Gilbert Melendez downs a tentative Jorge Masvidal

by Dr. Octagon, J.D.

Round 1-Masvidal lands a nice leg kick. Gil working the jab. Masvidal is getting caught. Melendez is continuing to land, but Masvidal is shaking them off. Masvidal spins the champ around with a leg kick. Masvidal thors a kick, but Melendez catches it and turns it around and goes for a guillotine, but Masvidal slips out.

Tough round to score. Melendez landed more shots, but I think Masvidal has more behind his.  I’ll give it to Melendez 10-9.

Round 2-Melendez is still landing more shots in the first minute. Jorge throws a leg kick and Melendez lands a right. Masvidal attempts a head kick. Champ is landing a lot of shots now. Kicks and punches. Nice combos. Masvidal is too tentative. Masvidal lands a few punches, but Gil comes back with a few of his own. Masvidal just threw a big flying knee, but it looked like it was partially blocked. Damn Melendez throws a lot of punches.

10-9 Melendez. Boring round. 

Round 3-Gilbert shoots and eats an elbow. Melendez landing in flurries. Masvidal throws a nice flying knee that lands. Masvidal knocked out Melendez’s mouthpiece. Masvidal’s strking looking crisper. Melendez is bleeding now. Masvidal looks like he has found his range. He is tagging the champ, who is looking more tentative now.  Masvidal throws a snappy left kick, but it is blocked. Melendez is pouring on the punches, but Masvidal answers.

10-9 Melendez for throwing more punches. Again, not as much offense as I would like to see from Masvidal. He’s not going to win a belt with somewhat effective counterpunching. Announcers keep saying that Gil’s punches look harder, but I don’t think any of them have really bothered Masvidal. He sure throws a lot of them though.

Round 4-Melendez is just throwing a ton of punches. Masvidal needs to push the action. He is not going to win a decision against a volume puncher like Melendez.  Melendez’s right eye is looking terrible and swollen, but this isn’t a beauty contest.

Melendez wins round 4 easily. Masvidal’s corner tells him that he needs to make a statement.  What they should have said was, “You need a fucking knockout to win this fight so swing for the fences."

Round 5-I hope Masvidal comes out aggressively. Does he know he’s fighting for the (Strikeforce) championship? Masvidal lands a nice uppercut counter and another big knee.  Melendez comes back with a ton of punches. Masvidal with a nice leg kick.  Melendez is just throwing punches with his hands down at this point. Masvidal should be able to land some shots if he would let his hands go. Masvidal’s jab is still doing a lot of damage, but he isn’t doing anything afterwards. Fighting a very stupid fight.  When Masvidal loses this on on the cards, he is going to say that Melendez’s punches didn’t hurt him and his face isn’t messed up.

Masvidal still has no sense of urgency whatsoever with two minutes left in the fight.  Masvidal thinks he’s in a twelve rounder. Masvidal’s face is finally starting to swell up as the champ tees off on him. Masvidal goes for the shot and gets the takedown, but Gil stands up easily.

10-9 Melendez.

The judges score it 50-45 (twice) and Big John has it 49-46, all for Melendez. That fight stunk.