PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between JeanGuy Rubberboot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Meryk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Meryk struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 206.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Michael Meryk is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rubberboot
vs
Meryk

185 cm
22
217 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
219 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, JeanGuy Rubberboot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Meryk!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rubberboot misses with a jab, cross combination.
Meryk swats away the attempt to clinch by Rubberboot.
Rubberboot uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Meryk.
Michael Meryk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rubberboot misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rubberboot takes the fight into the clinch.
Meryk tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rubberboot smiles and moves away.
Meryk shoots for a double leg takedown but Rubberboot sprawls well. He's pushed Meryk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rubberboot goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Meryk closes the distance and clinches up with Rubberboot, looking for a takedown. Meryk pushes Rubberboot against the cage but Rubberboot circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
JeanGuy Rubberboot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Meryk.

Rubberboot looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Meryk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rubberboot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rubberboot stands and steps away. Meryk gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rubberboot shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rubberboot not doing much here.
Meryk wants to control but Rubberboot is keeping busy.
Rubberboot content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubberboot throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Meryk is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rubberboot pulls his head out easily.
Rubberboot seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rubberboot has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubberboot not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rubberboot with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Meryk trying to hold on to Rubberboot's head to control him but Rubberboot postures up.
Rubberboot controlling the pace.
Rubberboot prevents Meryk from improving his position.
Rubberboot wants to stand up but Meryk has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's four 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.

Rubberboot decides to stand up.
Meryk swats away the attempt to clinch by Rubberboot.
Rubberboot goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Meryk misses with a takedown attempt

and Rubberboot counters with a shoot takedown. Meryk fights it but they end up in guard.
Rubberboot is breathing heavily.
Rubberboot showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Meryk pulls Rubberboot in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JeanGuy Rubberboot dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Meryk misses with a looping right.
Meryk slips a jab and a cross from Rubberboot.
Meryk has his takedown stuffed

and Rubberboot counters with a shoot takedown. Meryk fights it but they end up in guard.
Meryk looking to control.
Rubberboot pushing down on Meryk's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rubberboot controlling the action here.
Meryk is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rubberboot is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rubberboot working Meryk over with strikes.
Rubberboot thows a huge punch but Meryk dodges it nicely.
Rubberboot is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rubberboot is trying to control the action in half guard but Meryk is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Meryk tries to get to full guard but Rubberboot has control of the leg.
Meryk is doing well to control the position and prevent Rubberboot from advancing to side control.

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.
Meryk trying to control but Rubberboot postures up.
Meryk throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Meryk darts in trying to clinch

and Rubberboot counters with a takedown into side control.

Rubberboot stands up and beckons Meryk to his feet.
JeanGuy Rubberboot is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Meryk rushes Rubberboot and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meryk is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rubberboot gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rubberboot lands with a left to the head.
Rubberboot cracks Meryk with a nice body shot.
Rubberboot prevents the takedown attempt.
JeanGuy Rubberboot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Meryk.

Rubberboot decides to pull guard.

Rubberboot kicks Meryk off and gets to his feet.
Rubberboot throws a right hand that Meryk ducks under and follows up with a left that Meryk also avoids with ease.
Meryk misses with a takedown attempt

and Rubberboot counters with a shoot takedown. Meryk fights it but they end up in guard.
Rubberboot sitting in guard, not really doing much.
JeanGuy Rubberboot overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rubberboot missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubberboot is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Meryk wants to sweep here but Rubberboot controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JeanGuy Rubberboot dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Meryk gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Meryk trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rubberboot looking to sit in guard and control but Meryk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rubberboot trying to keep a closed guard but Meryk is proving a slippery customer.
Rubberboot is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rubberboot keeping full guard, as Meryk tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meryk trying to control the position from guard on top but Rubberboot is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Meryk stops Rubberboot from standing up.
Rubberboot keeping moving, preventing Meryk from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Meryk blocks a head kick by Rubberboot.
Rubberboot shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Meryk but Meryk pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Meryk misses the body punch
and Rubberboot counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Meryk tries to close the distance and clinch but Rubberboot swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

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.
Meryk slips a jab and a cross from Rubberboot.

Meryk scores with a takedown into Rubberboot's guard.
Rubberboot looking to hit a scissor sweep but Meryk is one step ahead there.
Meryk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rubberboot controls Meryk momentarily but Meryk frees himself.
Meryk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rubberboot keeping moving, preventing Meryk from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubberboot preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Meryk won't allow Rubberboot to get back to his feet.
Meryk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Let's hope that Meryk has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rubberboot is looking to clinch but Meryk is avoiding it.

Meryk bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubberboot is trying to get back to half guard.
Meryk taking a break here but Rubberboot is having none of it and regains half guard.
Meryk throwing shots but Rubberboot is blocking nicely.

Meryk is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rubberboot controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Meryk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rubberboot 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JeanGuy Rubberboot!