PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Meirelles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Haverford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haverford has chosen Jay-Z & Kanye West - N** In Paris as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Meirelles
vs
Haverford

183 cm
20
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rodrigo Meirelles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tom Haverford !
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haverford tries to clinch up but Meirelles circles away and keeps his distance.
Haverford throws a head kick that misses.
Tom Haverford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Haverford instigates a clinch.
Haverford throws a knee to the head but misses.
Haverford throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Meirelles blocks it with crossed arms.
Meirelles is working for takedown but Haverford is calmly controlling the position for now.
Meirelles has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Haverford is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Haverford stalling against the cage.
Haverford is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Meirelles is defending well.
Haverford is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Meirelles is defending well for now.
Meirelles's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Meirelles drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Haverford gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Meirelles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haverford lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haverford using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Meirelles has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Haverford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Meirelles shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Haverford fails with a takedown attempt.

Haverford pushes Meirelles up against the cage in a clinch.
Haverford lands a body punch.
Haverford unloads a knee to the mid-section. Meirelles lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Haverford displaying some good clinch control by pressing Meirelles up against the cage.
Meirelles managing to block the knees to the body from Haverford .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meirelles trying to control the position but instead, Haverford has worked for underhooks and has pushed Meirelles into the cage.
Haverford tries to land knees in the clinch but Meirelles avoids the damage to the body.
Haverford is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Meirelles gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Haverford scores a nice knee to the body.
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!
A frustrated look appears on Meirelles's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Haverford lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haverford with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Haverford lands a damaging elbow.
Haverford works on Meirelles's body with a couple of short punches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Haverford .
Haverford continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Haverford utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Haverford - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haverford fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Haverford misses with a knee to the head.

Haverford 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Meirelles fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Meirelles circles away from the clinch attempt.
Haverford tries to clinch but Meirelles is having none of it.
Meirelles shoots in for a takedown but Haverford shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meirelles shoots in for a double leg but Haverford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Meirelles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Haverford dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Haverford slaps away a takedown attempt from Meirelles, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Haverford tries to close the distance and clinch but Meirelles swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Haverford throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Haverford tries to clinch there but Meirelles circles away.
Meirelles shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Haverford pinned against the cage. Haverford gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Haverford takes the fight into the clinch.
Haverford lands an elbow that stopped Meirelles in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meirelles blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Haverford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Meirelles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Meirelles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Haverford is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Meirelles gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Meirelles drops down looking for an ankle pick but Haverford pulls his leg out and moves away.
Haverford wants to clinch.
Haverford doesn't manage to clinch there - Meirelles circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haverford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Meirelles throws a leg kick but Haverford sees it coming and moves out of range.
Meirelles shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Haverford defends it nicely.
Haverford tries to clinch there but Meirelles circles away.
Haverford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Haverford wants to clinch up but Meirelles keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meirelles shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Haverford pinned against the cage. Haverford gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Haverford scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Haverford tries to stand but Meirelles controls the position and pulls Haverford into his guard.

Meirelles looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Haverford stands and steps away. Meirelles gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Haverford shoots for a double leg takedown but Meirelles sprawls well. He's pushed Haverford 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Haverford is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meirelles shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Haverford as he jumps to the side.

Haverford moves into the clinch.
Meirelles drops down looking for an ankle pick but Haverford pulls his leg out and moves away.
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!
Meirelles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Haverford but Haverford pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Haverford lands a jab to Meirelles's midsection.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Haverford has closed the distance and engaged Meirelles in a clinch.
Meirelles has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Haverford after a bit of a struggle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Haverford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Haverford lands a leg kick that knocks Meirelles off balance momentarily.
Haverford throws a head kick but Meirelles moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Meirelles as Haverford shoots in.
Meirelles shoots in looking for a takedown but Haverford manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Meirelles's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Meirelles fails with a takedown attempt.
Haverford defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Meirelles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Meirelles. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Haverford moves into the clinch successfully.

Haverford breaks the clinch.
Haverford tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Meirelles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Haverford throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Meirelles.
Meirelles circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Haverford is defended easily by Meirelles.
Haverford takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Haverford fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Meirelles closes the distance and clinches up with Haverford , looking for a takedown. Meirelles pushes Haverford against the cage but Haverford circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Haverford lands a high kick!
The fight stays on the outside here - Haverford looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Meirelles.

Haverford clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haverford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Haverford is looking to clinch.

Haverford moves into range and clinches up with Meirelles.
Tom Haverford seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Haverford with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Haverford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Haverford fails with a takedown attempt.
Haverford slips a jab from Meirelles.
Haverford tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Meirelles shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Haverford manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Meirelles thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Haverford is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Meirelles won't allow Haverford to get back to his feet.
Meirelles pushing down on Haverford 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Haverford wants to control but Meirelles is keeping busy.
Haverford really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Meirelles. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Meirelles seems to be looking for submissions.
Rodrigo Meirelles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meirelles is looking to take a break and control but Haverford is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Meirelles is looking for a kimura but Haverford is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Meirelles to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Meirelles is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Haverford doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Meirelles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Meirelles is thwarting Haverford 's attempts to control the position.
Tom Haverford is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haverford pushes Meirelles off looking to stand but Meirelles dives back in and keeps control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tom Haverford .
I've got Haverford winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Haverford !
Tom Haverford decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.