Anna Melisano, USA, 6-1
Pros:
-Stiff step in jab
-Good right cross
-Good combinations
-Athletic
-Submission threat
-Physically strong
-Damaging elbows
Cons:
-Head movement can lack
-Vulnerable in exchanges
Melisano is the fighter on this cast I’m most unsure about. She’s a big body for a strawweight, standing at 5’6″. She’s the tallest strawweight in the house and would be one of the tallest in the UFC if she made it there.
It’s good to see that she understands her length and uses it well. Her jab is easily her best weapon, and she’s also effective with the teep. She throws a sneaky-good head kick that she can land from both the lead and rear. Most of her finishing ability comes when she gets opponents backed up and extends her punch count into longer combinations.
One issue with her striking is that she doesn’t mix her targets enough. She tends to headhunt rather than attack the body, which can make her offense a little predictable.
Melisano’s defense could ultimately be her downfall. Her takedown defense looks fine, but her striking defense is what concerns me. She fights behind a high guard and often uses a hunched-over stance. That can affect her vision and leave her vulnerable to punches coming over the top or around the guard. She’s been badly wobbled in the past, so it’s not just a theoretical concern.
Melisano is athletic, has good-enough striking, and carries enough power to potentially win this show. At the same time, you can’t ignore the questions surrounding her ground game and striking defense. Because of those unknowns, I don’t view her as a sure thing despite her upside.
