PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dave Best (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Dave Best has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Best
vs
Meridius

185 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
20
168 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dave Best!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maximus Meridius !
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Best throws a series of punches but Meridius moves out of range.
A combination from Meridius does no damage.
Best misses with a few strikes there.
Best drops his hands momentarily and Meridius takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Best shoots in but Meridius avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Best cracks Meridius with a good jab.
Meridius throws a right and a left that both miss.

Best gets tackled into the cage by Meridius . Meridius maintains the clinch.
Best has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Meridius avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Meridius is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Meridius decides to pull guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Meridius striking off his back but it's not causing Best any problems.

Meridius is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Meridius tries for a takedown but Best manages to get underhooks.
Meridius looking for a takedown.
Dave Best has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Meridius .
Best wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Meridius is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Best gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Meridius tries a knee to the head but Best blocks it.
Come on Meridius - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Meridius has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Best regains guard immediately.
Best keeping full guard, as Meridius tries to pass.
Best is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Best being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Meridius accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Best wants to stand and escape but Meridius is having none of it.
Meridius landing with the ground and pound.

Meridius decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Best, up you get!
Best lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
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!
Left hook, right uppercut from Meridius .
Meridius sizes up Best with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Best misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Best tries to bum rush Meridius with a series of wild strikes but Meridius uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Meridius feints a jab promting Best to slip. Meridius then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Best slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Meridius .
Best throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Best dodges the punch combination from Meridius .
Best has a takedown stuffed.
Best is breathing heavily.
Meridius throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Best avoids a punch combination nicely.
Best is looking to score with low kicks.

Meridius clinches up against the cage.
Best prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Meridius .

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Meridius has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Best is trying to keep an underhook but Meridius manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Best makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Best.

Meridius stands up from Best's guard - Meridius perhaps looking for a knockout.
Best misses with a series of wild punches.
Meridius lands with a slapping head kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Meridius misses with a series of wild punches.
Best dips to his left and cracks Meridius with an uppercut!
Best swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Meridius .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Meridius dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Best scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Best scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Meridius looks to land a combination but Best avoids it well.
Dave Best is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Best looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Best misses with a series of wild punches.
Best throws a series of punches but Meridius avoids them all with ease.
Best misses with a two punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Best.

Meridius closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Meridius crunches a lovely knee into Best's ribcage.
The referee calls for Meridius to work.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Meridius in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Meridius throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bests head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Meridius leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius has Best pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Best manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Meridius gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Meridius is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Meridius is thwarting Best's attempts to control the position.

Meridius is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Meridius has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Meridius is working for a kimura but Best is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Meridius is looking to advance position but Best won't allow it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Maximus Meridius wasn't active enough on the ground.

Meridius rushes Best and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Meridius goes for a takedown in the clinch but Best prevents it.
Best is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Meridius stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Best is trying to break free.
Meridius stalling in the clinch.
Meridius has Best pressed against the cage, preventing Best from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Meridius has Best pressed against the cage, preventing Best from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Best's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Meridius looking for a takedown.
Dave Best has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Meridius .
Meridius scores with a shoulder strike.
Best is looking to break free of the clinch but Meridius has double underhooks.
Meridius is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Best is defending well.
Best tries to circle away but Meridius has him pinned against the cage.
Meridius throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Best blocks it with crossed arms.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Meridius is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Best gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Best lands with a left to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Meridius has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Best is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Meridius showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Best works over Meridius 's head and body with a nice combination.
Best throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Meridius .
Best throws a right hand that Meridius ducks under and follows up with a left that Meridius also avoids with ease.
Best throws a series of punches but Meridius moves out of range.
Best throws a hook to the side of Meridius 's head but Meridius sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No joy there for Meridius , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Best throws a hook to the side of Meridius 's head but Meridius sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Meridius misses with a few strikes there.
Best attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sloppy strikes from Meridius . Those never looked like landing.
Meridius fails to land with a series of punches.
Meridius thows a left - swing and a miss!
Meridius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from Meridius does no damage.
Best looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Meridius has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Meridius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Best goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Best tries to close the distance and clinch up but Meridius swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Best!
Meridius misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Meridius throws a series of punches but Best avoids them all with ease.
Best throws a low kick but Meridius avoids it.
Best is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Best avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maximus Meridius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Meridius takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Meridius fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Best lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Meridius is rocked!
Left hook, right uppercut from Best.
Meridius is still on wobbly legs! Can Best finish him?
A punch combination from Meridius misses.
Best misses with a few strikes there.
Meridius on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Meridius misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Meridius avoids a punch combination nicely.
Meridius dodges the punch combination from Best.
Best takes a jab right on the kisser.
Meridius seems to have recovered his senses.
Best throws out a loose jab but Meridius uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Best closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Meridius misses with a jab, cross combination.
Meridius throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Best.
Best shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Meridius misses with a jab, cross combination.
Best throws a right hand that Meridius ducks under and follows up with a left that Meridius also avoids with ease.
Best fails to land with a series of punches.
Meridius moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Best misses with a series of wild punches.
Best tries to bum rush Meridius with a series of wild strikes but Meridius uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Meridius .
Meridius misses with a wild combination.
Best clobbers Meridius with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Dave Best has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Best lands with a cross.
Best throws a combination that misses
and Meridius counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Meridius throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Best.
Best misses with the combination.
Meridius scores with a sloppy right hand. Best should have avoided that one.
Dave Best is winning the standup battle so far.
Best lands a really nice looking cross but Meridius seems unphased.
Best throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Meridius !

Meridius pushes Best up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Best tries to break free but Meridius pushes him back against the cage.
Meridius leaning his opponent against the cage.
Meridius goes for a takedown attempt but Best pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Best fails to land with a series of punches.
Best throws a leg kick but Meridius sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Best gets a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Meridius has his hands clasped together around Best's back. He's all about the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Best showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Meridius has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximus Meridius !