PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Devon Merchant (ranked 2171 p4p, 3007 weight class) and Thunda Punch (ranked 236 p4p, 315 weight class). Merchant's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, HonestKey- Pass. Thunda Punch has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Merchant
vs
Punch

190 cm
22
260
5 - 2 - 0

197 cm
22
270
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Devon Merchant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Thunda Punch!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merchant avoids the body shot from Punch.
Merchant jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Punch steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Merchant.
Merchant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Punch manages to avoid it.
Punch is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Merchant with a body shot.
Merchant staying out of range there.
Merchant throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Punch sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merchant throws a poor cross that misses
and Punch counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Merchant thinking.
Punch throws an off balance right hand

so Merchant counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Merchant stopping the sweep attempt from Punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merchant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Merchant throwing strikes but missing.
Merchant trying to control the position from guard on top but Punch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Punch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Merchant.
Punch being controlled here, momentarily.
Merchant trying to control but Punch is working from the bottom.
Merchant definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Merchant throwing strikes but missing.
Merchant trying to control the position from guard on top but Punch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Merchant misses with a left hand
and Punch counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Devon Merchant has been cut.
Punch thuds a left hand into Merchant's body.
Punch connects with a looping right hand.

Punch gets caught napping as Merchant dives in and scores a takedown. Punch manages to retain guard.
Merchant keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Punch's head.
Punch seems keen to control Merchant's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merchant throws a big elbow that misses.
Merchant trying to control the position from guard on top but Punch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merchant works over Punch with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Punch is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Merchant postures up and lands a big shot to Punch's brow.
Merchant throwing strikes but missing.
Punch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Merchant wants to control from the top but Punch keeps moving.
Merchant in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Punch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Merchant.
Punch has control of Merchant's left arm, preventing Merchant from doing any damage.
Merchant throws a big right hand that misses.
Merchant postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Punch working a defensive guard here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Punch wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Merchant throws a big right hand that misses.
Punch keeping full guard, as Merchant tries to pass.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Punch misses with a straight right.
Punch avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Merchant is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Punch's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Merchant misses with a hook
and Punch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Merchant with a poor takedown
and Punch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Merchant misses with a lunging right hand
and Punch counters with a stiff right hand.
Thunda Punch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merchant throws a looping overhand right but Punch ducks down to avoid it.
A big left from Merchant misses.
Punch turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Merchant misses the shot to the body.
Punch throws out a counter right but Merchant avoids it with no problem.
No luck for Merchant with that takedown attempt.
It seemed like Punch was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Merchant thuds a left hand into Punch's body.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merchant staying out of range there.
Punch uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Merchant.
Punch scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Punch connects with a looping right hand.
Merchant shoots for a takedown but Punch saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devon Merchant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merchant looks to score with a jab to the body but Punch is just out of range.
Punch looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Punch has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Punch moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A big right from Merchant misses.
Punch throws out a counter right but Merchant avoids it with no problem.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merchant dives in and grabs Punch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Punch pushes down on Merchant's head and hops out.
Merchant doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Punch counters with a nice uppercut.

Devon Merchant's cut is getting worse.
Punch moves out of range as Merchant strikes.
Punch wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Punch scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Merchant closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Merchant lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Merchant with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Punch has control of Merchant's left arm, preventing Merchant from doing any damage.
Punch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Punch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Punch keeping moving, preventing Merchant from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thunda Punch will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Devon Merchant's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Merchant fails to land the takedown.
Merchant throws a poor cross that misses
and Punch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Merchant misses with a hook. Punch ducked under it nicely.
Punch looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Merchant just misses with a punch to the body.
Merchant throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Merchant takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merchant blocks a leg kick.
Merchant moves into range and connects with a jab.
Punch throws a leg kick

and Merchant counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Merchant.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punch controlling Merchant's posture.
Merchant throws a big right hand that misses.
Merchant scoring with some ground and pound.
Punch is trying to keep Merchant in close.
Merchant throws an elbow that misses. Punch uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Merchant's guard. Nice move by Punch!

Merchant working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merchant has Punch pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Punch wants to stand but Merchant is controlling his posture from full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Merchant holds on and takes a little breather.

Punch decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merchant misses with a left hand
enabling Punch to counter with a crisp jab.
Merchant dives in for a single leg takedown but Punch sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Merchant is trying to maintain a safe position but Punch gets an underhook and turns Merchant into the cage.
Punch displaying some good clinch control by pressing Merchant up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Merchant.
Punch blocks an uppercut.
Punch lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch on the inside from Punch fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Punch fails to land.
Punch prevents a body shot from Merchant.
Punch throws a punch but it's blocked by Merchant.
Merchant wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devon Merchant. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punch struggles to land a body shot inside as Merchant controls his hands.
Punch lands a body shot.
Merchant lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Punch tries to throw a body punch but Merchant avoids it by throwing Punch back against the cage.
Punch throws a head punch that misses.
Punch misses with a hook to the ribs.
Punch scores with a shoulder strike.
Punch has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Merchant has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Punch after a bit of a struggle.
Merchant misses with a punch to the body.
Punch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Punch is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Merchant is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Punch gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Punch is defending well against a takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Merchant is working for takedown but Punch is calmly controlling the position for now.
Merchant has a couple of punches blocked by Punch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Merchant takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Punch lands a shoulder strike.

Devon Merchant's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merchant wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Merchant blocks a body shot from Punch.
Punch lands with a right to the head.
Punch scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stalling in the clinch from Punch.
Nice body punch from Punch.
Punch lands a right hand that snaps the head of Merchant backwards.
Punch pushes Merchant back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Merchant is rocked!
Punch cracks Merchant with a nice body shot.
Oh Merchant is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Merchant takes a shot to the head.
Punch throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thunda Punch seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Punch works on Merchant's body with a couple of short punches.
Punch is struggling to control the position.
Merchant tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Punch creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Merchant's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Merchant drops to his knees and Punch pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thunda Punch!