PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shadi Vliegen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Merridew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Merridew has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vliegen
vs
Merridew

190 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

195 cm
27
215 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shadi Vliegen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jack Merridew!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merridew stuns Vliegen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Merridew has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Merridew throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vliegen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Merridew swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Vliegen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Merridew throws a jab when Vliegen was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merridew. Vliegen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Merridew scores with a hook.
Vliegen tries to clinch there but Merridew circles away.
Merridew lands a lovely overhand right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merridew misses with an uppercut

and Vliegen counters by clinching up.
Merridew is trying to force a seperation but Vliegen has the dominant position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vliegen.
Merridew scores with a shot to the side of Vliegen's head.
Vliegen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Merridew struggles to land a body shot inside as Vliegen controls his hands.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Merridew lands a hook that snaps the head of Vliegen backwards.
Vliegen pushes Merridew back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Vliegen.
Vliegen has a couple of punches blocked by Merridew.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vliegen lands a left hand.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merridew.

Merridew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vliegen tries to clinch up but Merridew circles away and keeps his distance.
Merridew swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vliegen ducks under a wild hook from Merridew.
Merridew throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Vliegen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A short left from Vliegen.
Merridew scores with a shot to the side of Vliegen's head.
Vliegen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Merridew blocks an uppercut.
Vliegen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Merridew doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Merridew creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Merridew breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vliegen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Merridew.
Merridew misses with a body shot.
Merridew thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vliegen tries to clinch but Merridew moves out of range.
Merridew steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vliegen.
Vliegen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vliegen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Merridew's head backwards.
Vliegen slips under a jab.
Merridew misses the shot to the body.
Merridew misses with a straight left.
Vliegen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Vliegen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Merridew bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vliegen's head backwards.
Merridew wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Merridew misses the body punch
and Vliegen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Vliegen misses with a few strikes there.
Merridew changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jack Merridew seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donk. Merridew catches Vliegen right on the button with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merridew fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Vliegen misses the target.
Merridew steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vliegen.
Merridew connects with a crisp jab.
Merridew looks to land a right hand but Vliegen moved out of range.
Merridew takes a swing at Vliegen's ribcage but misses.
Nice straight punches there by Vliegen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Vliegen.

Vliegen rushes Merridew and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Merridew wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Vliegen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice shot lands for Merridew.
Vliegen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Merridew throws out the jab.

Vliegen forces Merridew back against the cage and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Merridew misses with a body punch.
Merridew blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merridew.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merridew swings wildly with an uppercut but Vliegen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vliegen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Merridew backwards.
Merridew throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Vliegens head.

Merridew escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Merridew misses with a hook
and Vliegen counters with a right hand to the body.
Vliegen scores with a shot to the body.
Merridew lands with a right hand.
Vliegen slips a straight right by Merridew.
Merridew is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Vliegen had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Merridew misses with a looping left.
Vliegen is looking to wear down Merridew with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Vliegen gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Vliegen slips under a jab from Merridew.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vliegen lands with a good body shot.
Vliegen misses with a looping right.
Merridew misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Vliegen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Merridew lands a right hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Merridew dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice defenses there by Merridew.
Merridew throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vliegen works over Merridew's head and body with a nice combination.
Vliegen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Merridew misses with a hook
and Vliegen counters with a stiff right hand.
Merridew misses with a straight right.
Merridew swings away with a body shot that misses

and Vliegen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Vliegen is struggling to control the position.
Merridew blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Merridew lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Vliegen breaks the clinch.
Vliegen slips under a jab from Merridew.

Vliegen gets a clinch.

Vliegen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vliegen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Merridew.
Vliegen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merridew misses with a hook. Vliegen ducked under it nicely.
Merridew misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vliegen.
Merridew tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vliegen was well out of range. Poor timing from Merridew.
Vliegen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vliegen takes one to the chin there.
Merridew throws a hook to the side of Vliegen's head but Vliegen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jack Merridew seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Merridew misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vliegen.
Jab by Vliegen.
Merridew lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Vliegen at a distance.
Merridew takes a swing at Vliegen's ribcage but misses.
Vliegen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Merridew.
Merridew has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Vliegen finds it's way round the side to connect with Merridew's head.
Merridew misses with a wild body shot.
Merridew throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vliegen moves out of range as Merridew strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vliegen missing with a left hand there. Merridew was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Merridew swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Merridew throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vliegen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vliegen takes a swing at Merridew's ribcage but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A telegraphed right hand from Merridew misses the target.
Merridew swings away with a body shot that misses

and Vliegen counters by moving into the clinch.
Vliegen lands an uppercut.
Vliegen lands a shoulder strike.
Shadi Vliegen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Vliegen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Merridew backwards.
Merridew lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Vliegen backwards.

Vliegen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merridew connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vliegen. Vliegen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Merridew throws a shot from downtown. Vliegen moves away and avoids it.
Vliegen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Merridew.
A swing and a miss from Merridew.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vliegen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Merridews jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Merridew scores with a jab.
Merridew fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vliegen manages to avoid it.
Merridew throws a sloppy body shot
and Vliegen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vliegen misses with an uppercut. Merridew saw that one coming.
Merridew throws a jab when Vliegen was well out of range.
Good shot there by Vliegen.
Vliegen blocks a jab.
Vliegen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vliegen throws a shot from downtown. Merridew moves away and avoids it.
Vliegen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
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!
Merridew swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big right from Vliegen misses.
Merridew lands with a good body shot.
A slow jab from Vliegen misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merridew keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Merridew avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vliegen tries to clinch but Merridew is having none of it.
Merridew lands a head shot.
Merridew throws an overhand right that lands on Vliegen's shoulder, as Vliegen tries to avoid the shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Merridew as he connects with a hook.
Merridew throws a body punch but Vliegen moves out of range.
Merridew lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Vliegen at a distance.
Merridew throws a big shot that misses.
Vliegen wants to clinch.
Vliegen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vliegen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Merridew tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vliegen was well out of range. Poor timing from Merridew.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jack Merridew will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Merridew lunges at Vliegen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Vliegen's hand.
Vliegen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Merridew.
Vliegen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Vliegen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Merridew.
Merridew dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Merridew misses with a right hand
and Vliegen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Merridew throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vliegen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vliegen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Merridew tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vliegen was well out of range. Poor timing from Merridew.
Vliegen lands with an overhand left.
Vliegen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Merridew throws a right hand that misses
letting Vliegen counter with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good standup being displayed there by Merridew as he connects with a hook.
Merridew throws a hook but Vliegen blocks it.
Vliegen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vliegen staying out of range there.
Vliegen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merridew.
Vliegen lands a right hook to the body.
A cross from Merridew lands.
Vliegen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Merridew.
Vliegen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Merridew manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Merridew cracks Vliegen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Merridew swings away with a body shot that misses
and Vliegen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Vliegen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Merridew gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Merridew looks to throw the jab but Vliegen is out of range.
Merridew throws a looping overhand right but Vliegen ducks down to avoid it.
Merridew closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big left from Vliegen misses.
Vliegen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Merridew throws out the jab.
Merridew misses with a hook to the body
and Vliegen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Merridew misses with a body punch
and Vliegen counters with a nice uppercut.
Merridew swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Merridew has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A decent looking cross lands there for Merridew.
Merridew misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vliegen.
A jab from Merridew misses.
Merridew misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vliegen.
Merridew slips a jab and a cross from Vliegen.
A big left from Merridew misses.

Vliegen has Merridew up against the cage in a clinch.
Vliegen lands a body punch.
Vliegen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merridew working hard to break the clinch.
Merridew misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Merridew.
Merridew misses with a punch to the body.
Vliegen misses with the head strike.
Vliegen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Merridew lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vliegen or not.
A right hand to the body from Merridew.
Merridew is looking to break free of the clinch but Vliegen has double underhooks.
Merridew tries to circle away but Vliegen has him pinned against the cage.
Vliegen lands a hook that snaps the head of Merridew backwards.

Merridew pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vliegen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Merridew.
Vliegen loads up on a big right hand but Merridew slips the punch.
Vliegen connects with a single shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Merridew loads up on a big right hand but Vliegen slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vliegen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Merridew takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merridew. Vliegen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vliegen misses with an uppercut. Merridew saw that one coming.
Vliegen works Merridew's body with a nice hook.
Merridew lands with a good body shot.
Vliegen misses with a straight left.
Merridew takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Good standup being displayed there by Merridew as he connects with a hook.
Merridew is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vliegen.
Vliegen tries to clinch up but Merridew circles away and keeps his distance.
Merridew keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vliegen.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Merridew thows a body shot but no joy.
Merridew looks to score with a jab to the body but Vliegen is just out of range.
Vliegen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Shadi Vliegen.
I think Merridew 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Jack Merridew!
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight for Jack Merridew!
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Jack Merridew!

Jack Merridew wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Jack Merridew rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.