PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taavetti Merimies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Richmond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merimies comes into the arena with Turbonegro - Sailor man blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Merimies
vs
Richmond

189 cm
20
200 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

184 cm
27
190 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taavetti Merimies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Richmond!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richmond swings for the body but Merimies moves out of range.
Richmond throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taavetti Merimies seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richmond looks to land a right hand but Merimies moved out of range.
Merimies swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Merimies gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Richmond misses with a right hand
and Merimies counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Merimies throws the left hand but Richmond avoids the punch easily.
Richmond throws an overhand right that lands on Merimies's shoulder, as Merimies tries to avoid the shot.
Nice straight punches there by Richmond. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Richmond.
Merimies looks to throw the jab but Richmond is out of range.
Richmond showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Merimies.
Richmond lands with a nice body punch.
Merimies drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richmond lands a jab-cross combination.
Richmond is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Merimies.

Richmond instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merimies tries to break the clinch but Richmond is controlling the position.
Richmond keeps control of Merimies as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Merimies has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Merimies working hard to break the clinch.

Richmond breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Merimies swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Merimies tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Richmond was well out of range. Poor timing from Merimies.
Richmond dodges the punch combination from Merimies.
Richmond misses with an uppercut.
Merimies avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Merimies rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richmond moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sloppy strikes from Richmond. Those never looked like landing.
Merimies throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Richmond.
Merimies's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Merimies duly obliges.
Richmond jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The fighters circling - Richmond throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Richmond takes a jab right on the kisser.

Richmond forces Merimies back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Merimies gets underhooks to prevent Richmond's takedown attempt.
Merimies wants to break free but Richmond has control.
Merimies is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Merimies tries to break the clinch but Richmond is controlling the position.
Richmond just leaning against Merimies, taking a breather.
Merimies tries to break free but Richmond pushes him back against the cage.
Richmond lands a left hand that snaps the head of Merimies backwards.

Richmond breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richmond throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Merimies sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Merimies scores with a crisp jab that stopped Richmond in his tracks.
Merimies staying out of range there.
A cross from Richmond lands.
Merimies throws a series of punches but Richmond avoids them all with ease.
Merimies throws an overhand right that lands on Richmond's shoulder, as Richmond tries to avoid the shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Merimies misses the target.
Merimies swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Merimies misses with a right hand
and Richmond counters with a one-two to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merimies misses with a body shot.
Richmond steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Merimies.
Richmond lands a slapping body shot.
Merimies is breathing heavily.
A slow jab from Richmond misses its intended target.
Merimies throws an off balance right hand
and Richmond counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merimies looks to throw the jab but Richmond is out of range.
Richmond throws a right hand that Merimies ducks under and follows up with a left that Merimies also avoids with ease.
Merimies drops his hands momentarily and Richmond takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Merimies closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Merimies is rocked!
Richmond moves in looking to clinch but Merimies pushes him off.
Richmond lands with a big left! Merimies is wobbled badly! Richmond comes in with a flurry of punches and drops Merimies to the floor. The ref jumps in to save him from unneccessary punishment.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). James Richmond!