PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Crafty Dog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Merle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Dog
vs
Merle

200 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
World class boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Crafty Dog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Travis Merle!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dog tries to bum rush Merle with a series of wild strikes but Merle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dog rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Merle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dog tries to clinch up
and Merle counters with a straight right hand.
Merle slips a straight right by Dog.
Dog will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from Dog misses.
Dog darts in trying to clinch
and Merle counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dog scores with a jab to the head.
Dog misses with a series of wild punches.
Dog really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dog scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Merle doesn't seem bothered though.
Merle takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dog dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
No joy there for Dog, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dog misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Merle.
Dog takes a swing at Merle's ribcage but misses.
Dog throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Merle takes the fight into the clinch.
Dog trying to stall but Merle improves his position.
Dog wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Dog pulls guard.
Merle is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Merle's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Travis Merle wasn't active enough on the ground.
Dog ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merle moves away.
Dog will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Merle looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Dog looks like he's trying to stand up.

Dog is defending against the submission attempts here by Merle.
Dog tries to kick Merle off but Merle keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Merle controlling the pace.
Merle prevents Dog from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dog blocking the ground and pound attempt from Merle.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Merle takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Travis Merle hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Dog throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dog moves to clinch but Merle breaks away

and Merle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Merle pushes down on Dog's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Merle seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Merle is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dog has managed to free his arm - good work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Merle might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Travis Merle was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Dog scores with the left hand. Merle knows he should have avoided that one.
Crafty Dog seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dog swings for the body but Merle moves out of range.
Dog looks to land a left hand but Merle moved out of range nicely.
Dog wants to clinch but Merle slips to the side

and Merle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Merle wants a takedown but no success here.
Merle drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dog pulls his leg out and moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Dog misses the target.
Merle walks into a stiff left hand from Dog.

It looks like Travis Merle has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dog ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merle moves away.
Merle fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Merle dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Travis Merle's cut.
That's time! Dog's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Merle circles away from the clinch attempt

and Merle counters with a takedown into side control.
Dog prevents Merle from moving into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A lull in the action here as Merle stalls from top position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dog pushes Merle away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Merle gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Dog is letting Merle control him for a moment.

Merle wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dog, who protects the arm well.
Merle takes a little break here. Dog wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merle tries to advance to mount but Dog denies him.
Merle prevents Dog from escaping the position.
Merle slows the pace down.
Dog is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Merle is controlling him well.
Merle controls the position.

Travis Merle has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Merle circles away from the clinch attempt

and Merle counters by moving into the clinch.
Merle pressing his opponent against the cage.
Dog goes for a takedown in the clinch but Merle prevents it.

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.
Dog tries to pull guard but Merle won't allow it.
Dog wants to get back to striking at distance but Merle won't allow it.
A short right from Dog on the inside.

Merle tightens his grip and picks Dog up, before dumping him to the ground. Dog manages to land in guard.
Dog can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Merle controls the pace.

Dog scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Dog misses with an uppercut. Merle saw that one coming.
Dog misses with a double jab.
Dog scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Dog throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dog tries to clinch up

and Merle counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merle drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dog gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dog jumps guard but Merle stands there with Dog around his waist. Dog gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Crafty Dog. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Merle jumps guard.
Dog wanted to stand there but Merle had control of the position.
Merle is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Dog wants to get up but he can't break Merle's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Merle holds on and takes a little breather.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Dog wanted to stand there but Merle had control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Travis Merle.
Dog fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dog cracks a nice hook into Merle's ribs.
Dog swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dog is looking to wear down Merle with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Merle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dog scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Dog closes the distance but Merle moves to the side

and Merle counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Merle.

Merle drags the fight down to the ground.
Travis Merle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dog stopping the sweep attempt from Merle.
Dog wants to stand but Merle is controlling his posture from full guard.
Merle has Dog pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Merle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Travis Merle's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Dog throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dog swings for the body but Merle moves out of range.
Dog ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Merle avoids the body shot from Dog.
Merle just misses with a punch to the body.
A combination from Dog does no damage.
Dog lands with a good body shot.
Dog throws a nice looking combination but Merle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dog throws a right and a left that Merle avoids nicely.
Dog misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Merle moves into range and clinches up with Dog.
Dog is looking to break free of the clinch but Merle has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merle keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dog's efforts to push away.

Merle has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Dog clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Merle has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Dog's body.
Let's hope that Merle has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Merle looking for the RNC.
Dog is trying to get back to his feet but Merle has full control of the position and if anything, Dog has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merle keeps control of the position easily here as Dog tries to buck him off.
Dog looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Merle keeps control of the position easily here as Dog tries to buck him off.
Dog is trying to stand back up.
Merle controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dog wants to get back to his feet.
Merle is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Travis Merle wasn't active enough on the ground.
Dog throws a jab when Merle was well out of range.

Merle clinches up against the cage.
Merle jumps guard but Dog stands there with Merle around his waist. Merle gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Merle tightens his grip and picks Dog up, before dumping him to the ground. Dog manages to land in guard.
Merle content to stall in guard here.
Dog is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Merle is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dog wants to get back to his feet but Merle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Merle is stalling in the full guard.
Crafty Dog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Travis Merle.
Dog darts in trying to clinch

and Merle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Merle is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dog is trying to maintain a safe position but Merle gets an underhook and turns Dog into the cage.
Dog tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Merle just stands there and leans against the cage.
Travis Merle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dog looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Merle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Merle 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Merle!