PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Merengue (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josip Ruzic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merengue comes to the cage accompanied by Flood of Red - Dont Sleep, Swim.. Ruzic comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Kid N Play - Gettin' Funky kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Mike Merengue could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Josip Ruzic's chin.

Merengue
vs
Ruzic

196 cm
27
191 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
192 lbs
18 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Rivers Edge Nutrition

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 12 - 2 - 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 18 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josip Ruzic!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruzic checks the leg kick nicely there.

Ruzic clinches with his opponent.
Merengue is trying to break the clinch but Ruzic is controlling him.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ruzic.
Ruzic misses with a punch to the body.
Ruzic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ruzic lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ruzic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Merengue blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ruzic creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ruzic keeps control of Merengue as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ruzic turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Ruzic lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ruzic creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Merengue sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Merengue isn't going anywhere.
Ruzic in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Merengue dodges the ground and pound from Ruzic.
Ruzic throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruzic trying to control the action but Merengue is working from the bottom.
Ruzic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Merengue kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Merengue is trying to improve his position.
An elbow from Ruzic crashes against the mat.
Merengue taking a bit of punishment here - Ruzic scoring with strikes.
Ruzic working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Ruzic scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Merengue to see if he's OK.
Ruzic working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Ruzic landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ruzic landing strikes.
Ruzic trying to control the position but Merengue is working away.
Ruzic lands a few punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruzic in side control, throwing shots but Merengue defends.
Merengue gets back to half guard.
Merengue avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ruzic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruzic not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Merengue tries to get to full guard but Ruzic has control of the leg.
Ruzic sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Merengue blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ruzic.
Merengue is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ruzic scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ruzic wants to free his trapped foot but Merengue is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ruzic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Merengue knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ruzic on the ground.
Merengue wants to control but Ruzic is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ruzic passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Merengue!
Ruzic putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

It looks like Mike Merengue has been cut.

Ruzic is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Merengue has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ruzic is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Ruzic landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merengue tries to reverse the position but Ruzic maintains control.
Ruzic trying to control but Merengue is having none of it.
Ruzic working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josip Ruzic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Merengue's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Merengue gets tackled into the cage by Ruzic. Ruzic maintains the clinch.
Ruzic is leaning against Merengue and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ruzic pushes Merengue back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ruzic presses Merengue against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Merengue with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Merengue with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A body shot lands from Ruzic.

Ruzic manages to break the clinch.
Merengue misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mike Merengue seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merengue on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ruzic connects with the punch.

Mike Merengue's cut is getting worse.
Ruzic changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ruzic scores with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruzic punishes Merengue's body with a nice straight punch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ruzic, as that shot connected.
Ruzic jabs at Merengue's body.
Merengue walks into a left hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruzic lands a nice looking body shot.
Merengue takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ruzic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ruzic fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Merengue has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruzic smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Ruzic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ruzic lands a body shot.
Ruzic lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Ruzic - that landed with a thud.

Ruzic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ruzic drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Ruzic thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ruzic postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Ruzic advances nicely into full mount.
Ruzic landing punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ruzic dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruzic raining down shots from the mount!

Ruzic goes for an armbar but Merengue turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Merengue.

Ruzic looking for a guillotine here but Merengue defends easily.
Ruzic lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Merengue!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruzic unloading with bombs!

Mike Merengue's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Ruzic throwing strikes here but Merengue is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ruzic landing punches.

Jeez, Mike Merengue's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Mike Merengue's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Josip Ruzic!