PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Merriweather (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Art Vandelay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merriweather kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Change. Vandelay has chosen sizzla - solid as a rock as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Merriweather
vs
Vandelay

182 cm
21
178 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

182 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wanderlei Merriweather!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Art Vandelay!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merriweather misses with a wild combination.
Merriweather will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vandelay fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Merriweather on the side of the head.
Merriweather throws the kick towards the body but Vandelay avoids it.
Merriweather blocks a head kick by Vandelay.
Merriweather misses with a wild combination.
Vandelay throws a hook to the side of Merriweather's head but Merriweather sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vandelay ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merriweather moves away.
Merriweather misses with a jab, cross combination.
A big right from Merriweather misses.
Vandelay fails to land with a series of punches.
Vandelay looks to land a left hand but Merriweather moved out of range nicely.
Merriweather slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vandelay throws a lazy right hand but Merriweather sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good shot there by Vandelay.
Merriweather looks to land a combination. Vandelay sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Vandelay misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vandelay will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Merriweather takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A punch combination from Merriweather misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merriweather fails with the takedown.
Vandelay darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Art Vandelay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merriweather misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vandelay rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Merriweather moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vandelay throws a leg kick that misses.
Vandelay swings for the body but Merriweather moves out of range.
Merriweather throws a front kick aimed at Vandelay's knee but Vandelay avoids it well.
A punch combination from Vandelay misses.
Vandelay throws a push kick but Merriweather slaps the foot to one side.
Merriweather tries to bum rush Vandelay with a series of wild strikes but Vandelay uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vandelay uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Merriweather throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vandelay showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Merriweather.
Vandelay pivots, looking for a leg kick but Merriweather is out of range and Vandelay settles back down.
Merriweather getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vandelay dodges the punch combination from Merriweather.
Vandelay lands a nice hook to Merriweather's body. Merriweather takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two 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.
Vandelay throws a series of punches but Merriweather moves out of range.
Merriweather takes a kick to the side of the head.
Vandelay misses with a series of wild punches.
Merriweather has a takedown stuffed.
No joy there for Vandelay, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vandelay throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vandelay throws a shot to the body.
Merriweather avoids the head kick by Vandelay.
Merriweather throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vandelay misses with a combination

and Merriweather counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vandelay won't be happy with that.
Vandelay is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Merriweather off and has taken his back!
Vandelay gets his hands free as Merriweather looks to control.
Merriweather manages to reverse the position and now he's in Vandelay's guard. Nice work there by Merriweather.
Vandelay is trying to keep Merriweather in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merriweather pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vandelay is keeping the position for now.

Vandelay is looking for a triangle here but Merriweather uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Vandelay looks gassed!
Vandelay is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Merriweather has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Merriweather thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Vandelay is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Merriweather off and has taken his back!
Merriweather rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Merriweather looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Merriweather looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vandelay tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merriweather knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Merriweather actively working from the bottom here.
Vandelay trying to pass the guard but Merriweather defending well.
Merriweather is pressing down on Vandelay's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vandelay wanted to stand there but Merriweather had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Merriweather dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Merriweather swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vandelay counters with a thumping low kick.
Vandelay throws a sloppy head kick and Merriweather moves out of range easily.
Merriweather with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vandelay misses with an uppercut. Merriweather saw that one coming.
Merriweather misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Merriweather throws a push kick but Vandelay slaps the foot to one side.

Vandelay gets caught flat footed, as Merriweather shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Merriweather postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Merriweather postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vandelay can't keep his opponent in guard - Merriweather advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Merriweather tries to pass the half guard into mount. Vandelay knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Merriweather passes to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Merriweather is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Vandelay is trying to escape and Merriweather transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Vandelay is forced to tap! Nice work there by Merriweather! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Wanderlei Merriweather!