PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between boy talahib itim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jiraia Merchury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). boy talahib itim has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

talahib itim
vs
Merchury

170 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, boy talahib itim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jiraia Merchury!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
itim throws a nice looking combination but Merchury bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Merchury fails to land the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Merchury.
A combination from itim does no damage.
Merchury shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with itim but itim pushes him off and we're back to square one.
boy talahib itim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jiraia Merchury.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
itim misses with a series of wild punches.

Merchury closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming itim to the mat! itim manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merchury stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. itim swivels though and keeps the full guard.
itim is trying to keep Merchury in close.
Merchury controlling from the top position.

That's two 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.
Merchury wants to control from the top but itim keeps moving.
itim can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Merchury controls the pace.
itim is wriggling around but Merchury manages to pass to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merchury throwing shots but itim is blocking nicely.
itim might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
itim blocking the ground and pound attempt from Merchury.
itim is not content to let Merchury control the position.

Merchury 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.
Merchury wants to pass to mount but itim is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Merchury misses with a combination
and Merchury takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
itim stalks Merchury and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Merchury's face. Merchury staggers backwards, shaken.
itim misses with a combination
and Merchury counters with a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Merchury connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed itim momentarily.
itim lands with a nice combination. Merchury backs away looking to recover.
itim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
itim lands with a nice combination. Merchury backs away looking to recover.
Merchury misses with a takedown attempt
and itim counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Merchury looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? itim is fending him off so far but Merchury persists. Nope, itim circles away and we're back to standing.
Merchury slaps away a takedown attempt from itim, before circling back to the center of the mat.
itim fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
itim leaves Merchury with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
boy talahib itim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jiraia Merchury.
Merchury is breathing heavily.
Merchury with a lazy takedown attempt
and itim counters with a two punch combo.
Some wild striking there from itim.
Merchury defends well against a solid takedown attempt from itim.
Merchury misses with a combination
and itim counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
itim stuffs the takedown.
itim misses with a double jab

and Merchury counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Merchury.
itim is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Merchury is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
itim keeping full guard, as Merchury tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merchury trying to control but itim is working from the bottom.
Merchury working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Merchury trying to control the position from guard on top but itim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merchury is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Merchury would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
itim throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by itim!
Merchury misses with a takedown attempt - itim sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jiraia Merchury will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

itim lands a jab to the nose.
Merchury fails with an attempt to clinch.
itim lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
itim displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merchury fails to land the takedown.

Merchury looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for itim!
Merchury takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
itim tries to hold on but Merchury postures up.
Merchury looking to control but itim is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Merchury lands a big shot there that rocks itim but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Merchury fails to move to back control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
itim is trying to stand up.
itim wants to control but Merchury is having none of it.

Merchury looking for a guillotine from mount but itim is having none of it.
itim's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
itim is squirming around, avoiding Merchury's attempts to control the action.

Merchury with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Jiraia Merchury is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Merchury can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as itim is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
itim manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Merchury thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
itim wants to get back to his feet.
itim is looking for a sweep. Merchury is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jiraia Merchury comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Merchury winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jiraia Merchury!