PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Merengue (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke LaCrosse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merengue comes to the cage accompanied by Flood of Red - Dont Sleep, Swim.. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Merengue
vs
LaCrosse

196 cm
25
191 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
202 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Merengue!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Duke LaCrosse!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LaCrosse lands with an uppercut that bounces Merengue off the cage and back into rage.

It looks like Mike Merengue has been cut.
Duke LaCrosse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
LaCrosse misses with a low kick.
Merengue throws a low kick but it's checked well by LaCrosse.
LaCrosse fails to land the takedown.
Merengue tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
LaCrosse throws a big shot that misses.
A low kick from LaCrosse misses
and Merengue makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Merengue misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merengue uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by LaCrosse.
A lazy body kick from LaCrosse
and Merengue counters with a slapping leg kick.
Mike Merengue is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Merengue, right into the meat.
LaCrosse wants to clinch up but Merengue keeps it at a distance.
LaCrosse moves away from the strike by Merengue.
Merengue's corner calls for a 1-2. Merengue obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Duke LaCrosse has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaCrosse misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
LaCrosse wants to clinch but Merengue slips to the side
and Merengue counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
LaCrosse looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Merengue looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Merengue staying out of range there.
LaCrosse shoots in for a double leg but Merengue sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mike Merengue has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Duke LaCrosse.
A chopping leg kick lands by LaCrosse.
Merengue throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaCrosse avoids the head kick by Merengue.
Merengue thows a body shot but no joy.
LaCrosse tries for a takedown but Merengue sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
LaCrosse swings away with a body shot that misses
and Merengue counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Merengue misses with a kick to the body

and LaCrosse counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Merengue is trying to get back to full guard.
Merengue is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Merengue actively working from the bottom here.
Merengue is looking for a sweep. LaCrosse is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merengue is looking to control LaCrosse's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Merengue avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Merengue dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

LaCrosse thows a body shot but no joy.
Good work by LaCrosse as he checks the leg kick.
LaCrosse walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Merengue checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
LaCrosse misses with a combination
and Merengue counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
LaCrosse throws a lazy head kick

and Merengue counters with a head kick that drops LaCrosse to the mat! LaCrosse scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

LaCrosse is rocked!
LaCrosse is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merengue thuds a left hand into LaCrosse's body.
LaCrosse is still on wobbly legs! Can Merengue finish him?
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Merengue.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Merengue. LaCrosse shrugs it off though.
LaCrosse seems to have recovered his senses.
LaCrosse on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Merengue throws a head kick that misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Merengue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaCrosse missing with a left hand there. Merengue was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Merengue is looking to chop away at LaCrosse's legs.
LaCrosse moves away from the strike by Merengue.
Merengue staying out of range there.
Merengue misses with a double jab
and LaCrosse counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mike Merengue is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaCrosse with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Merengue avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Merengue misses with a leg kick
and LaCrosse counters with a head kick. That will keep Merengue thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Merengue slips a straight right by LaCrosse.
LaCrosse takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
LaCrosse throws a leg kick
and Merengue counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merengue motions for LaCrosse to come forward. Merengue throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A solid leg kick lands there for Merengue.
Merengue pulls out of a head kick attempt.
LaCrosse swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Merengue thuds a left hand into LaCrosse's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merengue listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Merengue dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A big left from LaCrosse misses.
Merengue feints and then cracks LaCrosse's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow LaCrosse down.
LaCrosse changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Merengue tries to avoid it but LaCrosse manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Merengue to the ground. Merengue escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Merengue throws a lazy head kick
and LaCrosse counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LaCrosse displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Merengue throws out the jab.
LaCrosse buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaCrosse drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
LaCrosse takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merengue scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Merengue throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Merengue lands a head kick!
Merengue chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before LaCrosse can pounce on him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merengue misses with a head kick.
LaCrosse throws a sloppy head kick
and Merengue counters with a big head kick but LaCrosse shrugs it off.
A head kick by Merengue misses
and LaCrosse counters with a nice leg kick.
LaCrosse misses with a straight right.
Merengue misses with a low kick as LaCrosse jumps back.
Merengue throws a leg kick

so LaCrosse counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Merengue is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that LaCrosse can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaCrosse trying to control but Merengue is working from the bottom.
Merengue wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merengue keeping full guard, as LaCrosse tries to pass.
Merengue is controlling LaCrosse's posture.
Merengue will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four 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.

LaCrosse drops back, looking for a kneebar! Merengue looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Merengue looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Merengue!
Mike Merengue is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
LaCrosse is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Duke LaCrosse has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Merengue.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Merengue, 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Merengue!