PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Melendez Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Light (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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 Jr
vs
Light

180 cm
22
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jorge Melendez Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Light!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Reed Andrews and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Melendez Jr feints and as Light raises his hands in defense, Melendez Jr changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Light looking to hit a scissor sweep but Melendez Jr is one step ahead there.
Melendez Jr is looking to work some ground and pound but Light has wrist control.
Melendez Jr controlling from the top position.
Light trying to strike off his back.
Light really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Melendez Jr. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Melendez Jr wants to control from the top but Light keeps moving.

Melendez Jr stands and steps away. Light gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Light misses with a few strikes there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Melendez Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez Jr sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Light is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Melendez Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Light keeps working.
Light trying to remain calm as Melendez Jr controls from the top position.
Light is pushing Melendez Jr's head away, looking to escape. Melendez Jr manages to hold on to the position though.
Melendez Jr advances to mount.
Melendez Jr trying to control but Light is having none of it.
Melendez Jr controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Light is looking to get to half guard.
Melendez Jr tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Melendez Jr jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Light is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Light and Melendez Jr has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Melendez Jr decides to stand back up. Melendez Jr steps back and let's Light get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez Jr is looking to land body kicks.

Melendez Jr clinches with his opponent.

Melendez Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Light will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Melendez Jr fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Melendez Jr is breathing heavily.
Light goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A good leg kick by Light.
Light has his takedown stuffed

so Melendez Jr counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Melendez Jr won't allow Light to sweep him here.
Melendez Jr lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Melendez Jr stands and steps away. Light gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Light throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melendez Jr shoots in and drives through. Light sprawls well.
A punch combination from Light misses.
Melendez Jr fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jorge Melendez Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Light tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Melendez Jr counters with a takedown into side control.
Melendez Jr moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Light taking a bit of punishment here - Melendez Jr scoring with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Light is trying to get back to half guard.
Melendez Jr has knee on belly and moves into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Melendez Jr dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Melendez Jr instigates a clinch.

Melendez Jr breaks from the clinch.

Melendez Jr drives through with a takedown into guard.
Melendez Jr connects with a couple of short punches.
Light throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Light wants to get back to his feet but Melendez Jr is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Melendez Jr drops back looking for a leg! Light is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Light manages to kick Melendez Jr off! Melendez Jr jumps back into Light's guard.
Melendez Jr trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melendez Jr loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Melendez Jr controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Light can't keep his opponent in guard - Melendez Jr advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Light is looking to control Melendez Jr's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Light avoid being mounted?

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.
Still in half guard, Melendez Jr seems content to control.

Melendez Jr is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez Jr trying to control the pace.
Light is looking to improve his position.
Melendez Jr is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez Jr seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Light for as long as he can get away with.
Light pushes Melendez Jr off but Melendez Jr dives into side control.

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.
Light tries to buck Melendez Jr off but Melendez Jr is having none of it.
Melendez Jr advances to mount.
A nice elbow there by Melendez Jr.
Melendez Jr lands with some strikes.
Melendez Jr looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Melendez Jr dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck for Melendez Jr with that takedown attempt.
Light wants to clinch.

Melendez Jr looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Melendez Jr throwing shots but Light is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Light won't allow Melendez Jr to pass to mount.
Melendez Jr is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Melendez Jr is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Light defends it well.
Melendez Jr trying to pass the guard but Light defending well.
Melendez Jr is tying to control. Light wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Melendez Jr is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Light defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Light trying to hold on to Melendez Jr's head to control him but Melendez Jr postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Light tries to clinch but Melendez Jr moves away

and Melendez Jr counters with a nice double leg into side control. Light won't be happy with that.
Light is pushing Melendez Jr's head away, looking to escape. Melendez Jr manages to hold on to the position though.
Light is not content to let Melendez Jr control the position.

Melendez Jr decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Light is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Melendez Jr.
Light tries a head kick but it misses.
Melendez Jr shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Light pinned against the cage. Light gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Melendez Jr has closed the distance and engaged Light in a clinch.
Melendez Jr being controlled against the cage.
Melendez Jr throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Melendez Jr gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Jorge Melendez Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melendez Jr gets to his feet. Light looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Light looks to land a body kick but Melendez Jr moved away.

Melendez Jr fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Light sprawls well initially but Melendez Jr persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Light wants to get back to his feet.
Light is trying to escape back to his feet but Melendez Jr uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Light taking punishment in the form of punches.
Light is not content to let Melendez Jr control the position.
Melendez Jr remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jorge Melendez Jr showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Melendez Jr, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jorge Melendez Jr!