PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Merriweather (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Langston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merriweather comes into the arena with Change blaring out of the sound system. Langston is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Inside the Fire by Disturbed. Hank Langston acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Merriweather
vs
Langston

182 cm
21
178 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wanderlei Merriweather!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hank Langston!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Langston misses with a wild combination.
Langston lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Langston looks to throw the jab but Merriweather is out of range.
Merriweather misses with a double jab
and Langston counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Wanderlei Merriweather seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Langston jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Merriweather shoots and misses
and Langston counters with a two punch combo.

It looks like Wanderlei Merriweather has been cut.
Langston misses with a body shot.
Merriweather avoids a punch combination nicely.
Langston lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merriweather falls off balance throwing a combination
and Langston counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Merriweather gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Langston counters with a straight right hand.
Langston throws a shot to the body.
Merriweather throws a left and a right that both miss
and Merriweather takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Merriweather doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hank Langston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Langston misses with a few strikes there.
Langston is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Merriweather rather than just go for the knockout.
Merriweather misses with a double jab
and Langston counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Merriweather is breathing heavily.
Merriweather connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Langston tries to bum rush Merriweather with a series of wild strikes but Merriweather uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Langston misses with the combination.
Merriweather falls off balance throwing a combination
and Langston counters with a series of strikes. Merriweather will be more careful next time no doubt.
Langston thuds a left hand into Merriweather's body.
Merriweather uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Langston.
Merriweather misses with a double jab
and Langston counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Merriweather fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Langston sprawls well initially but Merriweather persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Merriweather blocks the strikes from Langston.
Langston flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langston tries to roll over but Merriweather keeps him under control.
Langston wants to control but Merriweather is keeping busy.
Merriweather is trying to control the action in half guard but Langston is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Langston blocking the ground and pound attempt from Merriweather.
Langston is trying to stand.

Merriweather is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Langston doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Merriweather.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Langston fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Merriweather looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merriweather throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Merriweather slips a jab and a cross from Langston.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merriweather throws a combination that misses
and Langston counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Merriweather with a lazy takedown attempt
and Langston counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Merriweather. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merriweather takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Langston works Merriweather's body with a nice hook.
Langston lands with an uppercut that bounces Merriweather off the cage and back into rage.
Langston misses with a double jab.
Langston throws a right and a left that Merriweather avoids nicely.
Merriweather walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Langston ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice uppercut lands for Langston. That snapped Merriweather's head back.
Langston fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Merriweather manages to avoid it.
Langston misses the shot to the body.
Langston swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Merriweather throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Langston connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merriweather walks into a jab.
Langston throws a jab when Merriweather was well out of range.
Langston throws a nice looking combination but Merriweather bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Langston is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round!Merriweather had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Merriweather throws a left and a right that both miss
and Merriweather takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A nice combination there by Merriweather.
Merriweather goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Langston scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Merriweather doesn't seem bothered though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Merriweather goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Langston swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Merriweather counters with a two punch combo.
Langston blocks a jab.
Langston throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Merriweather misses with a combination
and Langston counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Langston misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Langston dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wanderlei Merriweather's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Langston throws a left and a right that both miss

and Merriweather counters with a nice double leg into side control. Langston won't be happy with that.
Langston is trying to work for a sweep but Merriweather has mounted him!

Merriweather working for a submission but Langston is keeping him at bay.
Langston throwing hammer fists to the chest of Merriweather. What's that going to do exactly?

Merriweather working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Langston is looking to improve his position but Merriweather isn't that keen on the idea.
Merriweather looking to control but Langston is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Merriweather is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Langston has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Langston has given up his back here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merriweather avoiding Langston 's attempts to control his hands.
Langston holding both Merriweather 's hands and preventing any damage.

Merriweather looking for the RNC.
Merriweather is hanging on to Langston's back as he tries to escape.
Langston grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Merriweather connects with a big shot to the side of Langston's head.

Merriweather tightening his grip on Langston, looking for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Langston trying to control but not successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langston is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Langston trying to control the hands but Merriweather breaks the grip.
You can see the frustration on Langston's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Langston takes a big shot to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Langston trying to get back to his feet but Merriweather is in full control for now.
Langston rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Merriweather lands with a punch from half guard.
Merriweather is looking to stall here but Langston recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Langston scores with a nice shot.
Merriweather won't allow Langston to sweep him here.
Merriweather is pushing down on Langston's leg trying to pass to half guard. Langston is fighting to maintain full guard but Merriweather has managed to sneak the leg through.
Langston is trying to maintain the position but Merriweather is very close to passing his half guard.
Langston is trying to stand.
Merriweather is looking to take a break and control but Langston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Langston wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Merriweather misses with a double jab
and Langston counters with a nice body shot.

That's four 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.
Merriweather shoots for a double leg takedown but Langston sprawls well. He's pushed Merriweather's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Merriweather misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from Langston does no damage.
Merriweather throws a combination that misses
and Langston counters with a three punch combo that has Merriweather backing up. Merriweather nods at Langston to acknowledge the strikes.
Merriweather displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
No joy there for Merriweather, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Langston throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Merriweather counters with a two punch combo.
Langston showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Merriweather.
Merriweather steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Langston.
Merriweather swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Langston counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Langston throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Merriweather counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Merriweather lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Langston throws a hook but Merriweather blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Merriweather dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wanderlei Merriweather's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Merriweather scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wanderlei Merriweather is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Merriweather scores with a jab to the head.
Nice takedown defense from Langston. No joy for Merriweather on that attempt.
No luck for Merriweather with that takedown attempt.
Langston looks to throw the jab but Merriweather is out of range.
Merriweather looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Merriweather. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Langston misses the shot to the body.
Merriweather changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Langston tries to avoid it but Merriweather manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Langston to the ground. Langston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Langston stalks Merriweather and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Merriweather's face. Merriweather staggers backwards, shaken.
Merriweather dodges the punch combination from Langston.
Langston looks to score with a jab to the body but Merriweather is just out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Merriweather on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merriweather shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Langston as he avoids it easily.
Langston throws a right and a left that Merriweather avoids nicely.
Merriweather throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Langston counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Langston lands a nice shot that snaps Merriweather's head back.
Langston throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Merriweather.
Merriweather on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A jab from Langston does it's job there.
Langston throws a body punch but Merriweather moves out of range.
Merriweather falls off balance throwing a combination
and Langston counters with a left to the body.
Merriweather throws a combination that misses
and Langston counters with a stiff right hand.
Merriweather throws a right hand that Langston ducks under and follows up with a left that Langston also avoids with ease.
Merriweather wants to land a leg kick but Langston is out of range.
Langston displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merriweather moves away from the strike by Langston.
Langston just misses with a punch to the body.
No joy there for Langston, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Merriweather throws a big shot that misses.
Merriweather does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Langston misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Merriweather.
Merriweather misses with the combination.
Merriweather rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Langston moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Langston fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Langston throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Merriweather misses with a double jab
and Langston counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Langston as Merriweather shoots in.
Merriweather misses with a series of wild punches.
Langston lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Danga de danga de dang - Langston scores with a four punch combination!
Merriweather looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Langston swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Merriweather counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Merriweather shoots for a double leg takedown but Langston sprawls well. He's pushed Merriweather's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Merriweather shoots in but no luck this time.
Merriweather takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Langston throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Langston scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Merriweather looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Merriweather blocks a jab.
Merriweather fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merriweather falls off balance throwing a combination
and Langston counters with a two punch combo.
Merriweather takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Merriweather looks to land a combination but Langston avoids it well.
Langston looks to score with a jab to the body but Merriweather is just out of range.
Merriweather falls off balance throwing a combination
and Langston counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Langston lands a glancing blow to the side of Merriweather's head.
Langston blocks the body kick.
Langston scores with a crisp jab that stopped Merriweather in his tracks.
Merriweather throws a right and a left that Langston avoids nicely.

Merriweather drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Langston is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Langston wants to stand up but Merriweather is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hank Langston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Langston 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Langston!