PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Flawless (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esta Merle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merle is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: There's no sympathy for the dead part 2. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Flawless
vs
Merle

183 cm
22
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Monster MMA Brand Clothing

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Flawless!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Esta Merle!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Steve Montenegro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Flawless clinches up against the cage.
Flawless is stalling here.
Flawless prevents Merle from breaking the clinch.

Flawless breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merle shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Flawless but Flawless pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Flawless shoots in looking for a takedown. Merle tries to sprawl out of it but Flawless keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Merle manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merle keeps the fight on the outside.
Merle with a lazy takedown attempt

and Flawless moves into the clinch.
Merle wants a takedown but no success here.
John Flawless has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esta Merle.
Merle looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flawless tries a knee to the head but Merle blocks it.
Flawless has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Merle avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Flawless landing knees to the head.
Flawless keeps control of Merle as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Flawless has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Merle is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Merle wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Merle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Flawless just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Merle is looking to break free of the clinch but Flawless has double underhooks.
Merle gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Flawless.
Flawless gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Flawless prevents the takedown attempt.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Flawless.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flawless lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Esta Merle has been cut.
Flawless tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Flawless misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Merle.
Flawless is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Merle pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Flawless tries to land knees in the clinch but Merle avoids the damage to the body.

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

Flawless moves into the clinch.
Flawless connects with a nasty looking knee right to Merle's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Flawless connects with a knee to the head.

Merle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Flawless doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Merle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Flawless wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Flawless manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Flawless wants to sweep here but Merle controlling him for the moment.
Flawless is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Esta Merle will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Esta Merle's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Flawless moves into the clinch.
Merle tries for a takedown but Flawless manages to get underhooks.

Flawless works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Flawless seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Flawless would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Merle is breathing heavily.
Merle has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merle wants to get back to his feet but Flawless is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Flawless gets to his feet - Merle follows without any prompting.

Flawless clinches up with Merle and pushes him back against the cage.
Flawless misses with a short punch on the inside.
Flawless is leaning against Merle and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's two 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.
Flawless misses with a knee strike.
Flawless tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Flawless.
Merle has Flawless pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Flawless manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Flawless breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merle tries for a takedown but Flawless circles away easily

and Flawless counters with a takedown into side control.
John Flawless has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esta Merle.
Merle struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flawless stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Flawless gets a takedown into half guard.
Flawless takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flawless wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merle keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Flawless decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Horrible takedown by Merle or perhaps it was just good defense by Flawless which made him look bad.

Flawless shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Flawless stands and steps away. Merle gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
No luck for Flawless with that takedown attempt.
Merle tries for a takedown but Flawless circles away easily

and Flawless counters with a nice double leg into side control. Merle won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Flawless dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Esta Merle's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Merle tries for a takedown but Flawless circles away easily

so Flawless counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Flawless trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Merle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Flawless is controlling him.
Merle looking to control but Flawless passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Flawless seems content to control.
Merle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merle pushes Flawless off looking to stand but Flawless dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flawless is pressing down on Merle's thigh, looking to free his foot. Merle is holding on for now.
Flawless prevents Merle from standing back up.
Merle is looking for a sweep. Flawless is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Merle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Merle prevents Flawless from getting back to his feet.

Flawless working for a triangle but Merle defends it easily.
Flawless is trying to keep Merle in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flawless is working an open guard so Merle takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Flawless closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Merle to the mat! Merle manages to get full guard.

Merle has his feet on Flawless's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Merle misses with a takedown attempt

and Flawless counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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!
Merle wants to control but Flawless is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flawless is trying to control the action in half guard but Merle is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Flawless stands up from half guard.
Flawless tries for a takedown but Merle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Merle shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Flawless counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
John Flawless has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esta Merle.
Merle keeping moving, preventing Flawless from controlling successfully.
John Flawless overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flawless controlling from the top position.

Flawless gets to his feet. Merle looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merle shoots for a takedown but Flawless saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Flawless wants to clinch

and Merle counters with a shoot takedown. Flawless fights it but they end up in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Flawless is looking to stand up but Merle isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Flawless showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Flawless has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Flawless!