PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alessio Meridio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Fitzroy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meridio comes into the arena with All That Reamins - The Air I Breathe blaring out of the sound system. The key to victory for Alessio Meridio has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Meridio
vs
Fitzroy

187 cm
27
168 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

190 cm
25
172 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alessio Meridio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Fitzroy!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meridio moves in looking to clinch but Fitzroy pushes him off.
Fitzroy looks to throw a body kick

and Meridio decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fitzroy's guard.
Meridio engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Meridio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fitzroy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Meridio trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fitzroy's guard.
Fitzroy can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Meridio controls the pace.

Fitzroy looking for a guillotine here but Meridio defends easily.
Fitzroy looks gassed!
Meridio slips nicely into half guard.

Meridio looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridio scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Meridio looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fitzroy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Meridio frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fitzroy is in all sorts of trouble here.
Meridio scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Fitzroy?
Fitzroy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Meridio is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Meridio fails to land the takedown.
Joseph Fitzroy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meridio looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridio dives in and grabs Fitzroy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fitzroy pushes down on Meridio's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alessio Meridio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fitzroy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Meridio dips to his left and cracks Fitzroy with an uppercut!
Meridio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Meridio throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Meridio will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Fitzroy fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Meridio to the ground. Fitzroy is now in Meridio's guard.

Fitzroy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Meridio shoots for a double leg takedown but Fitzroy sprawls well. He's pushed Meridio's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fitzroy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Meridio tries to avoid it but Fitzroy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Meridio to the ground. Meridio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Meridio fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Fitzroy manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Meridio on his heels. He'll look to pass Meridio's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Meridio wants to stand up but Fitzroy is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzroy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Meridio's guard.
Meridio wants to get back to his feet but Fitzroy is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

Fitzroy is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Fitzroy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Meridio is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Meridio looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Meridio is looking for a triangle but Fitzroy pushes his legs off easily.
Fitzroy wants to control from the top but Meridio keeps moving.

Meridio pushes a forearm under Fitzroy's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Fitzroy is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alessio Meridio!