PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jim Duvel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Merudez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Duvel
vs
Merudez

190 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

200 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Duvel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Merudez!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merudez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!

Duvel looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Merudez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Duvel.
Duvel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Duvel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merudez keeps working.

Duvel is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Merudez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Duvel stops Merudez from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merudez desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Merudez trying to control from the bottom.
Duvel trying to control from Merudez's half guard. Merudez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Duvel circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Duvel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Merudez checks a leg kick.
Merudez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Duvel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Merudez misses with a double jab

and Duvel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Duvel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Merudez is looking to escape.
Nice strikes from Duvel there.
Duvel tries to pass to full mount but Merudez defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duvel stops Merudez from getting back to his feet.
Merudez is trying to get back to full guard.
Merudez wants to control but Duvel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duvel wants to stand but Merudez has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Duvel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Merudez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Merudez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Merudez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Merudez fails with the takedown

and Duvel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Merudez won't be happy with that.
Merudez is trying to control Duvel's posture but Duvel avoids it.

Duvel decides to stand back up. Duvel steps back and let's Merudez get back to his feet.
Merudez clinches but Duvel breaks the clinch

and Duvel counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Merudez keeping full guard, as Duvel tries to pass.
Duvel trying to control but Merudez is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Duvel dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Duvel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Merudez instigates a clinch.

Merudez pulls guard.

Duvel is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Merudez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Merudez has escaped and now he's on top!
Duvel wants to sweep here but Merudez controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duvel trying to keep a closed guard but Merudez is proving a slippery customer.
Merudez wants to control from the top but Duvel keeps moving.
Duvel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merudez is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Duvel keeping full guard, as Merudez tries to pass.

Duvel is looking for a triangle here but Merudez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duvel sneaks back into half guard.
Duvel wants to get back to full guard.
Merudez tries to pass to full mount but Duvel defends it.
Merudez working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Duvel's thigh. Duvel counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Duvel is looking to stand up but Merudez isn't so interested in that idea.
Merudez wants to get up but he can't break Duvel's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merudez is stalling in the full guard.
Duvel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Merudez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Duvel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Duvel trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Merudez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Duvel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Merudez on the ground.
Duvel working a defensive guard here.
Jim Duvel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Merudez prevents Duvel from getting back to his feet.
Merudez won't allow Duvel to sweep him here.
Merudez is looking to stand up but Duvel won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Duvel is on top in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Merudez controls Duvel momentarily but Duvel frees himself.
Merudez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Merudez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Duvel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Merudez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duvel trying to control but Merudez is working from the bottom.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duvel makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Merudez wants to stand up but Duvel is controlling him.
Duvel would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Duvel tries to free his leg and advance position but Merudez is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Duvel wants to control from the top but Merudez keeps moving.
Duvel wants to stand and escape but instead Merudez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Duvel can't keep his opponent in guard - Merudez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Duvel trying to hold on to Merudez's head to control him but Merudez postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Merudez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Merudez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Merudez!