PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocco LeBaron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Merel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

LeBaron
vs
Merel

185 cm
25
215 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
211 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rocco LeBaron!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jay Merel!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LeBaron lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Merel at a distance.
Merel misses with an uppercut.
We've been informed that Merel has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
LeBaron swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merel. LeBaron does a little dance to reset his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts LeBaron, as that shot connected.
LeBaron throws a lazy uppercut
and Merel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
LeBaron dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Merel. That did some damage!
LeBaron throws a half hearted mid kick.
LeBaron looks to throw the jab but Merel is out of range.
Merel takes a swing at LeBaron's ribcage but misses.
Merel takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Merel doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
LeBaron looks to land a right hand but Merel moved out of range.
LeBaron dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
LeBaron gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Merel jabs LeBaron right on the nose. LeBaron blinks but takes it well.
LeBaron thumps Merel with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Merel misses its intended target.
LeBaron throws a low kick, looking for Merel's leg but Merel calmly moves out of range.
LeBaron swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
LeBaron moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rocco LeBaron seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
LeBaron throws a low kick but it's checked well by Merel.
LeBaron throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
LeBaron avoids the body shot from Merel.
LeBaron throws a leg kick that misses.
LeBaron throws a sloppy head kick
and LeBaron takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Merel takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
LeBaron throws a body kick that misses
and Merel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
LeBaron looks to clinch
and Merel counters with a stiff right hand.
LeBaron throws the left hand but Merel avoids the punch easily.
LeBaron pushes Merel away with a front kick.
LeBaron wants to clinch up but Merel keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from LeBaron.
Left hook, right uppercut from Merel.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
LeBaron throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Merel counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps LeBaron thinking.
LeBaron closes the distance but Merel moves to the side
and LeBaron takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
LeBaron misses the shot to the body.
LeBaron is looking to land body kicks.
LeBaron tries to clinch up
and Merel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
LeBaron missing with a left hand there. Merel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fighters circle momentarily. Merel darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
LeBaron slips a straight right by Merel.
Merel connects with a crisp jab.
LeBaron is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LeBaron will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
LeBaron fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Merel.
Merel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract LeBaron.
Merel avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Merel just misses with a punch to the body.
Merel connects with the punch.
LeBaron tries to land a front kick but Merel steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Merel throws out a counter right but LeBaron avoids it with no problem.
Merel lands with a hook. LeBaron tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Merel throws a shot from downtown. LeBaron moves away and avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from LeBaron on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
LeBaron throws a quick inside leg kick.
Merel gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Merel misses the shot to the body.
LeBaron throws a body shot but no joy.
LeBaron misses the body punch
letting Merel counter with a right hand.
LeBaron ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A punch combination from LeBaron misses.
LeBaron throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
LeBaron defending well as Merel loads up on a big left hand.

LeBaron has Merel up against the cage in a clinch.
Merel lands on the inside with an uppercut.
LeBaron misses with some punches.
I was talking to LeBaron's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
LeBaron throws a head punch that misses.
A short body shot lands from LeBaron as the two fighters clinch.
LeBaron throws a punch but it's blocked by Merel.
Merel misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by LeBaron.
LeBaron fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
LeBaron misses with a hook from the clinch.
LeBaron working aggressively here.
Merel misses with a hook from the clinch.
LeBaron throws a head punch that misses.
LeBaron misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rocco LeBaron will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Merel lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Donk. Merel catches LeBaron right on the button with a cross.
Merel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from LeBaron.
LeBaron tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Merel was well out of range. Poor timing from LeBaron.
Merel is clearly trying to counter these attacks from LeBaron with a body shot.
LeBaron throws a half hearted mid kick.
Merel misses the jab.
Merel missing with a left hand there. LeBaron was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Merel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. LeBaron looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
LeBaron pulls out of a head kick attempt.
LeBaron scores with a nice body kick.
LeBaron is looking to wear down Merel with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LeBaron throws a body punch but Merel moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by LeBaron.

LeBaron closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
LeBaron scores with an uppercut up the middle.
LeBaron makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
LeBaron swings wildly with an uppercut but Merel uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LeBaron working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Merel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
LeBaron tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Merel's elbow.
Merel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Merel blocking some punches.
LeBaron working aggressively here.
LeBaron throws a punch but it's blocked by Merel.
LeBaron working aggressively here.
LeBaron tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
LeBaron lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
LeBaron lands a nice shot to the body.
LeBaron fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from LeBaron - that landed with a thud.
Merel misses with a body punch.
LeBaron misses with a short punch on the inside.
Merel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
LeBaron lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
LeBaron misses with a short punch on the inside.
LeBaron lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Merel is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
LeBaron throws a head punch that misses.
Merel is still on wobbly legs! Can LeBaron finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LeBaron throws a punch but it's blocked by Merel.
A head punch on the inside from LeBaron fails to land.
LeBaron swings away with an uppercut that misses.
LeBaron has a couple of punches blocked by Merel.
LeBaron misses with some punches.
LeBaron swings wildly with an uppercut but Merel uses good head movement to avoid it.
LeBaron misses with the head strike.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Merel in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
LeBaron swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Merel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
LeBaron tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
LeBaron has a couple of punches blocked by Merel.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from LeBaron.
LeBaron throws a punch but it's blocked by Merel.
LeBaron working aggressively here.
LeBaron working aggressively here.
LeBaron has a couple of punches blocked by Merel.
Merel working aggressively here.
LeBaron working aggressively here.
LeBaron misses with some punches.
Merel blocking some punches.
LeBaron misses with a short punch on the inside.
LeBaron misses with a punch on the inside.
LeBaron swings away with an uppercut that misses.
LeBaron tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Merel fails to land.
LeBaron throws a punch but it's blocked by Merel.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merel.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for LeBaron.
Merel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
LeBaron misses with a short punch on the inside.
Merel blocking some punches.
Merel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
LeBaron working aggressively here.
LeBaron blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from LeBaron fails to land.
Merel taking a breather.
LeBaron misses with some punches.
LeBaron swings away with an uppercut that misses.
LeBaron misses with a hook from the clinch.
LeBaron misses with a hook from the clinch.
LeBaron has a couple of punches blocked by Merel.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Merel.
Merel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merel.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merel.
LeBaron tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
LeBaron working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for LeBaron.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LeBaron swings wildly with an uppercut but Merel uses good head movement to avoid it.
LeBaron throws a punch but it's blocked by Merel.
Merel can't find room to land a body shot as LeBaron controls the action.
LeBaron misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for LeBaron.
Merel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
LeBaron misses with a hook from the clinch.
LeBaron swings wildly with an uppercut but Merel uses good head movement to avoid it.
LeBaron misses with the head strike.
LeBaron misses with some punches.
Merel seems to have recovered his senses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for LeBaron.
Merel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
LeBaron fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
LeBaron lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
LeBaron lands a hook to the side of the head.
Merel has a couple of punches blocked by LeBaron.
Merel lands a right hand.
Merel lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Merel makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by LeBaron as Merel tries to tie him up.
Merel misses with some punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merel blocks an uppercut.
Merel lands a body punch in the clinch.
Merel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Merel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LeBaron swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Merel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
LeBaron fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Merel digs a right hand into LeBaron's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on LeBaron's gas tank.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
LeBaron misses with a body punch.
LeBaron tries to throw a body punch but Merel avoids it by throwing LeBaron back against the cage.
Merel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Merel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Merel misses with some punches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Merel takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
LeBaron creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Merel's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Merel drops to his knees and LeBaron pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rocco LeBaron!
Rocco LeBaron was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.