PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Merk Roop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Renner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Renner is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by God Particle. 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.

Roop
vs
Renner

175 cm
26
166 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

184 cm
28
160 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

HERITAGE Threads

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Merk Roop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jeremy Renner!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Russell Pearce and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Renner moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Roop dives in and grabs Renner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Renner pushes down on Roop's head and hops out.
Roop throws a lazy uppercut

and Renner counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Renner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Renner preventing the sweep.
Renner throws a big elbow that misses.
Renner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Renner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Renner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Renner lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Renner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Roop keeping moving, preventing Renner from controlling successfully.
Roop utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roop not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Renner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Renner with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Renner is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Roop's half guard.
Roop moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Renner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Renner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roop is keeping the position for now.
Roop tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roop trying to control the position.
Renner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Renner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Roop has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Renner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Renner postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Roop preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Roop keeping moving, preventing Renner from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Renner with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renner throwing strikes but missing.
Roop tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Roop throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Renner sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Roop comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Roop looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Roop throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Renner counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Roop is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Roop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Renner as Roop shoots in.
Renner ducks under a wild hook from Roop.
Renner misses with an uppercut

and Roop decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Renner's guard.
Renner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Renner looking to control.
Roop wants to pass the guard but Renner is keeping the position.
Renner looking for a sweep. Not yet Renner, not yet.
Roop won't allow Renner to get back to his feet.
Renner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Roop manages to get himself to full guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Renner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Roop looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Renner drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Roop is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Renner is putting a hurting on Roop here, landing some big shots from side control.
Renner working away.
Roop manages to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Renner lands a nice short elbow.
Renner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Roop is looking for a sweep. Renner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Roop is not content to let Renner control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roop is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Renner pulls his head out easily.
Roop regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Renner.
Renner throws a big elbow that misses.
Renner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Roop has momentary wrist control but Renner slips an elbow through the middle.
Renner is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Renner stands up over Roop, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roop looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Renner has picked Roop up and slammed him! Roop can't keep hold of the triangle and Renner manages to pass to side control!
Renner lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Renner in side control lands a decent elbow.
Renner working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Renner cracks Roop with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Renner cracks Roop with a big elbow.
Roop managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Renner.
Roop tries to improve position but can't.
Renner working the strikes but Roop uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Renner moves into full mount! Roop won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renner working Roop over with strikes here.
Renner raining down hammerfists from mount.
Jeremy Renner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Renner raining down hammerfists from mount.

Renner jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Roop is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Roop and Renner has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Renner lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Renner in side control lands a decent elbow.
Renner throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Roop is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Renner's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Renner misses with a head shot. Roop uses the momentum to regain guard.
Roop keeping full guard, as Renner tries to pass.

Roop has an active guard here but Renner has managed to pass into half guard.

Renner is working for a kimura but Roop is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Renner looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Renner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Roop throws a big shot that misses.
Roop throws a poor cross that misses
and Renner finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Renner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Roop misses with a shot to the body
and Renner counters with a good low kick that Roop was not able to check.
Roop misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Renner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Renner comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Roop is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Renner's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Renner thuds his right hand into Roop's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Renner lands a jab.
Nice straight punches there by Renner. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Renner.

Renner drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Renner is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Renner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Renner lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Renner wants to stand but Roop has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Roop controls Renner momentarily but Renner frees himself.
Renner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Renner trying to control but Roop is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Roop looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Merk Roop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Roop has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Renner finds it's way round the side to connect with Roop's head.
Roop misses the body punch

so Renner counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Renner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Roop looking for a guillotine here but Renner defends easily.
Renner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Renner is looking to advance position but Roop has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renner slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Renner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Renner is staying active underneath Roop, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Renner actively working from the bottom here.
Roop is looking to take a break and control but Renner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Renner is trying to stand up here but Roop is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Roop trying to advance position but Renner counters by regaining guard.
Roop won't allow Renner to get back to his feet.
Renner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Roop in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roop accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Renner throws a right hand that Roop ducks under and follows up with a left that Roop also avoids with ease.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roop shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Renner as he avoids it easily.
Roop throws a shot from downtown. Renner moves away and avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremy Renner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Renner 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeremy Renner!
Our winner, Jeremy Renner, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.