PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Merel (ranked 398 p4p, 53 weight class) and Donald Trumpet (ranked 725 p4p, 93 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Trumpet's choice of entrance music: For Heavy Metal we will die!. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Merel
vs
Trumpet

191 cm
32
190 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

184 cm
31
188 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Urban Fighter

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013
Heavy Metal Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Merel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Donald Trumpet!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Trumpet pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Merel cracks a nice hook into Trumpet's ribs.
Merel swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Trumpet.
Trumpet misses with a straight left.

Merel throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Trumpet was covering up waiting for the punch and Merel finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Trumpet is adopting a defensive guard.
Trumpet bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Merel's guard.

Trumpet controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Merel working for submissions but it's allowed Trumpet to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Trumpet postures up.
Merel can't keep his opponent in guard - Trumpet advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Merel's coaches at Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Trumpet wants to control but Merel is keeping him busy.
Trumpet tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merel knows what he's doing though and prevents the 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.

Merel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Merel wants to control but Trumpet is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Merel is looking for a sweep. Trumpet is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Merel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Trumpet is looking to stall here but Merel recovers full guard.
Trumpet looking to sit in guard and control but Merel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trumpet wants to sweep here but Merel controlling him for the moment.
Trumpet controlling Merel's posture.
Merel wants to control from the top but Trumpet keeps moving.
Trumpet wants to sweep here but Merel controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Trumpet keeping moving, preventing Merel from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Trumpet walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Donald Trumpet is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merel misses with a jab to the body
and Trumpet counters with a three punch combo that has Merel backing up. Merel nods at Trumpet to acknowledge the strikes.

Merel changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Trumpet looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Merel is chipping away with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merel cracks Trumpet with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Merel has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Trumpet!

Merel is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Trumpet to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Trumpet shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Merel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Merel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Trumpet.
Trumpet throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Merel counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Trumpet thinking.
Mark Merel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Trumpet slips a straight right by Merel.
Merel keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
No luck for Merel with that takedown attempt.
Trumpet uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Merel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merel goes for a double leg but Trumpet avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Trumpet continues to drive forward.
Merel lands with a nice body punch.
Merel fails with the takedown
enabling Trumpet to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Merel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel throws a body punch but Trumpet moves out of range.
A nice side step and Trumpet releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Merel 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.
Merel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Merel tries to free his leg and advance position but Trumpet is retaining full guard.
Trumpet trying to keep a closed guard but Merel is proving a slippery customer.
Merel won't allow Trumpet to sweep him here.

Trumpet working for a triangle but Merel defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merel slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Trumpet utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Merel wants to pass the guard but Trumpet is keeping the position.
Trumpet lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mark Merel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Trumpet trying to control the position from guard on top but Merel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Trumpet forces his way into half guard.
Trumpet wants to stand but Merel has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel tries to roll over but Trumpet keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Trumpet seems content to control.

Trumpet looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Merel controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Trumpet has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Trumpet wants to control the pace but Merel is squirming around nicely.
Merel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merel bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Trumpet has his foot on Merel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Merel works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Merel dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Trumpet moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice uppercut lands for Merel. That snapped Trumpet's head back.
Trumpet looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Merel throws a predictable looking body shot
and Trumpet counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Merel misses with a straight right.
Merel throws a body shot but no joy.
Trumpet slips a straight right by Merel.
A telegraphed right hand from Merel misses the target.
Trumpet's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Trumpet duly obliges.

It looks like Mark Merel has been cut.

Merel closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Trumpet did well to prevent Merel getting side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Merel thows a huge punch but Trumpet dodges it nicely.

Merel is trying to work for a kimura but Trumpet is defending well.
Trumpet trying to control but Merel postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel is trying to control. Trumpet wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Merel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Merel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Trumpet can do to turn this around?
Merel sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Merel is nestled in close to Trumpet, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

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.
Merel is keen to just control but Trumpet is a slippery customer.
Merel with the ground and pound but Trumpet uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Merel postures up in Trumpet's guard and throws a big left but Trumpet blocks it.
Merel advances position into side control!
Trumpet is trying to get back to half guard.
Trumpet defending against the ground and pound.
Trumpet has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Merel working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Merel's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Merel postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Merel misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Merel advances to mount.
Merel wants to control the pace but Trumpet is squirming around nicely.
Merel lands a nice shot to the head.
Merel looking to control but Trumpet is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Merel looking to finish Trumpet with some ground and pound. This is bad for Trumpet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trumpet sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Well, if Merel is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Merel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merel wants to pass to mount but Trumpet is defending the position.
Trumpet manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Merel clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Merel's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fighters circling - Merel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Trumpet misses with a double jab
and Merel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Merel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Trumpet sprawls well. Trumpet wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Merel gets slowly back to his feet.
Trumpet takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trumpet moves out of range as Merel strikes.
Merel misses with a looping right.
Trumpet lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Merel scores with the left hand. Trumpet knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trumpet misses with a head kick.
Merel throws a shot to the body.
Merel is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nice uppercut there from Trumpet.
Merel throws a right hand that misses
letting Trumpet counter with a right hand.

Merel is rocked!
Merel throws out a loose jab but Trumpet uses good head movement to avoid it.
Oh Merel is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Merel throws a sloppy body shot
and Trumpet counters with a huge left! Merel is in big trouble! He's backing up but Trumpet isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Merel from any more damage. A dominating finish by Trumpet!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Donald Trumpet!
Donald Trumpet is the new middleweight champion!
Donald Trumpet tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.