PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Soto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Meridius
vs
Soto

185 cm
26
200 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

182 cm
24
190 lbs
6 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bos Energy MMA159.4

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maximus Meridius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Carlos Soto!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soto misses the shot to the body.
Soto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Meridius.
Soto slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Meridius with a poor takedown
and Soto counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Soto feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Meridius sprawling to the canvas! Meridius rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Soto finish him?!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Soto moves out of range of the strikes.
Meridius doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Soto counters with a crisp right hand that drops Meridius! Soto lets Meridius back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Meridius is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maximus Meridius. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Soto gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Meridius stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soto swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Soto can do anything to dispel that myth.
Meridius missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Meridius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Meridius controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Meridius throwing strikes but missing.
Meridius stands up over Soto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Meridius trying to control but Soto is working from the bottom.
Meridius throws a big right hand that misses.
Meridius stopping the sweep attempt from Soto.
Soto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Meridius. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Soto trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Soto's head.
Meridius has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Meridius with a flurry of punches that miss.
Meridius postures up in Soto's guard and throws a big left but Soto blocks it.
Meridius loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Meridius is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Soto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Meridius.
Meridius is looking to work some ground and pound but Soto has wrist control.
Meridius postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Meridius works over Soto with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Meridius accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto wants to sweep but no luck.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Meridius's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Meridius trying to control but Soto is working from the bottom.
Soto has momentary wrist control but Meridius slips an elbow through the middle.
Soto keeping moving, preventing Meridius from controlling successfully.
Meridius throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Soto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Soto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Meridius scoring with punches to the head and body.
Soto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Soto is on top in guard.

Meridius has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Soto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto is looking to stand up but Meridius won't let him.
Soto engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Soto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soto would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Soto trying to control but Meridius is working from the bottom.

Meridius throws his legs up looking for a submission but Soto uses it to pass to side control.
Meridius is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Soto dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Meridius.
Meridius takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Soto scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Meridius looks for a takedown but Soto sprawls well.
Meridius shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Soto counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soto connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Meridius momentarily.
Meridius has his takedown stuffed
letting Soto counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maximus Meridius. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto lands a nice looking body shot.
Soto leaves Meridius with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Soto looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Soto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Meridius looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Soto wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Meridius closes the distance looking to clinch
and Soto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Soto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Soto lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Meridius shoots and misses
and Soto counters with a stiff right hand.
Soto connects with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soto pounces like a tiger and cracks Meridius with a vicious hook! Meridius is down but not out! Soto follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Carlos Soto!
A relieved looking Carlos Soto thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.