PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cassius Clay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Clay
vs
Meridius

180 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

177 cm
20
168 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple 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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cassius Clay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maximus Meridius !
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Clay can't get the takedown.

Meridius has Clay pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Meridius pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Clay tumbling to the mat - Meridius dives into Clay's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Meridius wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.
Meridius is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Meridius wants to control from the top but Clay keeps moving.
Clay is trying to keep Meridius in close.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Maximus Meridius hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Clay showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Meridius .
Clay tries to score a power double leg takedown but Meridius sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Clay somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Meridius .
Meridius feints a jab promting Clay to slip. Meridius then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Clay slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Clay shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Meridius to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius Clay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice uppercut lands for Meridius . That snapped Clay's head back.
Maximus Meridius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Clay changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Meridius tries to avoid it but Clay manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Meridius to the ground. Meridius escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A combination from Meridius does no damage.
Meridius looks to throw the jab but Clay is out of range.
A combination from Meridius does no damage.
Meridius defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Clay.
Meridius misses with a two punch combination.
Clay fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Clay shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Meridius pinned against the cage. Meridius gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Clay will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Horrible takedown by Clay or perhaps it was just good defense by Meridius which made him look bad.
Meridius lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Clay throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Meridius 's waist but Meridius gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Clay off to one side.
Meridius connects with a right hand. Clay shakes it off.
Meridius misses with a looping left.
Meridius keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Meridius throws a solid leg kick but Clay takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Meridius .
Clay will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Maximus Meridius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Meridius . No joy for Clay on that attempt.
No luck for Clay with that takedown attempt.
Clay dodges the punch combination from Meridius .
Meridius throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius misses with a wild combination.

Meridius takes the fight into the clinch.
A body shot lands from Meridius .
Clay drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Meridius softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Clay goes for a takedown in the clinch but Meridius prevents it.
Meridius can't get the takedown.
Clay is looking for a takedown.
Clay is pressed up against the cage. Meridius has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Clay down to the mat. Clay avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Meridius looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No joy there for Meridius , who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meridius slaps away a takedown attempt from Clay, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Clay shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Meridius as he jumps to the side.
Clay tries to score a power double leg takedown but Meridius sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Clay somewhat.
Clay with a poor takedown
and Meridius cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Clay.
Clay is breathing heavily.

Meridius fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Clay, pushing him back against the cage.
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!
Meridius lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Meridius gets underhooks to prevent Clay's takedown attempt.
Meridius lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Meridius has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Clay regains guard immediately.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Clay trying to control the position.
Meridius controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Meridius dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Clay takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Meridius works over Clay's head and body with a nice combination.
Meridius displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Clay.
Clay has his takedown stuffed

and Meridius counters by moving into the clinch.

Meridius has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Clay regains guard immediately.

Clay working for a triangle but Meridius defends it easily.
Meridius sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Clay's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Clay is refusing to be controlled, as Meridius sits in half guard.

Clay actively working from the bottom here.
Meridius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Clay is refusing to be controlled, as Meridius sits in half guard.
Meridius content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Maximus Meridius .
Clay closes the distance and clinches up with Meridius , looking for a takedown. Clay pushes Meridius against the cage but Meridius circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius Clay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Meridius does no damage.
Clay looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Meridius is fending him off so far but Clay persists. Nope, Meridius circles away and we're back to standing.

Meridius closes the distance and clinches.
Meridius lands a hook that snaps the head of Clay backwards.

Meridius has picked Clay up - he's going for a ride! Meridius dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Clay trying to control but Meridius postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clay manages to get to full guard.
Meridius looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clay is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Meridius defends well.
Meridius trying to control the position from guard on top but Clay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Meridius wants to pass the guard but Clay is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Clay has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Meridius can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Meridius got a little sloppy there for a moment and Clay has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Meridius has managed to get both his arms back between Clay's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Clay looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Meridius trying to stand up but can't free himself from Clay's guard.
Clay being controlled here, momentarily.
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!

Clay looking for a guillotine here but Meridius defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Meridius throwing strikes but missing.
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! This is the final round!

Clay doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Meridius makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Clay tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Meridius swivels and escapes.

Clay throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Meridius was covering up waiting for the punch and Clay finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Meridius is trying to keep Clay in close.
Clay stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Meridius swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Clay won't allow Meridius to sweep him here.
Clay trying to control but Meridius is working from the bottom.
Maximus Meridius has got the better of the ground game so far.
Meridius not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Meridius is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Maximus Meridius was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Meridius throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cassius Clay is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Meridius looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Meridius stuffs the takedown attempt from Clay. Clay gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius Clay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clay shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Meridius defends it nicely.
Clay fails with the takedown.
Clay ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Clay fails with a takedown attempt.
Maximus Meridius seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clay.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown by Clay or perhaps it was just good defense by Meridius which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Meridius gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Clay changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Meridius fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Meridius misses with a two punch combination.

Clay shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Clay showed some decent athleticism there.
Meridius wants to control but Clay is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Clay prevents Meridius from improving his position.

Clay is trying to work for a kimura but Meridius is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clay is thwarting Meridius 's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Maximus Meridius hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Clay shoots in for a double leg but Meridius sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Clay dives in and grabs Meridius 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Meridius pushes down on Clay's head and hops out.
Meridius cracks Clay with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Meridius throws a right and a left that Clay avoids nicely.
Clay misses with a takedown
and Meridius counters with a straight right hand.
Clay has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Meridius finds it's way round the side to connect with Clay's head.
Some wild striking there from Meridius .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clay fails with the takedown
and Meridius counters with a series of strikes. Clay will be more careful next time no doubt.
Meridius throws a right and a left that Clay avoids nicely.
Meridius throws a right hand that Clay ducks under and follows up with a left that Clay also avoids with ease.
Clay misses with a takedown attempt - Meridius sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Meridius looks to land a combination. Clay sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Meridius tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Meridius misses with a double jab.
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!
Meridius scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cassius Clay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clay looks for a takedown but Meridius sprawls well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clay keeps the fight on the outside.
Clay scores with a shot to the body.
Maximus Meridius is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Clay shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Meridius as he jumps to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maximus Meridius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Meridius has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

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