PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Meridius (ranked 1325 p4p, 2128 weight class) and Petar Popara (ranked 197 p4p, 310 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Meridius
vs
Popara

191 cm
22
205
6 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
220
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Conviction

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maximus Meridius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Petar Popara!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meridius walks into a straight right hand from Popara.
Popara misses with an uppercut
and Meridius counters with a stiff right hand.
Popara tries to clinch
and Meridius counters with a straight right hand.
We've been told by Meridius's head coaches at Punch Fit that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Popara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Meridius.
An attempted straight right counter from Meridius misses the target.
Nice body punch from Popara.
Popara swings for the body but Meridius moves out of range.
Meridius throwing a counter right hand but Popara manages to avoid it.
Popara looks to land a right hand but Meridius moved out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Meridius misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Popara.
It looked like Meridius wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Popara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Meridius swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Popara finds it's target.
Popara throws a body punch but Meridius moves out of range.
Popara tries to close the distance and clinch but Meridius swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Popara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Popara scores with a shot to the body.
Popara just misses with a punch to the body.
Meridius is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popara lands with a cross.
Popara lands a jab to Meridius's midsection.
Popara falls off balance throwing a combination
and Meridius counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Meridius ducks under a wild hook from Popara.
Popara moves to clinch but Meridius breaks away
and Popara takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Popara lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popara lands a slapping body shot.
The fighters circling - Popara throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Meridius was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Popara throws a right hand that Meridius ducks under and follows up with a left that Meridius also avoids with ease.
Popara throws a predictable looking body shot
and Meridius counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Popara swings widly with a right hand
and Meridius counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Popara is looking to clinch but Meridius is avoiding it.
It looked like Meridius wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Popara lands with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Popara clinches with his opponent.
Meridius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Meridius is working Popara over against the cage.
Meridius lands a right hand that snaps the head of Popara backwards.
Popara tries to work over Meridius's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popara.
Meridius lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Meridius misses with a short punch on the inside.
Meridius struggles to land a body shot inside as Popara controls his hands.
Popara blocks a body shot from Meridius.
Meridius tries to throw a body punch but Popara avoids it by throwing Meridius back against the cage.
A short right from Popara.
Meridius lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Popara or not.
With the fighters up against the cage, Popara throws an elbow but misses.
Popara blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Popara lands an elbow inside that Meridius shrugs off.

It looks like Maximus Meridius has been cut.
Meridius lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Popara can't find room to land a body shot as Meridius controls the action.
Meridius has a couple of punches blocked by Popara.

Meridius manages to break the clinch.
Popara tries to clinch but Meridius is having none of it.
A little feinted left hand from Meridius on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Petar Popara will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maximus Meridius's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Popara is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Meridius takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Popara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Meridius.
Popara moves to clinch but Meridius breaks away
and Meridius counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Meridius is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popara moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Popara lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A swing and a miss from Popara.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popara tries to clinch up.
Popara throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Meridius to counter with a crisp jab.
Petar Popara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Meridius avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Meridius swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Popara throws a jab when Meridius was well out of range.
Popara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Meridius swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Popara jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A little feinted left hand from Meridius on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Meridius avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It looked like Meridius wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Popara forces Meridius back against the cage and clinches.
Meridius throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short left from Popara.
Popara misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Meridius breaks from the clinch.
Popara lands a right hook to the body.
Popara ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Popara throws a hook but Meridius blocks it.
Meridius is looking to counter punch.
Popara lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Popara digs a good hook to Meridius's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popara tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Meridius counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Meridius takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Popara throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Popara misses the jab.
Meridius swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Popara has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Popara misses with a combination
and Meridius counters with a left to the body.
Popara jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Meridius appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Popara swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Popara clinches with his opponent.
Meridius blocks an elbow strike from Popara.
A nice right hand lands inside from Meridius.
Meridius misses with a body punch.
Popara looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Meridius misses with a punch to the body.
Meridius digs a right hand underneath Popara's ribcage. Popara let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Popara looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Meridius misses with the head strike.
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!
Meridius prevents a body shot from Popara.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Meridius.
Popara blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Meridius on the inside.
Meridius lands with a right to the head.
Meridius blocks an elbow strike.
Meridius lands a right hand that snaps the head of Popara backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Meridius fails to land.
Popara struggles to land a body shot inside as Meridius controls his hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Petar Popara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Maximus Meridius's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Popara misses with a double jab
and Meridius cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Popara gets a clinch.
Meridius misses with a punch on the inside.
Popara has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Meridius seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Popara can turn it around.
Popara can't find room to land a body shot as Meridius controls the action.
Meridius lands an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Meridius.
Popara pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Popara can't find room to land a body shot as Meridius controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A hook to the body from Popara.
Popara misses with a body punch.
Popara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Popara lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Meridius backwards.
Popara lands an elbow inside that Meridius shrugs off.
Maximus Meridius has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Meridius takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Meridius fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popara blocking some punches.
Popara digs a right hand underneath Meridius's ribcage. Meridius let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Meridius misses with a hook from the clinch.
Meridius tries to throw a body punch but Popara avoids it by throwing Meridius back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Popara throws an elbow but misses.
Popara misses with a punch to the body.
Meridius pushes Popara back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Meridius misses with a short punch on the inside.
Popara working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Popara lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good body shot from Popara.
Nice body punch from Popara - that landed with a thud.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Popara.
Popara tries a body shot but Meridius blocks it.
Meridius lands a shot to the body.
Popara tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Popara goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Popara misses with a hook to the ribs.
Popara tries a body shot but Meridius blocks it.
Popara is working Meridius over against the cage.
Popara lands with a light punch inside.
Maximus Meridius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popara doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Meridius throws a head punch that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Meridius misses with a short punch on the inside.
Meridius digs a right hand into Popara's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Popara's gas tank.
Popara digs a right hand into Meridius's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Meridius's gas tank.
Popara can't find room to land a body shot as Meridius controls the action.
Meridius takes an elbow to the temple.
Popara lands an elbow just above Meridius 's eye.

Maximus Meridius's cut is getting worse.
Meridius throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Poparas head.
Popara works on Meridius's body with a couple of short punches.
Popara tries a body shot but Meridius blocks it.
Popara misses with an elbow strike.
Meridius takes an elbow to the temple.
Meridius tries to work over Popara's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Meridius misses with some punches.
Popara misses with a punch to the body.
Popara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Popara lands a body punch in the clinch.
Popara lands a body shot.
Popara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Meridius.
Meridius misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popara tries to throw a body punch but Meridius avoids it by throwing Popara back against the cage.
Popara misses with a body punch.
Popara works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Popara works on Meridius's body with a couple of short punches.
Popara lands a nice shot to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Popara.
Popara pushes off an throws an elbow but Meridius leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Popara.
Popara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Meridius.
A short right from Popara on the inside.
Popara lands an elbow inside.
Popara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Meridius.
Popara struggles to land a body shot inside as Meridius controls his hands.
Popara tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Popara lands a body punch.
Popara lands with a left to the head.
Meridius misses with some punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Popara.
Popara lands a damaging elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Maximus Meridius's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popara lands an elbow inside.
Popara tries to throw a body punch but Meridius avoids it by throwing Popara back against the cage.
Meridius's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Popara lands an elbow just above Meridius 's eye.

Jeez, Maximus Meridius's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Popara doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Popara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Meridius's elbow.
Meridius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Popara misses with an elbow strike.
Meridius prevents a body shot from Popara.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Popara.
Popara misses with a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Popara.
Popara blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Popara misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Popara tries a body shot but Meridius blocks it.
Meridius avoids the elbow strike from Popara, against the cage.
Popara is working Meridius over against the cage.
Popara pushes off an throws an elbow but Meridius leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meridius scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Popara blocks a body shot from Meridius.

And that's the end of the fight!
Petar Popara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Popara 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petar Popara!
A victorious Petar Popara thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.