PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lavern Mejia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tahi Toru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tahi Toru 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!

Mejia
vs
Toru

204 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lavern Mejia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tahi Toru!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toru with a poor takedown

and Mejia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Toru trying to stall but Mejia improves his position.

Mejia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Toru doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mejia counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Toru looking to control but Mejia passes into half guard.

Mejia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Toru tries to roll over but Mejia keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toru tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Mejia manages to move to mount!
Toru is in all sorts of trouble here.

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.
Mejia avoids the attempt from Toru to control.
Mejia looking to ground and pound but Toru is blocking nicely.
Mejia lands a couple of good shots and Toru has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Toru trying to control the hands but Mejia breaks the grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mejia is trying to stick to Toru's back but Toru is turning into Mejia. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Mejia's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Toru.
Toru controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tahi Toru hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Mejia pushes Toru up against the cage in a clinch.
Mejia is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lavern Mejia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tahi Toru.
Toru looking to slow down the pace here.
A bit of stalling here from Mejia.
Toru tries to pull guard but Mejia won't allow it.

Toru breaks from the clinch.
Toru doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mejia counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Toru slips a jab and a cross from Mejia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lavern Mejia will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mejia lands a jab to the head.
Toru tries for a takedown but Mejia circles away easily
and Mejia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mejia keeps the fight on the outside.
Toru avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Toru shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Toru stopping the sweep attempt from Mejia.

Mejia is looking for a triangle but Toru pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mejia has his foot on Toru's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Toru works his way back into a safe position though.
Toru wants to stand but Mejia is controlling his posture from full guard.
Toru in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Toru has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mejia is proving hard to escape from.

Mejia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Toru is aware though and is defending well.

Toru got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mejia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Toru has managed to get both his arms back between Mejia's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toru pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mejia is keeping the position for now.
Mejia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mejia knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Toru on the ground.
Toru chips away with some ground and pound.
Toru trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mejia has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mejia trying to keep a closed guard but Toru is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mejia has momentary wrist control but Toru slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toru trying to control the position from guard on top but Mejia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mejia keeping full guard, as Toru tries to pass.
Toru trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Toru is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mejia is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mejia has escaped and now he's on top!
Mejia really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toru is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tahi Toru wasn't active enough on the ground.

Mejia closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mejia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Toru blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tahi Toru showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Toru has his takedown stuffed

and Mejia counters by moving into the clinch.

Mejia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Toru looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Toru shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mejia counters with a left and a right that stings Toru.
Lavern Mejia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mejia misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toru shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mejia moves into the clinch.
Lavern Mejia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tahi Toru.

Toru breaks the clinch.
Toru doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mejia counters by clinching up.
Toru is trying to pull guard but Mejia has him pressed against the cage.

Mejia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Mejia closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Toru's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mejia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Toru is trying to control the position but Mejia postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mejia throwing strikes from guard but Toru blocks nicely.
Mejia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mejia throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Toru works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tahi Toru.
Toru shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mejia counters by moving into the clinch.
Toru takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mejia.

Mejia breaks from the clinch.
Mejia connects with a single shot there.

Mejia changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Toru looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Toru tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mejia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The strikes coming from Mejia are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toru looking for a sweep but Mejia has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Mejia looking to ground and pound but Toru is blocking nicely.

Mejia is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Toru to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Toru shrugs it off.
Toru keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Toru tries to lock up and control but Mejia gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lavern Mejia showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mejia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lavern Mejia!