PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Merceli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Starbuck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Merceli
vs
Starbuck

180 cm
21
185 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

185 cm
25
178 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maximus Merceli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Starbuck!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Starbuck tries to sprawl but Merceli drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Merceli not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Merceli takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Merceli connects with a nice short shot to Starbuck's temple.
Merceli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Starbuck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Merceli trying to control from half guard but Starbuck is working away.
Merceli not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Starbuck is pressing down on Merceli's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Merceli connects with a couple of short punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Starbuck is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Merceli is aware though and is defending well.
Merceli throwing strikes from guard but Starbuck blocks nicely.
Merceli distracts Starbuck with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Merceli passes Starbuck's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merceli lands strikes from half guard.

Starbuck looking for submissions off his back.
Merceli winds up and cracks Starbuck with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Merceli lands a nice short elbow.

Starbuck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Starbuck looks gassed!

Merceli looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Starbuck is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merceli pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merceli thows a huge punch but Starbuck dodges it nicely.
Starbuck is staying active underneath Merceli, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Starbuck blocking the ground and pound attempt from Merceli.
Merceli is trying to control. Starbuck wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Merceli is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Starbuck is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Merceli throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Starbuck to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Starbuck working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Merceli doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Merceli manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Merceli wants to control from the top but Starbuck keeps moving.

Starbuck looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Merceli trying to control the position from guard on top but Starbuck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merceli lands a couple of digs.
Merceli throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Starbuck works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merceli sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Starbuck's guard.
Merceli throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Merceli working over Starbuck with some ground and pound. Starbuck looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Starbuck looking for submissions off his back.
Merceli takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Starbuck keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Merceli is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merceli winds up and cracks Starbuck with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Merceli is keen to just control but Starbuck is a slippery customer.

Starbuck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Merceli thows a huge punch but Starbuck dodges it nicely.
Merceli thows a huge punch but Starbuck dodges it nicely.
Merceli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Merceli is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Starbuck doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Merceli.
Merceli is stalling here. Starbuck is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Merceli seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Starbuck has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Merceli dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Merceli misses with a takedown attempt
and Starbuck counters with a three punch combo that has Merceli backing up. Merceli nods at Starbuck to acknowledge the strikes.
Starbuck stuffs the takedown.

Merceli closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Starbuck to the mat! Starbuck manages to get full guard.
Merceli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Merceli is pushing down on Starbuck's leg trying to pass to half guard. Starbuck is fighting to maintain full guard but Merceli has managed to sneak the leg through.

Starbuck looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Starbuck looking for submissions off his back.
Starbuck is breathing heavily.
Merceli is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Merceli sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Starbuck defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merceli looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Merceli looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Starbuck looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Merceli is trying to control. Starbuck wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Merceli not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Starbuck actively working from the bottom here.
Merceli not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Starbuck taking some punishment here, with Merceli in his half guard.
Starbuck is not content to let Merceli control the position.
Merceli working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merceli frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Merceli wants to control but Starbuck has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merceli wants to take a breather but Starbuck is having none of it.
Starbuck blocking the ground and pound attempt from Merceli.
Merceli throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Starbuck is looking for a sweep. Merceli is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merceli is nestled in close to Starbuck, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Maximus Merceli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Starbuck has hold of Merceli's hands but Merceli slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Merceli lands with a punch from half guard.
Merceli lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merceli lands with a punch from half guard.
Merceli drops an elbow to the side of Starbuck's head.
Merceli working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Merceli scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Starbuck looking for submissions off his back.
Starbuck on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Merceli working Starbuck over with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Merceli seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Starbuck is looking for a sweep. Merceli is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merceli wants to control but Starbuck is keeping him busy.
Starbuck wants to improve his position but Merceli is controlling well.
Merceli seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Merceli is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Merceli throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Merceli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Merceli scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Starbuck actively working from the bottom here.
Merceli looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Merceli dominated that second round.
That's time! Merceli's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Merceli cracks Starbuck with a hook to the temple - Starbuck is on wobbly legs here! Merceli swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Starbuck falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Merceli wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Maximus Merceli!