PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Opuss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Meridius
vs
Opuss

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maximus Meridius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brad Opuss!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Opuss closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Meridius to the mat! Meridius manages to get full guard.

Meridius had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Opuss is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Meridius Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Opuss's back instead.
Meridius keeps control of the position as Opuss tries to break free.

Meridius tightening his grip on Opuss, looking for the choke.
Meridius keeps control of the position as Opuss tries to break free.
Meridius misses with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Meridius is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Opuss is defending well though. Meridius let's go of the attempt for now.
Opuss breaks Meridius's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Opuss wants to pass the guard but Meridius is keeping the position.
Opuss cracks Meridius with a solid left hand.

Meridius working for submissions but it's allowed Opuss to get to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Opuss lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opuss trying to control the pace.
Opuss wants to pass the guard but Meridius is defending well.
Meridius punching from the bottom.

Meridius is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Opuss pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Opuss sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Opuss winds up and cracks Meridius with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opuss not doing much here.
Meridius wants to get back to his feet.
Opuss takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Meridius is trying to control but can't.
Ground and pound from Opuss.
Meridius wants to get back to full guard.
Meridius is breathing heavily.
Meridius won't allow Opuss to pass to mount.
Opuss slips a nice elbow through Meridius's hands, connecting with Meridius's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opuss thows a huge punch but Meridius dodges it nicely.
Meridius is trying to control but can't.
Opuss is pressing down on Meridius's thigh, looking to free his foot. Meridius is holding on for now.
Opuss is keen to just control but Meridius is a slippery customer.
Opuss controlling the action here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Meridius takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Meridius throws a head kick but Opuss moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Opuss dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Opuss drives through with a takedown into guard.
Opuss slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Opuss must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Opuss throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Meridius is trying to keep Opuss in close.
Opuss wants to control from the top but Meridius keeps moving.
Opuss is breathing heavily.
Opuss preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Opuss drops back looking for a leg! Meridius is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Meridius manages to kick Opuss off! Opuss jumps back into Meridius's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Meridius looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Meridius takes one to the side of the head.
Meridius tries to close the distance and clinch but Opuss swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Opuss throws a right and a left that both miss.

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.
Meridius fails in his attempt to clinch.

Opuss looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Meridius is trying to stand.
Opuss is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Meridius wants to get back to his feet.
Meridius works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius is trying to control the position but Opuss postures up.
Meridius striking off his back but it's not causing Opuss any problems.
Opuss trying to control the position from guard on top but Meridius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Opuss trying to move into half guard but instead Meridius has managed to sweep!
Meridius trying to control but Opuss is working from the bottom.
Opuss looking to hit a scissor sweep but Meridius is one step ahead there.
Opuss not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Meridius passes Opuss's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Meridius wants to free his trapped foot but Opuss is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Meridius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Opuss keeps working.
Opuss trying to control here.

Meridius is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Meridius is looking to advance position but Opuss won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Opuss showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Meridius wants to clinch up but Opuss keeps it at a distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Opuss.
Meridius manages to work his way to half guard, despite Opuss's best efforts.
Opuss is thwarting Meridius's attempts to control the position.
Still in half guard, Opuss seems content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Meridius is trying to stand.
Meridius is looking to control Opuss's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Meridius avoid being mounted?
Opuss takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Opuss gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Meridius gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Opuss counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Meridius bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Opuss's guard.
Opuss keeping moving, preventing Meridius from controlling successfully.
Meridius throws a big right hand that misses.
Meridius stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Opuss swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Meridius tries to stand but Opuss is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius wants to control from the top but Opuss keeps moving.
Opuss utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Opuss looking to hit a scissor sweep but Meridius is one step ahead there.
Meridius working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Opuss's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Meridius tries to clinch up

and Opuss counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Opuss in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Meridius is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Meridius is wriggling around but Opuss manages to pass to half guard.
Meridius is looking to get back to full guard here but Opuss has managed to pass to side control instead.
Meridius is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opuss controlling the pace for now.

Opuss jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Meridius is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Meridius and Opuss has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Maximus Meridius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brad Opuss is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The strikes coming from Opuss are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Opuss comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Opuss has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Opuss!