PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Mera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julian Reis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Mera
vs
Reis

168 cm
34
150 lbs
16 - 13 - 1

173 cm
36
152 lbs
20 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Powerful

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Jose Mera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Julian Reis!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mera manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Reis on his heels. He'll look to pass Reis's guard now, I'm sure.
Mera is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've been hearing that Mera has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Reis seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Reis is trying to keep Mera in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mera controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mera trying to control the position from guard on top but Reis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reis wants to hit a switch here but Mera passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Reis there!
Reis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mera manages to capitalize on a mistake by Reis to take his back!
Reis tries to roll but Mera sticks to his back.
Mera connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Reis to escape the position.
Reis can't escape the position.
Mera lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Reis preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Mera.
Reis tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mera looking to break Reis's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Reis remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Mera will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Mera misses with an elbow to the head.
Mera trying to control.
Reis trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Mera looking for the RNC.

Reis is having to fend off submission attempts from Mera, who is looking to sink in the choke. Mera doesn't have the hooks in though and Reis manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reis wants to control from the top but Mera keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Mera closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Mera drags the fight down to the ground.
Reis trying to control the position from guard on top but Mera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mera has momentary wrist control but Reis slips an elbow through the middle.
Reis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Reis throws a big elbow that misses.
Mera manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Reis manages to get himself to full guard.

Reis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mera advances position into side control!
Reis is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Mera is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Reis is wriggling around trying to escape.
Reis is bucking up trying to escape but Mera cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Reis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mera controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reis is desperately trying to improve his position but Mera has a good base and remains in mount.
Mera tries to control but Reis wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Mera dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Reis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Reis showed some decent athleticism there.
Jose Mera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mera does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Reis is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Reis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mera knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Reis scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Reis is working for a kimura but Mera is defending it quite comfortably.
Mera gets full guard.
Reis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Reis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Reis wants to control from the top but Mera keeps moving.
Mera manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Reis manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mera lands a couple of elbows.
Mera won't allow Reis to sweep him here.
Mera scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Reis keeping moving, preventing Mera from controlling successfully.
Mera is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Reis defends it nicely.
Reis with the counter takedown but Mera avoids it easily.
Mera shoots in for a takedown but Reis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Reis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mera takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Mera is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reis tries for a kimura but Mera is defending well.
Mera takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Reis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mera is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Reis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mera knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mera tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Reis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mera is trying to control Reis's posture but Reis avoids it.
Mera is looking to regain half guard here but Reis keeps moving and retains side control.
Reis lands a decent elbow from side control.
Reis grinds an elbow into Mera's temple.
Reis looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mera is avoiding damage well.
Mera wants to control but Reis postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mera manages to get back to half guard.

Reis is looking for a kimura but Mera is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Reis to get the leverage.
Reis is looking to pass Mera's guard but actually Mera recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Reis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Reis shoots in and gets a takedown into Mera's guard.
Mera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Reis's guard.
Mera wants to control from the top but Reis keeps moving.
Reis looking for a sweep. Not yet Reis, not yet.
Mera wants to control from the top but Reis keeps moving.
Reis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mera is one step ahead there.
Reis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera wants to pass the guard but Reis is keeping the position.
Reis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mera wants to control from the top but Reis keeps moving.
Reis thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Reis trying to keep a closed guard but Mera is proving a slippery customer.
Mera trying to control the position from guard on top but Reis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mera won't allow Reis to sweep him here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Mera shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Reis is trying to defend but Mera finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Mera trying to control the action but Reis is working from the bottom.
Reis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reis wants to get back to full guard but Mera has passed into side control.
Mera scoring with punches from side control.
Reis tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Mera presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Reis is looking to get to half guard.
Mera controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reis tries to hold on but Mera pushes him away.
Mera controlling from mount.
Reis tries to hold on but Mera pushes him away.
Reis really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mera working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Reis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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.
Reis tries to hold on but Mera pushes him away.
Mera raining down shots from the mount!
Reis wants to control but Mera is having none of it.
Mera pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Reis is looking to improve his position but Mera isn't that keen on the idea.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reis taking shots to the head.
Reis in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Mera showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mera has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Mera!
Jose Mera decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.