PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Merker Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and EJ Tap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tap has chosen Pop Lock and Drop It as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Merker Junior
vs
Tap

178 cm
27
177 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

170 cm
27
180 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Merker Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, EJ Tap!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tap shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Merker Junior sprawls well. Merker Junior wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tap gets slowly back to his feet.
Merker Junior pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tap lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Merker Junior tries a head kick but it misses.

Merker Junior rushes Tap and presses him up against the cage.

Tap has clasped his hands together around Merker Junior's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Tap working the head and body with strikes.

Tap is trying to get an arm triangle but Merker Junior is defending well.
Tap laying and praying for a moment but Merker Junior takes advantage and regains half guard.
Tap not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Merker Junior is trying to stand up here but Tap is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tap with the ground and pound but Merker Junior uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Merker Junior will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Merker Junior is trying to keep Tap in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Merker Junior wants to clinch.

Tap closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Merker Junior wants to control but Tap postures up.
Merker Junior is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Tap asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Tap is looking to take a break and control but Merker Junior is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Tap has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Merker Junior wants to control but Tap postures up.
Merker Junior managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Tap.
Merker Junior is trying to control Tap's posture but Tap avoids it.
Merker Junior tries to improve position but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Merker Junior wants to clinch.
Tap keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tap looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Merker Junior!
Merker Junior is trying to escape the mount.
Tap in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
A nice elbow there by Tap.
Merker Junior can't escape the position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Tap cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Merker Junior is trying to stand up.
Tap throws some wild stikes that Merker Junior manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior avoids a series of strikes thrown by Tap.
Merker Junior squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Tap landing strikes from the mount.
Tap has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Merker Junior's face.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merker Junior is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Tap looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Tap with shots to the head and body - Merker Junior looks very uncomfortable down there.
Merker Junior is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Merker Junior wants to control but Tap is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

EJ Tap dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tap scores with a takedown into Merker Junior's guard.
Tap trying to control but Merker Junior is working from the bottom.
Merker Junior wants to get back to his feet but Tap is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tap's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Merker Junior will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Tap landing with the ground and pound.
Merker Junior bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tap's guard.
Tap manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Merker Junior manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merker Junior controls Tap momentarily but Tap frees himself.
Tap pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merker Junior is keeping the position for now.
Merker Junior working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tap.
Tap pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merker Junior is keeping the position for now.
Merker Junior keeping moving, preventing Tap from controlling successfully.
Merker Junior is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tap gets back to full guard.

That's two 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.

Tap looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Merker Junior has picked Tap up and slammed him! Tap can't keep hold of the triangle and Merker Junior manages to pass to side control!
Tap manages to get back to half guard.
Merker Junior wants to stand but Tap has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Tap is trying to get back to full guard.
Tap has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Merker Junior is taking a breather. Tap says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Merker Junior is stalling here. Tap is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Merker Junior seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Tap has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior tries to buck Tap off but Tap is having none of it.
Tap trying to control the action but Merker Junior is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tap lands some shots froms side control.
Merker Junior is trying to control Tap's posture but Tap avoids it.
Merker Junior is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tap off and has taken his back!
Tap tries to escape but Merker Junior has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tap rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Merker Junior trying to pass the guard but Tap defending well.
Merker Junior tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Merker Junior prevents Tap from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merker Junior trying to control from half guard but Tap is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

EJ Tap showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Merker Junior tries to close the distance and clinch but Tap swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Merker Junior tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Merker Junior tries to land knees in the clinch but Tap avoids the damage to the body.
Merker Junior tries a knee to the head but Tap blocks it.
Tap can't get the takedown.
Merker Junior lands an elbow inside.

It looks like EJ Tap has been cut.
Tap has Merker Junior pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Merker Junior manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tap is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Merker Junior is keeping busy.
Merker Junior looking to throw knees to the head but Tap is blocking nicely.

Tap manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tap has a closed guard, preventing Merker Junior from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Merker Junior stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tap closes this distance looking for a takedown but Merker Junior circles away.
Mark Merker Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of EJ Tap.
Merker Junior tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tap paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merker Junior defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tap.
Tap takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Merker Junior gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Merker Junior is trying to break the clinch but Tap is controlling him.
Tap has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Merker Junior avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Merker Junior looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tap can't get the takedown.

Merker Junior breaks the clinch.
Mark Merker Junior is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merker Junior throws a head kick that half lands.
Merker Junior lands a slapping body shot.

Merker Junior gets a clinch.
Merker Junior lands a nice elbow.
Tap wants a takedown.
Tap drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Merker Junior gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Merker Junior wants to stall.

Merker Junior breaks the clinch.
Merker Junior tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Merker Junior looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merker Junior tries to clinch up but Tap circles away and keeps his distance.
Tap ducks under a wild hook from Merker Junior.
Tap wants to clinch

and Merker Junior holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tap takes an elbow to the temple.
Tap doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Merker Junior connects with a knee to the head.
Tap wants a takedown but no success here.
Merker Junior blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Merker Junior has a couple of punches blocked by Tap.
Tap has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Merker Junior is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Merker Junior throws a knee to the head but misses.
Merker Junior pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Tap takes a shot to the head.
Merker Junior with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tap fails to pull guard.
Merker Junior is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tap is defending well for now.
EJ Tap is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tap managing to block the knees to the body from Merker Junior.
Merker Junior gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tap.
Merker Junior with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Merker Junior landing knees to the head.
Merker Junior misses with a knee to the head.
Merker Junior misses with a knee to the head.
Merker Junior misses with a knee to the head.
Tap content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Tap blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Merker Junior tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tap drops down looking for an ankle pick but Merker Junior pulls his leg out and moves away.

Tap shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Merker Junior is trying to defend but Tap finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Tap performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior trying to control but Tap postures up.
Tap controlling the action here.
Merker Junior is trying to stand up here but Tap is controlling him well.
Mark Merker Junior has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Merker Junior looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Merker Junior showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tap has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... EJ Tap!