PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carl Barat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Merkens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barat's entrance music is You can't stand me now. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barat
vs
Merkens

192 cm
22
237 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

208 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Transformer Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Carl Barat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leo Merkens!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merkens shoots for a takedown but Barat saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Merkens gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Barat throws a front kick aimed at Merkens's knee but Merkens avoids it well.
Merkens checks a leg kick.
Barat throws a front kick aimed at Merkens's knee but Merkens avoids it well.
A punch combination from Merkens misses.
Barat looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No joy there for Barat, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barat swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Merkens counters with a nice body shot.
Barat looks to land a combination but Merkens avoids it well.
Carl Barat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merkens takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Barat scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Merkens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barat throws a sloppy head kick

and Merkens decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barat's guard.
Barat is breathing heavily.

Merkens stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Merkens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barat's waist but Barat gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Merkens off to one side.
Barat throws a nice looking combination but Merkens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Merkens moves into the clinch.

Merkens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barat tries to clinch but Merkens is having none of it.
Barat throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Merkens counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barat's guard now.
Merkens stands and throws Barat's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barat tries to buck Merkens off but Merkens is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merkens is looking to take a break and control but Barat is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barat might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merkens tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Barat is trying to control Merkens's posture but Merkens avoids it.
Barat gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barat is looking to escape.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barat throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Merkens counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barat won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Barat is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Merkens asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Barat is looking for a sweep.
Barat regains half guard, as Merkens was trying to land strikes.
Barat trying to hold on to Merkens's head to control him but Merkens postures up.
Barat wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkens not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Barat kicks Merkens off and gets back to his feet.

Barat closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Merkens tries for a takedown but Barat manages to get underhooks.
Carl Barat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Merkens.
Merkens lands an uppercut.
Merkens looking for a takedown.
Barat wants to break free but Merkens has control.
Merkens jumps guard but Barat stands there with Merkens around his waist. Merkens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Barat wants to get back to striking at distance but Merkens won't allow it.
Merkens is working for takedown but Barat is calmly controlling the position for now.
Merkens taking a breather.
Merkens tries to score a body lock takedown but Barat shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Merkens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merkens fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Barat as Merkens shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merkens shoots for a takedown but Barat saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barat misses with a body kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Merkens.
Merkens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barat as he jumps to the side.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barat.
No luck for Merkens with that takedown attempt.
Merkens slips a jab and a cross from Barat.
Barat throws the kick towards the body but Merkens avoids it.
Merkens moves out of range as Barat throws a body kick.
Barat throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Leo Merkens has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Merkens has managed to clinch.
Barat is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Merkens can't break the clinch.
Merkens is looking to break free of the clinch but Barat has double underhooks.
Barat is looking to break free of the clinch but Merkens has double underhooks.

Barat manages to break the clinch.
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 Carl Barat will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Leo Merkens's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Barat throws a low kick, looking for Merkens's leg but Merkens calmly moves out of range.
Barat thows a body shot but no joy.
Barat throws a leg kick but Merkens checks it.
Barat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Carl Barat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barat.
Merkens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barat paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barat lands a big right hand and follows it up with an uppercut. Oh and another big punch and a knee - Merkens can't take much more of this! Another big shot to the jaw from Barat and Merkens drops to the floor. Beaten and bloodied - he had enough there. A vicious beatdown by Barat.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Carl Barat!