PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Hines Jr (ranked 5003 p4p, 509 weight class) and Harold Meechum (ranked 4664 p4p, 483 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Hines Jr
vs
Meechum

180 cm
25
265 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

190 cm
27
230 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Randy Hines Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harold Meechum!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hines Jr displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Meechum.
Hines Jr swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Hines Jr misses with a leg kick

and Meechum counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hines Jr wants to stand up but Meechum is controlling him.
Meechum with a flurry of punches that miss.
Meechum postures up.
Meechum seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meechum landing with the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Meechum accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meechum engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Meechum won't allow Hines Jr to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice uppercut there from Hines Jr.

It looks like Harold Meechum has been cut.
Meechum fails to land the takedown.

Meechum shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hines Jr is trying to defend but Meechum finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Meechum postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Hines Jr to stand up.
Harold Meechum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meechum gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hines Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Randy Hines Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harold Meechum.
Hines Jr missing with a left hand there. Meechum was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hines Jr scores with the left hand. Meechum knows he should have avoided that one.
Hines Jr pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It seemed like Meechum was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Meechum darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Meechum controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hines Jr is trying to stand.

Meechum is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hines Jr defends it well.
Hines Jr wants to get back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Meechum seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hines Jr on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Meechum is pressing down on Hines Jr's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hines Jr is holding on for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Meechum is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hines Jr is just riding it out for now. Meechum eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Harold Meechum will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Harold Meechum's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A big right from Hines Jr misses.
Hines Jr throws a lazy right hand but Meechum sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hines Jr tests Meechum's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Meechum shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hines Jr pinned against the cage. Hines Jr gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hines Jr displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Meechum.
Meechum shoots for a double leg takedown but Hines Jr sprawls well. He's pushed Meechum's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Randy Hines Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harold Meechum.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Hines Jr. No joy for Meechum on that attempt.
Hines Jr looks to land a left hand but Meechum moved out of range nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Hines Jr.
Meechum walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meechum circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hines Jr lands a jab to the nose.
Hines Jr tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Meechum is able to avoid easily.
Meechum darts in looking for a takedown but Hines Jr gets double underhooks and turns Meechum into the cage.
Hines Jr throws a big counter combination but Meechum scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Meechum with a poor takedown
and Hines Jr counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Randy Hines Jr is winning the standup battle so far.
Meechum is breathing heavily.
Hines Jr misses the jab.

Meechum shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hines Jr manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hines Jr is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Meechum is controlling him.
Meechum in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hines Jr wants to stand up but Meechum is controlling him.
Meechum postures up.
Meechum seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Hines Jr scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Meechum throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hines Jr was covering up waiting for the punch and Meechum finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hines Jr wants to get back to his feet but Meechum is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Meechum stands up from Hines Jr's guard - Meechum perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hines Jr displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Meechum.
Meechum takes one to the chin there.
Hines Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Hines Jr.
Randy Hines Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hines Jr rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Meechum counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Hines Jr gets caught flat footed, as Meechum shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hines Jr is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Meechum sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hines Jr trying to control the position.

Meechum drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Meechum jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Hines Jr dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Harold Meechum's cut.
That's time! Hines Jr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hines Jr tries to clinch up.
Meechum fails with a takedown attempt.
Hines Jr was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hines Jr leaves Meechum with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Meechum with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hines Jr to score with a decent uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hines Jr takes a swing at Meechum's ribcage but misses.

Meechum looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hines Jr!
Hines Jr tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Meechum working for a choke but Hines Jr is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Meechum avoiding Hines Jr 's attempts to control his hands.
Meechum slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hines Jr is trying to stand back up.

Meechum is looking for the choke from the back position but Hines Jr is controlling his hands well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Meechum is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Hines Jr defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Hines Jr is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Meechum has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Meechum not allowing Hines Jr to control his hands.
Meechum throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Hines Jr trying to get back to his feet but Meechum is in full control for now.
Hines Jr trying to control but not successfully.
Meechum misses with a punch to the head.

That's four 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.
Meechum trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Hines Jr doesn't escape.
Meechum's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hines Jr covering up well under a series of strikes from Meechum.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Meechum controlling from the back.
Meechum throwing wild punches that miss their target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harold Meechum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Meechum 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harold Meechum!