PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jay Meadows (ranked 5051 p4p, 4665 weight class) and Tucker Strickland (ranked 425 p4p, 414 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Meadows
vs
Strickland

189 cm
21
275
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
275
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

30th Century Beer Store

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jay Meadows!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tucker Strickland!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strickland dives in and grabs Meadows's left leg, looking for a takedown. Meadows pushes down on Strickland's head and hops out.
Nice jab there from Meadows.
Some wild striking there from Meadows.
Nice shot by Meadows.
A slow jab from Meadows misses its intended target.
Strickland changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Meadows slaps away a takedown attempt from Strickland, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Strickland fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Meadows to the ground. Strickland is now in Meadows's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Meadows manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Strickland turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Meadows sneaks out the side door and pushes Strickland away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Meadows throws a shot from downtown. Strickland moves away and avoids it.
Meadows thows a left - swing and a miss!
Meadows thuds his right hand into Strickland's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Meadows misses with a hook.
Meadows thows a left - swing and a miss!
Meadows ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strickland shoots in and drives through. Meadows sprawls well.
Jay Meadows has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tucker Strickland.
Meadows looks to land a combination but Strickland avoids it well.
Strickland unleashes a big counter combination but Meadows bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Meadows bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Strickland's head backwards.
Meadows fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Strickland has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Strickland takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Decent striking displayed by Meadows there.
Strickland fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Meadows avoids it really well and circles away.
Meadows lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Strickland at a distance.
Meadows looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Strickland drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Meadows clobbers Strickland with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Strickland is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Meadows's half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Meadows gets full guard.
Meadows keeping moving, preventing Strickland from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meadows wants to stand up but Strickland is controlling him.
Strickland wants to stand but Meadows has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Strickland tries to free his leg and advance position but Meadows is retaining full guard.
Strickland with a flurry of punches that miss.

Meadows scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Jab, jab by Meadows - just one landing.
Strickland tries to clinch there but Meadows circles away.
Strickland takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Meadows avoids it really well and circles away.
Meadows sizes up Strickland with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Meadows jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Strickland with the counter takedown but Meadows avoids it easily.
Meadows throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Strickland stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Strickland pushes Meadows up against the cage in a clinch.
Strickland is working for takedown but Meadows is calmly controlling the position for now.

Meadows's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Meadows connects with a high kick.
Meadows moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Strickland shoots in but no luck this time.
Strickland shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Meadows pinned against the cage. Meadows gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Strickland fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Meadows avoids it really well and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Meadows misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meadows connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Strickland momentarily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Meadows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Strickland closes the distance and clinches.
Meadows is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Strickland has hold of one of Meadows's legs. Meadows is fighting the takedown attempt but Strickland gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Meadows uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Jab by Meadows.
Meadows with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A solid body kick from Meadows.
Meadows lands with a good body shot.
Strickland looks winded!
Strickland on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A left lands for Meadows.
Meadows uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Meadows is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Meadows works the jab nicely.
Strickland misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Meadows dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Meadows's jab looks to have found its range, popping Strickland under the eye.

Strickland shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Strickland showed some decent athleticism there.
Meadows is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Meadows manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Meadows lands a right hook to the body.
Meadows dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Meadows connects with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good leg kick by Meadows.
Tucker Strickland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice leg kick lands there from Meadows.
Meadows with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Meadows looks to throw the jab but Strickland is out of range.

Strickland shoots in and bounces Meadows off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strickland forces his way into half guard.
Strickland trying to control from half guard but Meadows is working away.
Strickland is pressing down on Meadows's thigh, looking to free his foot. Meadows is holding on for now.
Meadows is staying active underneath Strickland, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Meadows trying to control but Strickland postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Strickland stands up from half guard.
Meadows throws a quick inside leg kick.
Strickland fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice cross by Meadows.
Strickland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strickland takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Strickland takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Meadows looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Meadows ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Strickland drops his hands momentarily and Meadows takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Meadows connects with a right hand. Strickland shakes it off.
Strickland takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Strickland tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Meadows pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Meadows there.
Strickland shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Meadows but Meadows pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Meadows lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jay Meadows seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meadows avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Meadows lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Strickland tries to clinch but Meadows moves out of range.
Meadows tests Strickland's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Meadows lands a head shot.
Nice jab there from Meadows.
Strickland closes the distance and clinches up with Meadows, looking for a takedown. Strickland pushes Meadows against the cage but Meadows circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jay Meadows has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tucker Strickland.
Meadows with a nice cross.
Strickland misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Strickland is breathing heavily.
Meadows dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Meadows scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Meadows, as that shot connected.
Strickland has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Strickland drops his hands momentarily and Meadows takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Meadows scores with a nice strike.
Strickland throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Meadows's waist but Meadows gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Strickland off to one side.
Jay Meadows is winning the standup battle so far.
Meadows lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Strickland walks into a left hand.
Meadows dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Meadows sizes up Strickland with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Meadows's corner calls for a 1-2. Meadows obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Strickland takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Meadows clobbers Strickland with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Strickland has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Strickland's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Meadows shoots in for a takedown but Strickland shows good takedown defense.

Strickland changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Meadows looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Meadows explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meadows connects with a nice looking jab.
Meadows takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Strickland tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Meadows paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Meadows dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Strickland takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Strickland.
Jay Meadows overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Strickland looking to control but instead Meadows has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Meadows is looking to improve his position.

Strickland is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Meadows is refusing to be controlled, as Strickland sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meadows wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Meadows pushes Strickland off and gets back to his feet.
Meadows scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Strickland doesn't seem bothered though.
Meadows avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Meadows feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Stricklands jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Meadows with a hook.
Strickland misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Meadows.
Nice cross by Meadows.
Strickland shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Strickland takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The fight stays on the outside here - Strickland looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Meadows lands with an uppercut that bounces Strickland off the cage and back into range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Meadows lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strickland bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Meadows sneaks out the side door and pushes Strickland away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Strickland takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strickland takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Meadows moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Meadows is looking to slow Strickland down with leg kicks.
Meadows keeps the fight on the outside.
Strickland shoots in but Meadows avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Meadows with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Strickland on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Meadows throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Strickland on the side of the head.

Strickland looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Meadows!
Meadows is looking to reverse the position.
Meadows is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Strickland has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland working away.
Meadows is trying to get back to his feet.
Meadows tries to buck Strickland off but Strickland is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Strickland tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Meadows paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Meadows scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Strickland goes for a double leg but Meadows avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Meadows continues to drive forward.
Meadows takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nice straight punches there by Meadows. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Meadows.
Meadows stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Strickland dives in and grabs Meadows's left leg, looking for a takedown. Meadows pushes down on Strickland's head and hops out.
Jay Meadows has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tucker Strickland.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meadows keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Strickland takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Tucker Strickland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice straight punches there by Meadows. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Meadows.
Meadows scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Strickland shoots in but Meadows avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Meadows is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Strickland can do to turn this around?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circle momentarily. Meadows darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Meadows lands a nice shot that snaps Strickland's head back.
Jay Meadows is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Meadows is looking to slow Strickland down with leg kicks.
A left lands for Meadows.
Good exchange - Meadows coming out on top.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meadows swats away the attempt to clinch by Strickland.

Strickland darts in and clinches Meadows up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Meadows showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Meadows, 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Meadows!