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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mervin Cleaver (ranked 4047 p4p, 25411 weight class) and Phoenix Waters (ranked 303 p4p, 341 weight class). Cleaver's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Right On- Showcore. Phoenix Waters is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.
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| 170 cm
21
144
0 - 0 - 0 |
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183 cm
25
145
0 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced |
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BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mervin Cleaver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Phoenix Waters!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waters shoots in looking for a takedown. Cleaver tries to sprawl out of it but Waters keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cleaver manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Waters is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cleaver throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Waters uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cleaver.
Cleaver misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Waters counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cleaver throws a poor cross that misses
and Cleaver takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Waters shoots in looking for a takedown but Cleaver manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Waters's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cleaver throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Waters looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Nice takedown defense from Cleaver. No joy for Waters on that attempt.
Mervin Cleaver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phoenix Waters.
Cleaver looks to land a right hand but Waters moved out of range.
Cleaver misses with a straight left.
Cleaver leaves Waters with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cleaver throws the left hand but Waters avoids the punch easily.
Cleaver throws a hook to the side of Waters's head but Waters sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Waters shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cleaver as he avoids it easily.
Waters is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cleaver sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cleaver throws a hook but Waters blocks it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleaver misses the jab.
Waters uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cleaver.
Waters moves into the clinch successfully.
Waters tries to break the clinch but Cleaver is controlling the position.
Cleaver is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Waters's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Cleaver misses with some punches.
Cleaver throws a punch but it's blocked by Waters.
Waters controlling the action here for a moment.
Waters blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cleaver escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Waters gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Cleaver.
Waters has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cleaver after a bit of a struggle.
Waters looks winded!
Cleaver working aggressively here.
Cleaver can't get the takedown.
Cleaver misses with the head strike.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waters blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cleaver has Waters pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Waters manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Waters tries to break the clinch but Cleaver is controlling the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cleaver.
Waters blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cleaver prevents the takedown attempt.
Waters tries to circle away but Cleaver has him pinned against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Cleaver scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Waters.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Waters blocks an uppercut.
Cleaver fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cleaver misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cleaver misses with a body punch.
Cleaver presses Waters against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cleaver is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Waters is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleaver tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cleaver breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cleaver misses with a hook. Waters ducked under it nicely.
Mervin Cleaver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cleaver misses with a hook. Waters ducked under it nicely.
Cleaver misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Cleaver misses its intended target.
Waters displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cleaver throws out the jab.
And Waters tries to counter it with a takedown but Cleaver pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Cleaver swings for the body but Waters moves out of range.
Cleaver throws a series of punches but Waters avoids them all with ease.
Cleaver is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cleaver lands a jab.
Cleaver has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Waters rushes Cleaver and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cleaver lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Waters backwards.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Waters can't get the takedown.
Waters fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cleaver misses with the head strike.
Waters tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cleaver tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cleaver decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cleaver striking off his back but it's not causing Waters any problems.
Cleaver manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Waters manages to get himself to full guard.
Cleaver trying to control the position from guard on top but Waters is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cleaver pushes down on Waters's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cleaver drops an elbow to the side of Waters's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Mervin Cleaver dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Cleaver ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Waters moves away.
Waters ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cleaver throws a right hand that misses
enabling Waters to counter with a crisp jab.
Cleaver throws an overhand right that lands on Waters's shoulder, as Waters tries to avoid the shot.
Waters tries to counter with a clinch but Cleaver shakes him off and moves away.
Waters slips a jab from Cleaver.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Waters shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cleaver but Cleaver pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Waters slips a jab from Cleaver.
Waters is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Cleaver scores with a hook.
Cleaver is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Waters can do to turn this around?
Cleaver is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Waters.
Cleaver sets himself, and Waters steps forward looking for the clinch! Cleaver avoids it this time.
Cleaver fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Waters manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Waters shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Waters staying out of range there.
Waters tries a quick counter leg kick but Cleaver is wise to it.
Waters defending well as Cleaver loads up on a big left hand.
Waters slips under a jab.
Cleaver throws an overhand right that lands on Waters's shoulder, as Waters tries to avoid the shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleaver misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Waters.
Cleaver sets himself, and Waters steps forward looking for the clinch! Cleaver avoids it this time.
Cleaver keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cleaver swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Mervin Cleaver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phoenix Waters.
Waters is breathing heavily.
Waters takes the fight into the clinch.
Waters blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Cleaver.
Waters tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cleaver just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cleaver pulls Waters into guard.
Waters wanted to stand there but Cleaver had control of the position.
Cleaver is trying to control the position but Waters postures up.
Cleaver bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Waters's guard.
Cleaver wants to control from the top but Waters keeps moving.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waters is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cleaver passes Waters's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Waters taking some punishment here, with Cleaver in his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cleaver lands a nice short elbow.
Cleaver frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Cleaver landing strikes from the mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Waters tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cleaver throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleaver connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cleaver working Waters over with strikes here.
Cleaver controlling his opponent.
Cleaver lands a couple of good shots and Waters has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Cleaver is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Waters defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Cleaver lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Waters.
Cleaver misses with punches from the back.
Cleaver is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Waters knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Waters for a finish.
Cleaver is looking to control Waters but Waters is wriggling around and keeping busy.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleaver thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Cleaver gets his hands free as Waters looks to control.
Waters avoids the strikes from Cleaver.
Waters really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cleaver. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cleaver lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Cleaver.
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!
Cleaver lands punches and elbows.
Waters covering up well under a series of strikes from Cleaver.
Mervin Cleaver overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cleaver is not going to allow Waters to sit and survive in this position.
Waters preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Cleaver.
Cleaver softening up his opponent with strikes here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Mervin Cleaver dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Waters tries for a takedown but Cleaver sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cleaver looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Waters has Cleaver up against the cage in a clinch.
Waters blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cleaver is trying to pull guard but Waters has him pressed against the cage.
Cleaver digs a right hand into Waters's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Waters's gas tank.
A frustrated look appears on Waters's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cleaver tries to pull guard but Waters won't allow it.
Cleaver breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Waters takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cleaver swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Waters looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cleaver is looking to counter punch.
Mervin Cleaver is winning the standup battle so far.
Waters takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Waters throws a sloppy head kick and Cleaver moves out of range easily.
Nice defenses there by Waters.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleaver loads up on a big right hand but Waters slips the punch.
Nice straight punches there by Cleaver. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Cleaver.
Cleaver throws a sloppy body shot
and Waters counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Waters tries to break free but Cleaver pushes him back against the cage.
Cleaver wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mervin Cleaver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Waters blocks an uppercut.
Waters manages to pull guard.
Cleaver wants to control from the top but Waters keeps moving.
Cleaver distracts Waters with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cleaver thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cleaver passes Waters's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cleaver thows a huge punch but Waters dodges it nicely.
Cleaver lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ground and pound from Cleaver.
Cleaver works his way into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Waters can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cleaver tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Cleaver throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cleaver is trying to get an arm triangle but Waters is defending well.
Cleaver throws an elbow but Waters slips to the side and avoids it well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleaver wants to lay and pray for a moment but Waters keeps working.
Cleaver tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cleaver has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Waters is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Waters is looking to reverse the position.
Cleaver scoring with punches and elbows.
Cleaver passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Waters!
Cleaver pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleaver working the ground and pound effectively.
Cleaver throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Cleaver is landing with some decent strikes but Waters is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cleaver working for a submission but Waters is keeping him at bay.
Cleaver thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Cleaver looking to ground and pound but Waters is blocking nicely.
Waters avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cleaver.
Cleaver tries to control but Waters wriggling away.
Waters tries to lock up and control but Cleaver gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Phoenix Waters has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cleaver working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that's the end of the fight!
Mervin Cleaver showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cleaver has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:26
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mervin Cleaver!
An out of breath Mervin Cleaver thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
50% |
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