PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maximus DeMarcus Meridius (ranked 2498 p4p, 3679 weight class) and Reggie Booker (ranked 362 p4p, 519 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

DeMarcus Meridius
vs
Booker

187 cm
19
185
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
185
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

Hotrod Express MMA and Sports Apparel
Vegan Gains

Conviction
Vegan Gains

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maximus DeMarcus Meridius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reggie Booker!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

DeMarcus Meridius moves into the clinch.
Booker blocks a body shot from DeMarcus Meridius.
A nice left hand lands by DeMarcus Meridius.
Booker looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
DeMarcus Meridius gets through Booker's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Booker lands with a short head shot on the inside.
DeMarcus Meridius misses with the head strike.
DeMarcus Meridius lands a shot to the body.
DeMarcus Meridius working some nice short punches in the clinch.
DeMarcus Meridius misses with a shot to the kidneys.
DeMarcus Meridius tries to throw a body punch but Booker avoids it by throwing DeMarcus Meridius back against the cage.
Booker stalling against the cage.
DeMarcus Meridius can't find room to land a body shot as Booker controls the action.
Booker misses with a body punch.

Booker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
DeMarcus Meridius fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reggie Booker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Booker jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Booker throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fighters circling - DeMarcus Meridius throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
DeMarcus Meridius looks to throw the jab but Booker is out of range.
Booker looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Booker closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeMarcus Meridius lands a right hand.
Booker gets through DeMarcus Meridius's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Booker.
DeMarcus Meridius working aggressively here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Booker.
DeMarcus Meridius has a couple of punches blocked by Booker.
Booker stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Booker breaks the clinch.
Booker misses with a wild combination.
DeMarcus Meridius tries to counter by clinching up but Booker breaks away and moves out of range.
Booker misses the shot to the body.
Booker lands with a nice body punch.

DeMarcus Meridius closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Booker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of DeMarcus Meridius backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
DeMarcus Meridius swings away with an uppercut that misses.
DeMarcus Meridius tries a body shot but Booker blocks it.
DeMarcus Meridius throws a punch but it's blocked by Booker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker lands with a short head shot on the inside.
I was talking to DeMarcus Meridius's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Booker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
DeMarcus Meridius misses the shot to the body.
Booker misses with a body shot.
Booker swings for the body but DeMarcus Meridius moves out of range.
A lazy left from Booker finds it's target.

DeMarcus Meridius gets a clinch.
Booker lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt DeMarcus Meridius or not.
Booker lands a right hand.
A body shot lands from Booker.
DeMarcus Meridius throws a head punch that misses.
Booker prevents a body shot from DeMarcus Meridius.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Booker.
Booker is struggling to control the position.
Booker lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down DeMarcus Meridius.
DeMarcus Meridius misses with the head strike.
Booker blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Booker creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Booker lands with a left to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Booker.
Booker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
DeMarcus Meridius throws a head punch that misses.
Booker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of DeMarcus Meridius backwards.
DeMarcus Meridius gets through Booker's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

DeMarcus Meridius jumps into guard, dragging Booker to the mat.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Booker's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
DeMarcus Meridius is looking to control Booker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can DeMarcus Meridius avoid being mounted?
DeMarcus Meridius tries to get to full guard but Booker has control of the leg.
Booker with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Booker wants to take a breather but DeMarcus Meridius is having none of it.
DeMarcus Meridius wants to get back to full guard.
DeMarcus Meridius controlling the position well.

DeMarcus Meridius looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reggie Booker dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A combination from Booker does no damage.
DeMarcus Meridius lands with a straight right. Booker didn't see that one coming.

DeMarcus Meridius has managed to clinch.
Booker gets through DeMarcus Meridius's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

DeMarcus Meridius ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. DeMarcus Meridius no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Booker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

DeMarcus Meridius is looking for a triangle but Booker pushes his legs off easily.
DeMarcus Meridius on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if DeMarcus Meridius tries to get out of the position.
Booker tries to free his leg and advance position but DeMarcus Meridius is retaining full guard.

DeMarcus Meridius working for submissions but it's allowed Booker to get to half guard.
Booker passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for DeMarcus Meridius!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeMarcus Meridius is looking to improve his position but Booker isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker fails to take his opponent's back.
Booker looking to control and managing it successfully.
DeMarcus Meridius is desperately trying to improve his position but Booker has a good base and remains in mount.
DeMarcus Meridius tries to improve his position but instead Booker has taken his back!
Booker is hanging on to DeMarcus Meridius's back as he tries to escape.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Booker controlling the positon.
Booker is trying to stick to DeMarcus Meridius's back but DeMarcus Meridius is turning into Booker. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Booker's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by DeMarcus Meridius.

DeMarcus Meridius has gone for a leg lock! Booker slips out almost immediately though and dives into DeMarcus Meridius's guard.

Reggie Booker has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

DeMarcus Meridius throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Booker controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
DeMarcus Meridius looking for a sweep. Not yet DeMarcus Meridius, not yet.
Booker trying to control but DeMarcus Meridius is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

DeMarcus Meridius is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Booker is aware though and is defending well.
Booker wants to pass the guard but DeMarcus Meridius is keeping the position.
Booker wants to stand but DeMarcus Meridius is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeMarcus Meridius keeping full guard, as Booker tries to pass.
Booker controlling from the top position.

DeMarcus Meridius is looking for a triangle here but Booker uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
DeMarcus Meridius is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Booker off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Booker defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
DeMarcus Meridius gets his hands free as Booker looks to control.

Booker preventing the rear naked choke attempt from DeMarcus Meridius.

DeMarcus Meridius working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Booker is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maximus DeMarcus Meridius will probably get the nod.
That's time! DeMarcus Meridius's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Booker looks to score with a jab to the body but DeMarcus Meridius is just out of range.
Booker misses with a hook to the body

and DeMarcus Meridius holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Booker lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down DeMarcus Meridius.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, DeMarcus Meridius creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Booker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Booker blocking some punches.
DeMarcus Meridius is trying to pull guard but Booker turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Booker tries to throw a body punch but DeMarcus Meridius avoids it by throwing Booker back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Booker.
Reggie Booker seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
DeMarcus Meridius swings wildly with an uppercut but Booker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Booker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of DeMarcus Meridius backwards.
Booker lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Booker breaks the clinch.
Booker stuns DeMarcus Meridius with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Booker lands a slapping body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Booker lands a straight punch to the body, keeping DeMarcus Meridius at a distance.
Reggie Booker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Booker lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker dips to his left and cracks DeMarcus Meridius with an uppercut!
DeMarcus Meridius takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Booker cracks DeMarcus Meridius with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! DeMarcus Meridius looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Booker finish him?

DeMarcus Meridius is rocked!

Booker takes the fight into the clinch.
Oh DeMarcus Meridius is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Booker manages to break the clinch.
DeMarcus Meridius seems to have got his legs back now.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Booker throws a shot to the body.
Jab by Booker.
Booker stuns DeMarcus Meridius with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Booker lunges in with a left hook that violently twists DeMarcus Meridius head around and knocks him out cold! Booker hops onto the cage and yells out at the top of his lungs - Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah! They're showing the replay on the big screens now; that was nasty! I hope one of the photographers got a good shot of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Reggie Booker!
A less than humble Reggie Booker misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.