PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Batraz Farniev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Batraz Farniev could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Maximus Meridius's chin.

Farniev
vs
Meridius

183 cm
22
215 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

178 cm
30
199 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Determined

GREEN!160
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Batraz Farniev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maximus Meridius!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Meridius gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Meridius pushes off an throws an elbow but Farniev leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Farniev blocks the elbow strike.
Farniev is pushing Meridius up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Meridius lands a nice elbow.
Farniev letting Meridius take a breather here.
Meridius pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Farniev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meridius throws an elbow but it misses.

Farniev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Farniev scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Meridius takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Farniev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farniev throws a series of punches but Meridius moves out of range.
Farniev has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Iron fight team in the buildup to the fight.

Meridius fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Farniev, pushing him back against the cage.
Meridius throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Farniev swings wildly with an uppercut but Meridius uses good head movement to avoid it.
Farniev scores with a shot to the side of Meridius's head.
Meridius controlling the action here for a moment.
Farniev presses Meridius against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Meridius dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Farniev dodges an elbow strike from Meridius.
Meridius looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Meridius.
Meridius content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Farniev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Meridius creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Farniev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Meridius throws an elbow but it misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Meridius throws an elbow but misses.
Meridius is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Meridius tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Farniev avoids it.
Farniev taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Meridius presses Farniev against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Meridius throws an elbow that misses.
Farniev blocks an elbow strike from Meridius.
Meridius throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Farniev's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Meridius misses with an elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Meridius.
Farniev avoiding damage as Meridius throws knees to the body.
Meridius tries a body shot but Farniev blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Meridius.
Farniev blocks an elbow strike.
Farniev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Meridius is defending well.
Farniev throws a punch but it's blocked by Meridius.
Farniev is struggling to control the position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Farniev.
Farniev avoids a wild elbow strike from Meridius.
Farniev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Meridius is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Farniev is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Farniev blocks a body shot from Meridius.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Meridius dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maximus Meridius's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Meridius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Farniev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Farniev or perhaps it was just good defense by Meridius, which made it look bad.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Meridius wants to stall.
Meridius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Meridius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meridius lands an elbow just above Farniev 's eye.
Meridius is looking to control Farniev's arms but Farniev gets an underhook and turns him. Now Meridius has his back to the cage.
Farniev blocks an elbow strike from Meridius.
Farniev blocks an uppercut.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Meridius. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farniev avoids a wild elbow strike from Meridius.

Farniev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Meridius's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Farniev connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Meridius scrambles back to his feet.
Meridius tries to close the distance and clinch but Farniev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Meridius takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Farniev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maximus Meridius is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Meridius tries to clinch but Farniev is having none of it.
Farniev digs a good hook to Meridius's body.

Farniev feints and as Meridius raises his hands in defense, Farniev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Farniev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Farniev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Farniev stands and throws Meridius's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Farniev is putting a hurting on Meridius here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Farniev landing a few strikes.
Farniev cracks Meridius with a big right hand but Meridius just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Meridius taking a bit of punishment here - Farniev scoring with strikes.
Farniev scoring with punches and elbows.

That has opened up Maximus Meridius's cut even more.
Farniev working the head and body with strikes.

Maximus Meridius's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Maximus Meridius's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Batraz Farniev!
During a confident post fight interview, Batraz Farniev thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.