PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Esta Merle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Grigsby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merle's entrance music is There's no sympathy for the dead part 2. A fine choice. Esta Merle looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Merle
vs
Grigsby

180 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

188 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Esta Merle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Grigsby!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Eddie Farnsworth and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grigsby tries to clinch up but Merle circles away and keeps his distance.

Grigsby has closed the distance and engaged Merle in a clinch.
Grigsby throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Merle blocks it with crossed arms.
Grigsby with a knee to the head.

It looks like Esta Merle has been cut.
Merle is trying to break the clinch but Grigsby has him pressed against the cage.

Grigsby breaks from the clinch.
Merle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grigsby is fending him off so far but Merle persists. Nope, Grigsby circles away and we're back to standing.
Grigsby tries to close the distance and clinch up but Merle swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Esta Merle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grigsby throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Merle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Merle is breathing heavily.
Grigsby wants to get back to his feet but Merle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Merle postures up.
Grigsby wants to sweep here but Merle controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Grigsby is on top in guard.
Grigsby trying to control but Merle is working from the bottom.
Grigsby slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Grigsby trying to control the position from guard on top but Merle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigsby looking to pass the guard.
Grigsby controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Merle wants to sweep here but Grigsby controlling him for the moment.
Grigsby lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Grigsby is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Grigsby preventing the sweep.
Merle keeping moving, preventing Grigsby from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Grigsby throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Merle's head.
Grigsby tries to close the distance and clinch but Merle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Merle changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Grigsby looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Merle decides to stand back up.
Merle throws a sloppy head kick
and Grigsby counters with a body kick.

Grigsby gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grigsby looking for a sweep. Not yet Grigsby, not yet.
Grigsby is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Grigsby working for a triangle but Merle defends it easily.
Grigsby is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grigsby looking for a sweep. Not yet Grigsby, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Grigsby has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grigsby with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Grigsby with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Grigsby lands a knee to the head.
Grigsby throws a knee to the head but misses.
Grigsby stalls.
Grigsby goes for a takedown attempt but Merle pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Merle shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grigsby takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Merle with a lazy takedown attempt

and Grigsby counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esta Merle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Still in half guard, Grigsby seems content to control.

Grigsby is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Merle is just riding it out for now. Grigsby eventually gives up the hold.
Grigsby looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigsby tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merle knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Merle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Grigsby thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Merle to regain full guard.
Grigsby trying to control the position from guard on top but Merle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grigsby throwing strikes but missing.
Grigsby missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Grigsby misses with a takedown attempt

and Merle counters by moving into the clinch.
Grigsby is trying to stall.
Grigsby with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merle wants to get back to striking at distance but Grigsby won't allow it.
Merle wants to break free but Grigsby has control.
Grigsby is looking to control Merle's arms but Merle gets an underhook and turns him. Now Grigsby has his back to the cage.
Merle missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Grigsby dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Esta Merle's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Grigsby shoots in and bounces Merle off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Merle will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Grigsby 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.
Merle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Merle trying to keep a closed guard but Grigsby is proving a slippery customer.
Grigsby trying to control but Merle is working from the bottom.
Grigsby controlling from the top position.
Grigsby trying to control but Merle is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Grigsby tries to clinch up but Merle circles away and keeps his distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigsby throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Merle's waist but Merle gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Grigsby off to one side.
Merle doesn't manage to clinch there - Grigsby circles away.

Merle scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Merle trying to mount his opponent but Grigsby defends it.

Merle stands up from half guard.

Merle scores with a takedown into Grigsby's guard.
Grigsby is pulling down on Merle's head. It's preventing any offense from Merle, at least for the moment.

Grigsby looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Merle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Merle being controlled here momentarily.
Grigsby is trying to keep Merle in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigsby looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Grigsby looking for a sweep. Not yet Grigsby, not yet.
Grigsby is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Grigsby has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Grigsby wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Merle misses with a jab, cross combination.
Grigsby tries a head kick but it misses.
Merle doesn't manage to clinch there - Grigsby circles away.
Merle fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grigsby drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Grigsby trying to control the position but Merle is working away.
Grigsby is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Merle's shoulder. That is not cool.
Grigsby working the head and body with strikes.
Grigsby takes a little break here. Merle wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Grigsby landing strikes.
Merle is trying to escape the position but Grigsby is controlling the position.
Grigsby creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Merle sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Grigsby looks up at the clock and then as Merle takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Grigsby smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Grigsby moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Chris Grigsby has got the better of the ground game so far.
Grigsby works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Grigsby has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Merle feints and as Grigsby raises his hands in defense, Merle changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Grigsby lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Merle!
Merle wants to control but Grigsby is having none of it.
Merle working to try and regain half guard.
Merle tries to hold on but Grigsby postures up.
Merle is working to get back to half guard.
Grigsby avoids the attempt from Merle to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merle manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chris Grigsby will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Esta Merle's cut.
That's time! Merle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Merle fails with a takedown attempt.
Merle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Grigsby counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Merle's guard now.

Grigsby gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Merle looks to clinch

and Grigsby moves into the clinch.
Grigsby with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Merle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Merle tries for a takedown but Grigsby sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esta Merle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Merle takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grigsby fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Merle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grigsby is fending him off so far but Merle persists. Nope, Grigsby circles away and we're back to standing.
Merle fails with the takedown

and Grigsby counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Grigsby has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Grigsby trying to control but Merle is working from the bottom.
Merle wants to stand up but Grigsby is controlling him.
Merle has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigsby stopping the sweep attempt from Merle.
Grigsby throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Merle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grigsby wants to pass the guard but Merle is keeping the position.
Merle wants to stand up but Grigsby is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Grigsby wants to clinch up but Merle keeps it at a distance.
Merle looks to land a left hand but Grigsby moved out of range nicely.

Grigsby has taken the fight to the clinch.
Grigsby pressing his opponent against the cage.
Grigsby wants a takedown.
Grigsby looking to stall.
Esta Merle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Grigsby tries a knee to the head but Merle blocks it.
Merle is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Grigsby pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Grigsby is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Merle fails to pull guard.
Grigsby is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Merle takes an elbow to the temple.
Merle wants a takedown.
Grigsby is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Grigsby looking to stall.
Merle has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Grigsby is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Grigsby can't get the takedown.
Merle is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Grigsby gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A knee to the head by Grigsby.
Grigsby stalling against the cage.
Grigsby receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grigsby is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Merle gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Grigsby is looking to control Merle's arms but Merle gets an underhook and turns him. Now Grigsby has his back to the cage.
Merle tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Grigsby smiles and moves away.
Grigsby looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Merle with a poor takedown

and Grigsby counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Grigsby landing with the ground and pound.

Grigsby decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Merle misses with a takedown attempt - Grigsby sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Merle tries to clinch but Grigsby moves out of range.

Grigsby has taken the fight to the clinch.
Grigsby is looking to control Merle's arms but Merle gets an underhook and turns him. Now Grigsby has his back to the cage.
Grigsby tries a knee to the head but Merle blocks it.
Grigsby stalling the fight.
Merle avoiding damage as Grigsby throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merle lands a body punch.
Merle looking to stall.
Grigsby landing knees to the head.
Merle blocks an elbow strike from Grigsby.
Grigsby looking to stall.
Grigsby tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Merle gets underhooks to prevent Grigsby's takedown attempt.

Merle has picked Grigsby up - he's going for a ride! Merle dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are battling for position here. Grigsby manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Grigsby trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grigsby pulls Merle in close to his closed guard and prevents Merle from doing any damage or advancing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Grigsby comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Grigsby has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Grigsby!