PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago has chosen Battle Ready - Otep as his entrance music. Maximus Meridius could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Paulo Thiago's chin.

Meridius
vs
Thiago

185 cm
24
208 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

190 cm
25
208 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maximus Meridius!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Thiago!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thiago swings widly with a right hand

and Meridius moves into the clinch.
Thiago with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Meridius breaks the clinch.
Meridius misses with a head kick.
Meridius tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thiago counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Meridius uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Thiago has time to react.

It looks like Paulo Thiago has been cut.
Thiago throws a right and a left that Meridius avoids nicely.
Thiago keeps the fight on the outside.
Thiago throws a nice looking combination but Meridius bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thiago throws an off balance right hand

and Meridius holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Thiago throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thiago is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Meridius is defending well for now.
A short right from Thiago.
Thiago is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Meridius is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Meridius breaks from the clinch.
Thiago throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Meridius counters by moving into the clinch.
Meridius pressing his opponent against the cage.
Thiago is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Meridius is defending well for now.
Thiago tries to land knees in the clinch but Meridius avoids the damage to the body.
Thiago looking to slow down the pace here.
Thiago digs a right hand into Meridius's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Meridius's gas tank.
Meridius with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thiago tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thiago pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Thiago misses with a knee strike.
Meridius tries to break free but Thiago pushes him back against the cage.
Thiago doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thiago misses with a knee strike.
Meridius misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thiago.
Thiago stalling.
Thiago prevents Meridius from breaking the clinch.
Thiago tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thiago tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Meridius breaks from the clinch.
Thiago avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Maximus Meridius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Meridius throws a head kick that misses
and Thiago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thiago moves out of range as Meridius strikes.
Meridius throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Thiago looks to land a left hand but Meridius moved out of range nicely.
Meridius throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Thiago counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Meridius thinking.
Thiago misses with a looping left.
Thiago misses with a body shot
and Meridius cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maximus Meridius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meridius fakes the leg kick and cracks Thiago in the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thiago misses with an uppercut. Meridius saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago missing with a left hand there. Meridius was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Meridius fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thiago blocks a low kick nicely.
Meridius misses with a head kick.
Thiago throws a shot from downtown. Meridius moves away and avoids it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Meridius.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Meridius.
Meridius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Meridius scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thiago jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Meridius thows a leg kick but Thiago checks it
and Thiago makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago throws a lazy right hand but Meridius sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A slow jab from Thiago misses its intended target.
Thiago looks to score with a jab to the body but Meridius is just out of range.
Meridius looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Meridius tries to clinch up
and Thiago counters with a nice uppercut.
A head kick by Meridius misses
and Meridius takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thiago throws a hook but Meridius avoids it easily.
Thiago swings widly with a right hand
and Meridius counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Meridius throws a sloppy head kick and Thiago moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maximus Meridius will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paulo Thiago's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thiago throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Meridius counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Thiago is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Meridius tries to clinch up
and Thiago cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thiago throws a predictable looking body shot
and Meridius counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Meridius connects with a solid leg kick.
Thiago misses with a hook
and Meridius counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thiago's knee momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thiago shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Meridius has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Meridius fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thiago has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thiago is breathing heavily.
Thiago keeps the fight on the outside.
Maximus Meridius is winning the standup battle so far.
Meridius thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Thiago if he has to take too many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thiago swings away with a body shot that misses
and Meridius counters with a stiff right hand.
Thiago checks a leg kick.
Thiago fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Meridius manages to avoid it.
A combination from Meridius does no damage.
Meridius fails in his attempt to clinch.
Meridius throws a sloppy head kick
and Thiago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Meridius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Thiago manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Meridius tries to clinch but Thiago moves away
and Thiago counters with a low kick, right behind Meridius 's knee.
Thiago digs a good body shot into Meridius's ribs.
Meridius throws a lazy head kick
and Thiago counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius misses with a low kick.
Thiago throws a body punch but Meridius moves out of range.
Thiago scores with a jab. Meridius acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Thiago slips a straight right by Meridius.
Thiago takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Meridius thumps Thiago with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big left from Meridius misses.
Meridius misses with a right hand
and Thiago counters with a right hand to the body.
Thiago throws an off balance right hand
and Meridius counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thiago throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Meridius gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Thiago counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thiago lands with a good body shot.
Thiago throws an overhand right that lands on Meridius's shoulder, as Meridius tries to avoid the shot.
Thiago fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Meridius manages to avoid it.
A jab from Thiago does it's job there.
Meridius shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Thiago throws an overhand right that lands on Meridius's shoulder, as Meridius tries to avoid the shot.
Meridius takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Meridius throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Meridius.
Thiago misses with a right hand
and Meridius counters with an outside leg kick.
Maximus Meridius is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Meridius tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thiago just misses with a punch to the body.
Thiago swats away the attempt to clinch by Meridius.
The fighters circling - Meridius throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A lazy body kick from Meridius
and Thiago makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A decent looking cross lands there for Thiago.
Thiago moves out of range of the strikes.
Meridius is looking to slow Thiago down with leg kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Meridius dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paulo Thiago's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Thiago throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Meridius stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Meridius throws a lazy head kick
and Thiago counters with a right hand to the body.
Thiago tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Meridius was well out of range. Poor timing from Thiago.
Meridius lands a high kick!
Thiago takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Thiago misses with a shot to the body
and Meridius counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Meridius, right into the meat.
Meridius lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thiago misses with a body shot
and Meridius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Meridius uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thiago.
Meridius moves to clinch but Thiago breaks away
and Thiago counters with a stiff right hand.
Thiago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Meridius is looking to score with low kicks.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Meridius.
Thiago throws a lazy uppercut
and Meridius counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Meridius tried to score with a low kick but Thiago checks it.
Thiago connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thiago swats away the attempt to clinch by Meridius.
Meridius fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thiago.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thiago takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thiago avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Meridius throws a hook but Thiago blocks it.
Meridius misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thiago throws a predictable looking body shot
and Meridius counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Thiago tried to score with a low kick but Meridius checks it.
Thiago keeps the fight on the outside.
Meridius tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius lands a high kick!
Meridius misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thiago throws a hook but Meridius avoids it easily.
Meridius throws a sloppy head kick
and Thiago connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thiago swings widly with a right hand
and Meridius counters with a straight right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thiago. Meridius does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thiago catches Meridius with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Thiago misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thiago. Meridius does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thiago misses with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago takes a swing at Meridius's ribcage but misses.
Meridius doesn't manage to clinch there - Thiago circles away.
Thiago fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Meridius looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thiago defending well as Meridius loads up on a big left hand.
Meridius falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thiago counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Paulo Thiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Meridius pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meridius lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thiago backs up against the cage.

That has opened up Paulo Thiago's cut even more.
Meridius pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A low kick from Meridius is predictable there
and Thiago counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maximus Meridius showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Meridius, 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximus Meridius!
Maximus Meridius is the new light heavyweight champion!