PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Meier (ranked 4288 p4p, 4106 weight class) and Jack Knight (ranked 522 p4p, 503 weight class). Jack Knight told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Meier
vs
Knight

190 cm
25
200
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
205
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eric Meier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Knight!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Darius Henderson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Knight as Meier shoots in.
Knight is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No joy there for Meier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Meier goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Jack Knight has been cut.
Meier gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Knight counters with a shoot takedown. Meier fights it but they end up in guard.

Meier pushes Knight off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Meier misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knight looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Meier throws an off balance right hand
and Knight counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Eric Meier has been cut.

Knight darts in and clinches Meier up against the cage.

Meier has hold of one of Knight's legs. Knight is fighting the takedown attempt but Meier gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Meier with a flurry of punches that miss.
Knight wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knight is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Meier is aware though and is defending well.
Knight wants to control the position but Meier says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Knight really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Meier. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Meier is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Meier is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Knight felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Knight is defending against the submission attempts here by Meier.
Knight is controlling Meier's trapped leg to prevent Meier from advancing to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.

Meier is looking for submissions but instead, Knight has regained full guard.
Knight wants to sweep here but Meier controlling him for the moment.
Knight pulls Meier in to control the position.

Meier stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Meier shoots in for a takedown but Knight shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Meier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Meier swinging wildly here.
Meier looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Knight gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Meier working a defensive guard here.
Meier being controlled here, momentarily.

Meier looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Meier had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Knight defends it easily.
Meier is trying to control the position but Knight postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knight avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Meier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Knight is aware though and is defending well.
Knight postures up in Meier's guard and throws a big left but Meier blocks it.

Meier working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Knight doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Knight manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Meier is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Meier is breathing heavily.
Meier trying to keep a closed guard but Knight is proving a slippery customer.
Knight content to stall in guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Meier dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Meier misses with a takedown attempt

and Knight counters by moving into the clinch.

Knight has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Meier clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
What can Meier do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Knight gets his hands free as Meier looks to control.
Meier tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Meier wants to hold on but Knight pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knight controlling the pace for now.

Meier defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Knight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meier sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Knight perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Knight's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Meier looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Meier looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Meier is looking to control Knight's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Meier avoid being mounted?

Meier looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Knight is taking a breather. Meier says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Eric Meier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Meier gets back to full guard.

Knight got a little sloppy there for a moment and Meier has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Knight has managed to get both his arms back between Meier's legs - danger averted.
Knight postures up.
Meier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight wants to pass the guard but Meier is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Knight stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Meier shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Knight as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Meier. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Knight drives through and clinches with Meier against the cage.
Knight misses with a punch to the body.

Knight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knight keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Meier tries for a takedown but Knight circles away easily
and Knight counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knight closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Knight advances to mount.
Knight tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knight is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Knight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Meier's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Knight displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Meier.
Meier misses the shot to the body.

Meier tries to sprawl but Knight drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Meier kicks Knight off and gets back to his feet.

Meier tries to keep at a distance but Knight has taken the fight into the clinch.

Knight is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Meier can't fight it off and eventually Knight manages to take the fight to the floor. Meier looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Meier has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Knight is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Meier.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Knight decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knight throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Meier was covering up waiting for the punch and Knight finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Knight landing with the ground and pound.

Meier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Knight is aware though and is defending well.

Knight stands up and waves to Meier to follow him.
Knight lands a nice shot that snaps Meier's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knight gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Meier jumps guard and drags Knight to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Meier wants to sweep here but Knight controlling him for the moment.
Knight 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.
Knight trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Meier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knight gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight 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.

Meier working for a triangle but Knight defends it easily.
Knight's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Meier working for a triangle but Knight defends it easily.

Meier has his foot on Knight's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knight works his way back into a safe position though.

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.

Meier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knight gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Meier working for submissions but it's allowed Knight to get to half guard.
Knight seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Knight comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Knight has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Knight!