PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Merel (ranked 1381 p4p, 2239 weight class) and Seiryu Machida (ranked 182 p4p, 296 weight class). Seiryu Machida has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Merel
vs
Machida

191 cm
33
190
12 - 5 - 1

192 cm
30
187
13 - 8 - 4

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Merel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seiryu Machida!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Merel.
Mark Merel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida tries to clinch up.
Merel looks to throw the jab but Machida is out of range.
Machida swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Machida throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merel connects with a crisp jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Machida misses the target.

Merel closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Machida to the mat! Machida manages to get full guard.
Merel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merel trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merel pushing down on Machida's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merel looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Machida defends it well.
Merel looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Merel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida wants to get back to full guard but Merel has mounted him!
BOOM! Merel connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida regains half guard.
Merel trying to control from half guard but Machida is working away.

Merel seems to be looking for submissions.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merel in particular looking to stall.
Merel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Machida tries to roll over but Merel keeps him under control.
Merel is trying to control the action in half guard but Machida is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to get back to full guard.
Machida is refusing to be controlled, as Merel sits in half guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Merel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Merel winds up and cracks Machida with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Merel trying to pass the guard but Machida defending well.
Merel not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Machida blocking the ground and pound attempt from Merel.
Merel trying to control the action but Machida is working from the bottom.
Machida is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Merel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Merel's back!
Merel can't escape the position.
A lull in the action here.
Machida is trying to control but Merel is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Machida wants to control the pace but Merel is squirming around nicely.
Merel tries to reverse the position but Machida maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Merel dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Machida fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Merel.
Machida gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Merel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Merel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Machida misses with a wild body shot.
Machida defending well as Merel loads up on a big left hand.
The fighters circling - Merel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Machida looks to score with a jab to the body but Merel is just out of range.

Merel dives in and scores a takedown into Machida's guard.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Merel from controlling successfully.
Merel advances to half guard.

Merel is working for a kimura but Machida is defending it quite comfortably.
Machida tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Merel manages to move to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida tries to improve his position but instead Merel has taken his back!
Machida staying busy and making it hard for Merel to control.

Machida fending off the submission attempt from Merel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Merel.

Merel looking for the choke but no joy.
Machida is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Merel off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Machida preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Merel.

Merel has his opponent's back but Machida is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Merel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Merel lands a really nice looking cross but Machida seems unphased.
Merel misses with an uppercut. Machida saw that one coming.
Nice defenses there by Machida.
Machida throws out a counter right but Merel avoids it with no problem.
Machida looks to land a body kick but Merel moved away.
Merel misses with an uppercut. Machida saw that one coming.
Nice jab there from Machida.
Merel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Machida.
Merel lands an overhand right.
Machida moves away from the strike by Merel.
Machida takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Merel moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Seiryu Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merel tests Machida's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machida gets caught flat footed, as Merel shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Merel pushes down on Machida's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Machida is looking for a sweep. Merel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Merel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Merel prevents Machida from improving his position.
Merel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Machida does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Merel dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Machida pivots, looking for a leg kick but Merel is out of range and Machida settles back down.
Merel throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Merel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Machida.
Machida takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Merel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machida manages to avoid it.
Merel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Merel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Merel sets himself, and Machida steps forward looking for the clinch! Merel avoids it this time.
Merel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Machida swivels and escapes.
Machida finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Merel takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Machida stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Merel counter with a right hand.
Merel moves out of range of the body kick from Machida.
A big left from Merel misses.
Merel throws a hook but Machida avoids it easily.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Merel attempts a counter takedown but Machida avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Machida darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Machida on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Merel lands a body shot.
A head kick misses from Machida.
Machida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Machida ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Machida does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
The crowd cheers as Machida lands an impressive looking overhand right. Merel doesn't seem phased though.
Merel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Merel loads up on a big right hand but Machida slips the punch.
Machida throws a body kick that misses.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Merel, as that shot connected.
Merel lands with a shot to the body.
Machida stuffs the takedown attempt from Merel. Merel gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida throws a looping overhand right but Merel ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Machida lands with a right hand.

Merel tries to keep at a distance but Machida has taken the fight into the clinch.
Machida tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Merel's elbow.

Merel breaks from the clinch.
Merel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Machida can do to turn this around?
Machida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Merel blocks the body kick.
Machida ducks under a wild hook from Merel.
Merel cracks Machida with a right hand to the side of the head.
Machida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mark Merel is winning the standup battle so far.
Merel misses with a body shot.
Merel throws a hook but Machida blocks it.
Merel misses with an uppercut
and Machida counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida lands a leg kick that knocks Merel off balance momentarily.
Merel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A jab lands there for Merel.
Machida looks to clinch
letting Merel counter with a right hand.
Merel staying out of range there.
Merel connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Machida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merel moves away.
Merel feinted with a counter takedown.
Merel looks to land a combination but Machida avoids it well.
Merel lands an overhand right.

Merel scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merel moves into full mount!

Merel working for a submission but Machida is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merel working Machida over with strikes here.
Machida is trying to stand up.
Machida tries to reverse the position but Merel maintains control.
Machida is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Merel looking to control but Machida is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Seiryu Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Merel is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Merel content just to control the position here.
Merel lands a nice shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Merel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Merel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Merel!
Mark Merel thanked the fans post fight for their support.