
John Melton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Bola.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melton working some strikes from top position.
Bola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bola wants to stand but Melton is controlling the position.

Melton gets to his feet. Bola looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Melton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bola sprawls well. Bola wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Melton gets slowly back to his feet.
Bola gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Melton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bola's guard.

Bola is working an open guard so Melton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bola tries to clinch there but Melton circles away.
Bola scores with a one two! Melton had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bola doesn't manage to clinch there - Melton circles away.
Bola stuffs the takedown.

Melton scores with a takedown into Bola's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Bola is working an open guard so Melton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Melton shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bola is trying to defend but Melton finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Melton gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
John Melton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Melton scores with a takedown into Bola's guard.
Melton postures up.
Melton stopping the sweep attempt from Bola.

Melton gets to his feet. Bola looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bola shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Melton counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bola's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melton wants to control from the top but Bola keeps moving.
Melton slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Bola looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Melton gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Melton drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Melton looking to sit in guard and control but Bola gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Melton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Melton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Melton 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Melton!