PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Scott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Merker Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nathan Scott has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Scott
vs
Merker Junior

180 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Scott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Merker Junior!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merker Junior tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Scott paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Merker Junior tries to clinch but Scott is having none of it.
Merker Junior tries to close the distance and clinch but Scott swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Merker Junior throws a nice head kick!
Merker Junior misses with a series of wild punches.
Scott avoids the body shot from Merker Junior.
Merker Junior scores with a punch to the head.
Scott fails with a takedown attempt.

Scott shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Merker Junior pushes Scott off looking to stand but Scott dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Merker Junior does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Scott prevents Merker Junior from standing back up.
Merker Junior striking from the bottom.

Scott is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Merker Junior defends it well.
Scott is looking to take a break and control but Merker Junior is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Merker Junior kicks Scott off and gets back to his feet.
A punch combination from Merker Junior misses.
Merker Junior tries a head kick but it misses.
A choreographed right hand from Merker Junior misses the target.
Merker Junior looks to land a left hand but Scott moved out of range nicely.
Mark Merker Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merker Junior lands with a hook. Scott tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Scott walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scott bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Scott shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Merker Junior but Merker Junior pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Merker Junior rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Scott moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Merker Junior fails in his attempt to clinch.

Scott scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Merker Junior has one foot on Scott's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Scott closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Merker Junior is trying to stand.
Scott is trying to control the action in half guard but Merker Junior is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Merker Junior is pressing down on Scott's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Scott is breathing heavily.
Scott controls from within his opponent's guard.
Merker Junior wants to stand but Scott is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Merker Junior scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Scott ducks under a wild hook from Merker Junior.
Merker Junior misses with a straight right.
Merker Junior misses the jab.
Merker Junior is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merker Junior tries to clinch up.
Merker Junior fails with an attempt to clinch.
Merker Junior tries to bum rush Scott with a series of wild strikes but Scott uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Scott shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Scott has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scott on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mark Merker Junior is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merker Junior swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Merker Junior keeps the fight on the outside.
Scott throws a right hand that misses
and Merker Junior counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Scott wants to clinch up but Merker Junior keeps it at a distance.
Scott blocks a jab.
Merker Junior fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Scott takes the fight into the clinch.
Scott goes for a takedown in the clinch but Merker Junior prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Scott. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merker Junior tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Scott just stands there and leans against the cage.
Scott taking a breather.
Merker Junior wants to break the clinch but can't.
Merker Junior is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nathan Scott will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Scott.
Merker Junior fails in his attempt to clinch.
Merker Junior thows a body shot but no joy.

Merker Junior gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Scott tries to score a body lock takedown but Merker Junior shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Scott keeps control of Merker Junior as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Merker Junior tries for a takedown. No joy.
Scott doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Scott wants to stall.
Merker Junior tries to break the clinch but Scott is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Merker Junior has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Scott clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Scott biding his time here by controlling the hands, looking to escape.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Merker Junior.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merker Junior scores with punches to the body.
Scott rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Scott wants to improve his position but Merker Junior is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merker Junior wants to stand up but Scott is controlling the position.
Merker Junior seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Scott does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Merker Junior not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Merker Junior stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Scott gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Merker Junior can't break the clinch.
Scott is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Scott. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Merker Junior escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Scott misses with a takedown attempt
letting Merker Junior counter with a right hand.
Merker Junior with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Scott looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Scott sitting in guard here, content to control.
Merker Junior has momentary wrist control but Scott slips an elbow through the middle.

Scott thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Scott trying to control the position from guard on top but Merker Junior is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Scott looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Merker Junior wants to stand up but Scott is controlling him.
Merker Junior has momentary wrist control but Scott slips an elbow through the middle.
Scott wants to control from the top but Merker Junior keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Scott trying to control but Merker Junior is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A slapping leg kick lands for Merker Junior.
Scott shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Merker Junior tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Merker Junior throws a combination. Scott tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Merker Junior darts in and clinches Scott up against the cage.
Merker Junior lands a hook that snaps the head of Scott backwards.
Scott tries to pull guard but Merker Junior won't allow it.
Scott's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Scott 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 wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Merker Junior manages to break the clinch.
Scott shoots in for a takedown but Merker Junior shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scott on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Scott shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Merker Junior but Merker Junior pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Merker Junior clinches up with Scott and pushes him back against the cage.

Merker Junior works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Merker Junior would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Merker Junior decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nice uppercut lands for Merker Junior. That snapped Scott's head back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merker Junior connects with a good right hand that stumbles Scott. Scott circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merker Junior scores with a hook.
A head kick by Scott misses
and Merker Junior makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Merker Junior looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Merker Junior showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Merker Junior misses with the combination.
Scott shoots and misses
and Merker Junior finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Merker Junior lands a high kick!
Merker Junior 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.
Scott misses with a takedown
and Merker Junior counters with a nice body kick.
Scott takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Merker Junior misses with an attempted mid kick.
Scott throws a body kick the misses
and Merker Junior counters with an outside leg kick.
Scott shoots for a takedown but Merker Junior saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Scott. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merker Junior cracks Scott with a good jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Merker Junior. That's going to slow Scott down.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Scott darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Merker Junior manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Merker Junior is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Scott is controlling him.
Scott trying to control the position from guard on top but Merker Junior is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merker Junior thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Scott won't allow Merker Junior to get back to his feet.
Merker Junior takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Scott stands up and waves to Merker Junior to follow him.
Merker Junior misses with the combination.

Scott instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Scott keeps control of Merker Junior as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Merker Junior wants to break free but Scott has control.
Merker Junior wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Scott has him pressed against the cage.

Scott is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Merker Junior can't fight it off and eventually Scott manages to take the fight to the floor. Merker Junior looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Scott knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Merker Junior on the ground.
Scott stays in close to Merker Junior's body and controls the position.
Scott prevents Merker Junior from getting back to his feet.
Scott controls from within his opponent's guard.
Scott prevents Merker Junior from getting back to his feet.
Scott wants to control from the top but Merker Junior keeps moving.
Scott stops Merker Junior from standing up.
Merker Junior tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Scott takes one on the button.
Scott on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Merker Junior fails in his attempt to clinch.
Scott wants to clinch.
Merker Junior tries to close the distance and clinch but Scott swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Scott tries to clinch up
and Merker Junior counters with a nice uppercut.
Scott swings away with a body shot that misses
and Merker Junior counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior is looking to slow Scott down with leg kicks.
Scott doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Merker Junior counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Scott takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Merker Junior clinches.
Scott gets underhooks to prevent Merker Junior's takedown attempt.
Merker Junior working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Merker Junior is trying to break the clinch but Scott has him pressed against the cage.

Scott breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Scott uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Merker Junior.
Merker Junior wants to clinch but Scott slips to the side

so Scott counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Scott stays in close to Merker Junior's body and controls the position.
Merker Junior keeping moving, preventing Scott from controlling successfully.
Scott pushing down on Merker Junior's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark Merker Junior.
I think Merker Junior 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Merker Junior!