PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Meryk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hayden James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meryk's entrance music is Chop Suey. A fine choice. Michael Meryk has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Meryk
vs
James

188 cm
19
219 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

200 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Meryk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hayden James!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James misses with a double jab.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Meryk swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Meryk.

Meryk has taken the fight to the clinch.
Meryk keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Meryk manages to pull guard.
Meryk throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Meryk has his hands on James's head, controlling the position.
Meryk looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.

Meryk kicks James off and gets to his feet.

James has closed the distance and engaged Meryk in a clinch.
James fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Meryk manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meryk trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.
Meryk is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because James is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Meryk keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Meryk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
James is trying to control the position but Meryk postures up.
James looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Meryk puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
James is trying to control but can't.
Meryk seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Meryk is keen to just control but James is a slippery customer.

Meryk escapes and gets back to his feet.

Meryk closes the distance and clinches.

Meryk has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics James uses from the top position.

Meryk is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.
Meryk has a closed guard, preventing James from standing up.
James looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meryk wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
James won't allow Meryk to sweep him here.
James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Meryk is on top in guard.
Meryk passes James's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Meryk seems to be working for a kimura but James defends the submission attempt.
James trying to hold on to Meryk's head to control him but Meryk postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meryk seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Meryk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Meryk is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Meryk not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Meryk looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Meryk is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Meryk dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Meryk has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
James has Meryk pushed against the cage.
James tries for a takedown. No joy.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but Meryk uses good head movement to avoid it.
James lands with a right to the head.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Meryk won't allow it.
James gets underhooks to prevent Meryk's takedown attempt.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Meryk drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Meryk is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Meryk works to advance to full mount. James defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meryk avoids the attempt from James to control.
Meryk content just to control the position here.

Meryk get's back to his feet.
Hayden James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James looks to clinch
and Meryk counters with a nice uppercut.

Meryk clinches up with James and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Meryk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Meryk closes the distance and clinches.

Meryk manages to pull guard.

Meryk is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Meryk tightens his grip and picks James up, before dumping him to the ground. James manages to land in guard.
Meryk won't allow James to get back to his feet.
Meryk might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Meryk passes James's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Meryk takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Meryk stands up out of the half guard.
Meryk is on the wrong end of a nice combination from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Meryk drives through with a takedown into guard.
Meryk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Meryk stopping the sweep attempt from James.
Meryk controls from within his opponent's guard.

Meryk drops back looking for a leg! James is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and James manages to kick Meryk off! Meryk jumps back into James's guard.
Meryk trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Michael Meryk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meryk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Meryk lands a couple of elbows.
Meryk lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Meryk dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Meryk decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Meryk perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Meryk moves nicely into side control.
Meryk trying to control the position but James is working away.
James is looking for a sweep.
Meryk advances to mount.
James in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Meryk looking for a guillotine from mount but James is having none of it.
James squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
James really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Meryk landing shots from mount.
Meryk putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Meryk with shots to the head and body - James looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Meryk scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish James?

Meryk is working for a guillotine from mount but James frees his head quite easily.
A nice elbow there by Meryk.
A nice elbow there by Meryk.
James working to try and regain half guard.
Meryk with shots to the head and body - James looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Meryk looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Meryk connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
James tries to hold on but Meryk postures up.
Meryk sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
James tries to hold on but Meryk postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meryk content just to control the position here.
Hayden James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Meryk trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Meryk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Meryk, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Meryk!