PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between DJ Merrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jayden Harrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merrick comes to the cage accompanied by S.O.D Money Gang - Outerspace Flow. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Merrick
vs
Harrison

175 cm
23
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, DJ Merrick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jayden Harrison!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harrison fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Merrick looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Merrick avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Merrick takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Merrick has a takedown stuffed.
Harrison throws a low kick but it's checked well by Merrick.
Harrison throws a combination. Merrick tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Merrick is rocked!

It looks like DJ Merrick has been cut.
Merrick lets loose with a powerful body kick. Harrison will feel that in the morning.
Oh Merrick is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Harrison scores with the left hand. Merrick knows he should have avoided that one.
A punch combination from Harrison misses.
Harrison tries to clinch there but Merrick circles away.
Harrison looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Merrick is fending him off so far but Harrison persists. Nope, Merrick circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrison wants to clinch up but Merrick keeps it at a distance.
Harrison moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Harrison drops Merrick with a right and a left! Harrison comes rushing in but Merrick regains his composure and manages to keep Harrison in guard.
Harrison would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Harrison closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Harrison fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Merrick sprawls well initially but Harrison persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harrison tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Merrick.
Harrison is trying to control. Merrick wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jayden Harrison hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Harrison swinging wildly here.
Harrison moves out of range as Merrick throws a body kick.
Merrick seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Harrison tries a head kick but it misses.
Harrison lands a head shot.
Harrison is trying hard to land a takedown here. Merrick sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Merrick swings for the body but Harrison moves out of range.
Harrison closes the distance but Merrick moves to the side

and Merrick counters with a shoot takedown. Harrison fights it but they end up in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harrison throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Harrison is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Merrick is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayden Harrison dominated that round.
The cut man is working on DJ Merrick'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.

Harrison scores with a jab. Merrick acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Harrison misses with a double jab
and Merrick counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Harrison drops Merrick with a right and a left! Harrison comes rushing in but Merrick regains his composure and manages to keep Harrison in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Harrison stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merrick swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harrison would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Harrison gets to his feet - Merrick follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harrison fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merrick throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Horrible takedown by Harrison or perhaps it was just good defense by Merrick which made him look bad.
Merrick is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Harrison.
Jayden Harrison seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harrison throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Merrick's waist but Merrick gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Harrison off to one side.
DJ Merrick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jayden Harrison.

Harrison gets a takedown into half guard.
Merrick works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison tries to stand but Merrick is controlling from the bottom.
Merrick is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Harrison tries to stand but Merrick is controlling from the bottom.
Merrick looking to control.
Harrison looking to pass the guard.
Harrison loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. DJ Merrick wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Harrison throws a right hand that Merrick ducks under and follows up with a left that Merrick also avoids with ease.
Harrison lands a slapping body shot.
Jayden Harrison seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Harrison lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Harrison throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Harrison is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Merrick's half guard.
Harrison wants to stand up but Merrick is controlling the position.
Harrison trying to mount his opponent but Merrick defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Harrison is going to stand back up.
Merrick wants to control but Harrison is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Merrick blocking the ground and pound attempt from Harrison.
Harrison throws a strike but Merrick avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harrison won't allow Merrick to sweep him here.
Harrison has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Merrick is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayden Harrison showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on DJ Merrick's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Harrison misses with a double jab.

Harrison gets a takedown into half guard.
Harrison tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Merrick.
Harrison missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harrison not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Harrison decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harrison rushes Merrick and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Harrison lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Harrison looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Harrison can't break the clinch.
Harrison tries to break the clinch but Merrick is controlling the position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Harrison decides to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merrick won't allow Harrison to sweep him here.
Harrison wants to get back to his feet but Merrick is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harrison takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Harrison misses with a two punch combination.

Harrison gets a double leg takedown into Merrick's guard.
Harrison trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Harrison's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Harrison stands up from Merrick's guard - Harrison perhaps looking for a knockout.
Harrison scores with a sloppy right hand. Merrick should have avoided that one.

Harrison gets the takedown into side control.
Harrison working the ground and pound.
Harrison tries to stand but Merrick is controlling his head.
Harrison working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrison tries to get to his feet but Merrick is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Harrison in his guard.
Harrison throwing strikes but missing.
Merrick pulls Harrison in close to his closed guard and prevents Harrison from doing any damage or advancing position.
DJ Merrick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Merrick throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jayden Harrison comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Harrison 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jayden Harrison!
A very excited looking Jayden Harrison made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.