Gilbert Melendez

Gilbert Melendez vs. Arnold Allen

Round 1
The final preliminary card bout is a featherweight bout between Gilbert Melendez and Arnold Allen. The referee is Marc Goddard. No touch of gloves. Allen takes the center of the cage. Allen lands a low kick and Melendez returns fire with a straight right. Allen lands a straight right and Melendez misses on a counter of his own. Allen lands a left hook to the body. Another left hook to the body by Allen. Melendez misses landing an overhand right. Straight left by Allen is blocked by Melendez. Allen with a low kick and Melendez lands a counter right hook. Allen lands a low kick that knocks Melendez to the mat but he gets right back up. Allen lands a kick to the body. Melendez lands a straight right. Allen with a brutal left hook to the body. He has Melendez hurt now. Allen with a high kick. Melendez shoots for a double leg but Allen stuffs it with ease. Allen with a low kick. Straight left by Allen. Another straight left by Allen and he has Melendez hurt and he clinches him along the fence. Allen with another high kick that’s blocked. Allen with another left hook. He has Melendez shelled up. This round was all one-way traffic for Allen.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 2
Round two begins. Melendez lands a straight right. Allen lands a high kick that Melendez blocks. Another straight left by Allen. He lands another head kick. Allen is just teeing off on Melendez with punches. Allen continues to go to the body and finish his combinations to the head of Melendez and Melendez isn’t offering much in return. Allen is just piecing apart Melendez now with his combination boxing. Melendez lands a left hook in return but Allen immediately tags him with a counter straight right. Kick to the body by Allen and then a straight left to the body. Allen tags Melendez with another straight left. He lands a kick to the body. Allen with an uppercut. This round was all Allen yet again.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 3
The third and final round begins and Melendez needs a finish if he wants to win this fight. Allen lands a kick to the body that Melendez nearly catches but Allen forces him back towards the cage. Allen now changes levels and completes a double leg takedown. Melendez gets back to his feet. Melendez lands a left hook and Allen returns with a low kick. Straight left by Allen. He lands a low kick. Melendez lands a straight right but Allen returns with a low kick. Melendez is having trouble standing up now after eating all these low kick. Straight left by Allen. Another low kick by Allen. He lands a high kick and Melendez is really wearing it now. Low kick by Allen. Melendez lands a straight right. Body kick by Allen. Now he lands a switch kick. Allen lands a front kick and he presses forward with his punches just before the end of the round. Tremendous performance tonight by Allen.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Allen (30-27 Allen)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Allen (30-27 Allen)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Allen (30-27 Allen)

The Official Result
Arnold Allen def. Gilbert Melendez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Gilbert Melendez vs. Jeremy Stephens

Round 1
Stephens opens with an inside leg kick but has to back up as Melendez swings a counter right hand over the top. It's Stephens pressing out from the center of the cage, now clipping Melendez with a left hook as "El Nino" circles out to the middle. Stephens continues to put heavy kicks on Melendez's lead leg through the middle of the round, nearly chopping down Melendez at one point. Melendez scores his best punch so far with a right straight, but seconds later, the former Strikeforce champion falls backward due to another kick on his left leg. Melendez climbs back to his feet, but his leg does not look good, a huge knot on his shin from Stephens' brutal, unchecked kicks. Stephens goes to the body with a kick, sticks a jab, now lands another leg kick, sending Melendez back to the ground. Stephens stands over him with 20 seconds left, then comes down to Melendez's guard just as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-8 Stephens
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-8 Stephens
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Stephens

Round 2
Melendez closes the distance quickly, backing Stephens up against the fence and preventing "Lil Heathen" from throwing low kicks. Stephens backs him off and throws a shot to the left leg, and this time it's checked by Melendez. A right hand from Stephens splits the guard of Melendez, who has to check another leg kick right behind it. Despite the injured leg, Melendez is finding some success with his jab as he continually gets inside on the backpedaling Stephens. Halfway through the round, another low kick floors Melendez again. Stephens allows him to stand, gives him another shot to the leg, then has a right high kick blocked by "El Nino." Melendez works from the southpaw stance now, shielding his damaged leg but reducing his punching effectiveness. Stephens scores with an uppercut, then drops Melendez once again with a low kick. Stephens follows Melendez to the floor but can't produce a finish in the final 10 seconds of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Stephens
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Stephens
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Stephens

Round 3
Prior to the start of the final round, referee Jerin Valel tells Melendez that he needs to stay standing and defend himself. Melendez comes out aggressive, marching forward on Stephens, who scores with a body kick, an uppercut and a left hook to the jaw. Stephens has begun picking on Melendez's right leg now, chopping down the peg to which he has access as Melendez works from southpaw. Melendez eats a right hand, smiles and marches forward, straight into another right hand from Stephens. Another leg kick puts Melendez on the deck, but he rolls over and pops straight back to his feet before the referee can take any action. With 90 seconds left, Stephens remains firmly in control, tagging Melendez with jabs, kicks and knees, now mixing in some hooks to the body. Melendez takes an uppercut to the breadbasket as they enter the final minute of the bout. Stephens walks him down, backward toward the fence, and puts Melendez down with another shot to the left leg. Melendez gets up, falls again, and this time Stephens follows him down to the canvas for the last few seconds.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Stephens (30-26 Stephens)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Stephens (30-26 Stephens)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Stephens (30-26 Stephens)

The Official Result
Jeremy Stephens def. Gilbert Melendez via Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-26) R3 5:00