PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jiraia Merchury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryant Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryant Jones is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Merchury
vs
Jones

189 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

191 cm
19
217 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jiraia Merchury!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bryant Jones!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Merchury is defended easily by Jones.
Merchury has a takedown stuffed.
Merchury misses with a takedown attempt - Jones sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jiraia Merchury. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jones shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jones showed some decent athleticism there.
Jones missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Merchury missing with punches from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jones seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Merchury has recovered full guard.
Jones slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merchury looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Jones pushes past his half guard into mount!
Merchury is wriggling around trying to escape.
Merchury wants to hold on but Jones pushes him away.
Merchury is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jones is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Merchury is bucking up trying to escape but Jones cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Merchury is in all sorts of trouble here.
Merchury is in a horrible position here. Jones smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Jones landing strikes from the mount and Merchury is in trouble!
Jones scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Merchury?
Merchury is breathing heavily.
Merchury in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merchury tries to lock up and control but Jones gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Merchury is squirming around, avoiding Jones's attempts to control the action.
Merchury wants to control but Jones is having none of it.

Jones stands up from mount. Strange move.
Jones fails to land with a series of punches.
Jones fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jones doesn't manage to clinch there - Merchury circles away.
Merchury with a poor takedown

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into side control. Merchury won't be happy with that.
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!
Merchury is trying to escape the position but Jones is controlling the position.
Jones in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merchury is trying to control Jones's posture but Jones avoids it.

Jones stands up.

Jones throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Merchury was covering up waiting for the punch and Jones finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Merchury throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Merchury working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Jones has passed into half guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merchury on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merchury is trying to control but can't.

Jones is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Merchury is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Jones pulls his head out easily.

Jones decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merchury with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jones counters with a nice body kick.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Merchury paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryant Jones dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jones lands with a nice combination. Merchury backs away looking to recover.
Merchury fails with the takedown

and Jones counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jones.
Jones is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Merchury pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jones lands with a right to the head.
Merchury tries to pull guard but Jones holds him up against the cage and eventually Merchury drops back down to his feet.
Jones effectively controlling the action here.

Merchury successfully pulls guard.
Merchury working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Merchury throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Merchury is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jones stands up from Merchury's guard - Jones perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merchury shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jones counters with a good low kick that Merchury was not able to check.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jiraia Merchury. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merchury circles away from the clinch attempt.

Jones decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Jones stands up and beckons Merchury to join him on the feet.
Jones throws a right and a left that Merchury avoids nicely.
Merchury doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jones counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to clinch but Merchury moves out of range.
Jones throws a sloppy head kick and Merchury moves out of range easily.
Jones avoids a punch combination nicely.
Merchury misses with a takedown
and Jones counters with a left and a right that stings Merchury.
Merchury misses with a takedown attempt

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jones chips away with some ground and pound.
Merchury looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bryant Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.

Merchury looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones stands up from Merchury's guard - Jones perhaps looking for a knockout.
Merchury shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Jones to counter with a crisp jab.
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt

and Merchury counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jones really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Merchury. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Merchury slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Merchury tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Merchury has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Merchury is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Jones tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merchury tries to advance to mount but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merchury working the strikes but Jones uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryant Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jones 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.
Merchury 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.
Jones wants to control from the top but Merchury keeps moving.
Jones postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Jones stands up and waves to Merchury to follow him.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt - Merchury sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merchury with a poor takedown

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Jones is looking for a kimura but Merchury is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jones to get the leverage.

Jones is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Jones is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Merchury sees it coming and defends easily.
Jones prevents Merchury from improving his position.
Merchury is working hard here to advance position.

Merchury actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Merchury is pressing down on Jones's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Jones gets to his feet - Merchury follows without any prompting.

Merchury drives through with a takedown into guard.
Merchury is pushing down on Jones's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jones is fighting to maintain full guard but Merchury has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merchury landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jones looks like he's trying to stand up.

Jones is defending against the submission attempts here by Merchury.
Jones is looking for a sweep. Merchury is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merchury is nestled in close to Jones, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Merchury is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jones tries to get to full guard but Merchury has control of the leg.
Jiraia Merchury has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jones fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Merchury tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily

and Jones counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Merchury had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Jones is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Merchury Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Jones's back instead.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones trying to control the position but Merchury manages to sink in the hooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryant Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jones 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryant Jones!