PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harri Maepere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lothar Merkel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harri Maepere could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Lothar Merkel's chin.

Maepere
vs
Merkel

192 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

198 cm
20
226 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harri Maepere!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lothar Merkel!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maepere has managed to clinch.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Merkel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Maepere lands a knee to the body.
Merkel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Maepere is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Merkel swings wildly with an uppercut but Maepere uses good head movement to avoid it.
Merkel drops down looking for an ankle pick but Maepere pulls his leg out and moves away.
Maepere shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Merkel as he avoids it easily.

Merkel moves into the clinch successfully.
Merkel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Maepere pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Merkel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maepere.
Maepere throws a leg kick which misses Merkel's front leg but catches the back leg as Merkel tries to avoid it.
Merkel closes the distance looking to clinch
and Maepere counters with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merkel throws a series of punches but Maepere moves out of range.
Merkel wants to clinch

and Maepere moves into the clinch.
Maepere landing knees to the body.

Maepere escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Merkel stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harri Maepere. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merkel throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maepere counters with a head kick.
Merkel clinches but Maepere breaks the clinch

and Maepere counters with a shoot takedown. Merkel fights it but they end up in guard.

Maepere gets to his feet. Merkel looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Merkel misses with a jab, cross combination.

Merkel moves into the clinch.
Merkel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maepere breaks the clinch.

Merkel moves into the clinch.
Merkel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Maepere just stands there and leans against the cage.

Maepere breaks from the clinch.
Maepere tries to clinch but Merkel moves out of range.
Maepere circles away from the clinch attempt

and Maepere counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Merkel tries to break the clinch but Maepere is controlling the position.
Merkel tries to pull guard but Maepere won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maepere blocking some punches.
Merkel has had enough of the clinch but Maepere keeps him there for the moment.
Knees to the body from Maepere.
Merkel can't get the takedown.
A short right from Merkel on the inside.
Merkel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Merkel wants to break free but Maepere has control.
Merkel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maepere lands a nice knee to the body.

Maepere pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maepere shoots in for a takedown but Merkel shows good takedown defense.
Merkel clinches but Maepere breaks the clinch
and Maepere counters with an inside leg kick.
No joy there for Merkel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maepere shoots in looking for a takedown. Merkel tries to sprawl out of it but Maepere keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Merkel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Merkel keeps the fight on the outside.
Merkel clinches but Maepere breaks the clinch

and Maepere counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Merkel jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Maepere walks away with a smile on his face. Merkel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lothar Merkel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maepere looks for a takedown but Merkel sprawls well.
Merkel tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Maepere moves into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Maepere.
Merkel is trying to break free.
Maepere prevents Merkel from breaking the clinch.
Merkel lands with a light punch inside.
Merkel stalling the fight.
Merkel is looking to break free of the clinch but Maepere has double underhooks.
Maepere stops a takedown attempt from Merkel.
Merkel has had enough of the clinch but Maepere keeps him there for the moment.
Maepere blocks a body shot from Merkel.

Merkel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Merkel lands with an overhand left.
Merkel clinches but Maepere breaks the clinch

and Maepere counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maepere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harri Maepere dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Merkel avoids the head kick by Maepere.
Merkel misses with a series of wild punches.
Maepere changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Merkel tries to avoid it but Maepere manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Merkel to the ground. Merkel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Merkel closes the distance looking to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Merkel clinches up against the cage.

Maepere pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Merkel darts in trying to clinch

and Maepere counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merkel tries to break the clinch but Maepere is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Merkel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Merkel wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merkel swings wildly with an uppercut but Maepere uses good head movement to avoid it.
Merkel misses with a punch on the inside.
Merkel throws a head punch that misses.
Maepere misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Merkel.

Maepere has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Merkel regains guard immediately.
Merkel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Maepere gets to his feet. Merkel looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Merkel shoots for a double leg takedown but Maepere sprawls well. He's pushed Merkel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Merkel swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maepere wants to clinch up but Merkel keeps it at a distance.
Maepere shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Merkel as he avoids it easily.
Merkel wants to clinch but Maepere slips to the side
and Maepere counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Merkel is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merkel connects with a right hand. Maepere shakes it off.
Harri Maepere is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Merkel has his takedown stuffed

and Maepere counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Harri Maepere has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lothar Merkel.

Maepere decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maepere circles away from the clinch attempt
and Maepere counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Merkel is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Maepere tries to clinch but Merkel is having none of it.

Merkel takes the fight into the clinch.
Maepere using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Merkel swings wildly with an uppercut but Maepere uses good head movement to avoid it.

Maepere breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Maepere has closed the distance and engaged Merkel in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkel is trying to maintain a safe position but Maepere gets an underhook and turns Merkel into the cage.
Knees to the body from Maepere.
Merkel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maepere smiles and moves away.
Merkel tries to clinch

and Maepere counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Merkel wants to stand up but Maepere is controlling him.
Harri Maepere overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Maepere drops back looking for a leg! Merkel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Merkel manages to kick Maepere off! Maepere jumps back into Merkel's guard.

Maepere thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Maepere stands up from Merkel's guard - Maepere perhaps looking for a knockout.
Merkel throws a left and a right that both miss

and Maepere counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maepere.
Merkel wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merkel stalling in the clinch but Maepere improves position.
Merkel misses with an elbow strike.
Merkel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Merkel wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maepere has him pressed against the cage.
Merkel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Merkel throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Maepere unloads a knee to the mid-section. Merkel lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Merkel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merkel tries to clinch up
and Maepere counters with a head kick. That will keep Merkel thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Merkel lands with a straight right. Maepere didn't see that one coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maepere wants to clinch up but Merkel keeps it at a distance.
Maepere shoots in looking for a takedown. Merkel tries to sprawl out of it but Maepere keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Merkel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Merkel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harri Maepere dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Merkel cracks Maepere with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Maepere is looking to clinch.
Merkel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Maepere at a distance.
Merkel throws a right and a left that both miss.

Maepere rushes Merkel and presses him up against the cage.

Maepere breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maepere is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merkel darts in trying to clinch
and Maepere counters with a solid body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merkel closes the distance but Maepere moves to the side

and Maepere holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Maepere misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Merkel.
Merkel misses with some punches.
Merkel misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maepere manages to break the clinch.
Merkel tries to clinch
and Maepere counters with an outside leg kick.
Merkel closes the distance looking to clinch

and Maepere counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maepere.
Merkel wants to get back to striking at distance but Maepere won't allow it.

Maepere breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merkel wants to clinch

and Maepere counters by moving into the clinch.
Maepere tries for a takedown. No joy.
Maepere is working for takedown but Merkel is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nice elbow from Merkel.
Maepere unloads a knee to the mid-section. Merkel lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Maepere pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Merkel closes the distance but Maepere moves to the side
and Maepere counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merkel wants to clinch but Maepere slips to the side
and Maepere counters with a low kick, right behind Merkel 's knee.
Merkel clinches but Maepere breaks the clinch

and Maepere counters by clinching up.

Merkel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Merkel has closed the distance and engaged Maepere in a clinch.
Merkel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Merkel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Merkel has had enough of the clinch but Maepere keeps him there for the moment.

Merkel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maepere misses with a body kick.
Merkel tries to bum rush Maepere with a series of wild strikes but Maepere uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Merkel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Merkel closes the distance looking to clinch

and Maepere counters with a shoot takedown. Merkel fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maepere is controlling him.

Maepere decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Merkel, up you get!

Maepere has closed the distance and engaged Merkel in a clinch.

Maepere manages to break the clinch.
Maepere pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Merkel closes the distance looking to clinch

and Maepere holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Maepere blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Merkel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maepere blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Merkel fails to land.
Merkel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merkel is looking to break free of the clinch but Maepere has double underhooks.
Merkel wants to get back to striking at distance but Maepere won't allow it.
Merkel has had enough of the clinch but Maepere keeps him there for the moment.
Maepere misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Merkel.
Merkel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Merkel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maepere is looking to clinch.
Merkel tries to clinch but Maepere moves away

and Maepere counters by moving into the clinch.
Merkel lands an elbow inside that Maepere shrugs off.
Maepere is pressed up against the cage. Merkel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Maepere down to the mat. Maepere avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Maepere is looking to clinch.
Merkel lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Merkel looks to clinch

and Maepere counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maepere.
Maepere trying to land knees to the body.
Merkel lands a left hand.
Lothar Merkel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harri Maepere is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maepere has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Merkel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harri Maepere showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maepere has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harri Maepere!