PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jay Joner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Maximus Meridius enters the cage!

Joner
vs
Meridius

180 cm
25
184 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
199 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Self confident

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jay Joner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maximus Meridius!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meridius tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Joner counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Joner darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Meridius doesn't manage to clinch there - Joner circles away.
Joner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Meridius throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Joner.
Meridius closes the distance looking to clinch
and Joner counters with a straight right hand.
Meridius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Meridius tries to clinch but Joner moves away
and Joner counters with a three punch combo that has Meridius backing up. Meridius nods at Joner to acknowledge the strikes.
Meridius misses with a double jab
and Joner counters with a left and a right that stings Meridius.
Meridius lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Joner circles away quickly and effectively.
Meridius looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Joner counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Meridius closes the distance looking to clinch
and Joner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Meridius looks to clinch
and Meridius takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Joner lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Meridius has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Meridius and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Meridius doesn't manage to clinch there - Joner circles away.

Meridius closes the distance and clinches.
Joner gets through Meridius's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Meridius pushes off an throws an elbow but Joner leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nice elbow from Meridius.
Meridius creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Joner's defenses.
A right handed body shot lands from Joner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius misses with an elbow strike.
Joner looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Joner lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Joner - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Joner wants to break the clinch but can't.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joner tries to break the clinch but Meridius is controlling the position.
Meridius tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Meridius lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Meridius creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Joner avoids a wild elbow strike from Meridius.
Joner blocks an elbow strike.
Meridius is struggling to control the position.
Meridius lands an elbow that stopped Joner in his tracks for a moment.
Meridius taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius throws an elbow that misses.
Meridius lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Meridius prevents Joner from breaking the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Joner takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Joner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Meridius lands an elbow inside.
Joner avoids the elbow strike from Meridius, against the cage.
Joner is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Meridius should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Meridius throws an elbow but it misses.
Joner looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Joner tries to stall but Meridius uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Joner prevents a body shot from Meridius.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Meridius just misses with a elbow thrown towards Joner's brow.
Joner tries to break free but Meridius pushes him back against the cage.
Meridius pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Meridius comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Joner tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Meridius lands an elbow just above Joner 's eye.
Meridius misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Meridius taking a breather.
Joner looking to stall.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joner slowing the pace effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joner working aggressively here.
Meridius throws a punch but it's blocked by Joner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maximus Meridius will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Joner walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Meridius checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Meridius moves to clinch but Joner breaks away
and Joner counters with a right hand to the body.
Meridius is looking to clinch.
Joner works over Meridius's head and body with a nice combination.

Meridius moves into the clinch.
Meridius tries a body shot but Joner blocks it.
Meridius lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Joner avoids the elbow strike from Meridius, against the cage.
Meridius is struggling to control the position.
Joner stalling.
Joner is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Meridius is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius lands an elbow inside that Joner shrugs off.
Joner misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Meridius.
Meridius is struggling to control the position.
Maximus Meridius seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Joner blocks an uppercut.
Meridius lands an elbow just above Joner 's eye.
Meridius lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Meridius pushes off an throws an elbow but Joner leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Meridius tries to work over Joner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Joner taking a breather.
Joner takes an elbow to the temple.
Joner blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joner taking a breather.
Meridius lands an elbow just above Joner 's eye.
Joner misses with a hook to the ribs.
Meridius blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Joner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Meridius just leaning against Joner, taking a breather.
Joner misses with a punch on the inside.
Joner lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Joner letting Meridius take a breather here.
Joner displaying some good clinch control by pressing Meridius up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joner is trying to force a seperation but Meridius has the dominant position.
Nice elbow from Meridius.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joner takes an elbow to the temple.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Meridius throws an elbow that misses.
Joner being controlled against the cage.
Meridius lands an elbow inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Meridius throws an elbow but misses.
Joner blocks an elbow strike.
Joner tries to circle away but Meridius has him pinned against the cage.
Meridius throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Meridius tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Meridius throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meridius throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Joner looking to slow down the pace here.
Meridius throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Meridius lands a nice elbow.
Meridius throws an elbow but it misses.
Meridius is trying to maintain a safe position but Joner gets an underhook and turns Meridius into the cage.
Joner takes an elbow to the temple.
Joner blocks the elbow strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meridius wants to stall.
Meridius comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Joner misses with a body punch.
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! Joner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Meridius tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Joner counters with a left to the body.
Meridius tries to clinch up.

Meridius instigates a clinch.
Joner blocks an elbow strike from Meridius.
Joner blocks an elbow strike.
Meridius misses with an elbow over the top.
Meridius lands an elbow inside.
Joner misses with some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Meridius throws an elbow but misses.
Meridius throws an elbow that misses.
Meridius creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Meridius stalling.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Meridius just misses with a elbow thrown towards Joner's brow.
Joner takes an elbow to the temple.
Joner scores with a nice hook to the head.
Meridius pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Meridius pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Meridius throws an elbow that misses.
Meridius creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Meridius.
Meridius stalling against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Meridius throws an elbow but misses.
Meridius throws an elbow but it misses.
Meridius comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Meridius just misses with a elbow thrown towards Joner's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius misses with a punch to the body.
Joner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Meridius lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Joner backwards.
Meridius tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Meridius misses with an elbow strike.
Joner lands with a left to the head.
Meridius creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Meridius holding his opponent close, against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Meridius lands a nice elbow.
Meridius tries to throw a body punch but Joner avoids it by throwing Meridius back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Meridius.
Nice elbow from Meridius.
Joner wants to get back to striking at distance but Meridius won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joner is trying to maintain a safe position but Meridius gets an underhook and turns Joner into the cage.
Meridius lands a nice elbow.
Meridius lands an elbow inside.
Meridius throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Meridius throws an elbow that misses.
Meridius lands an elbow inside that Joner shrugs off.
Meridius misses with a hook to the ribs.

Joner manages to break the clinch.
Joner swats away the attempt to clinch by Meridius.
Meridius wants to clinch up but Joner keeps it at a distance.
Joner circles away from the clinch attempt
and Joner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meridius tries to clinch up.
Meridius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Joner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Meridius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Meridius tries to clinch up
and Joner counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Meridius moves to clinch but Joner breaks away
and Joner makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Meridius closes the distance but Joner moves to the side
enabling Joner to counter with a crisp jab.
Jay Joner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maximus Meridius is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Meridius tries to close the distance and clinch but Joner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maximus Meridius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Meridius 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

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