PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vittorino Merlino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Looney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Merlino
vs
Looney

180 cm
25
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very confident

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vittorino Merlino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chad Looney!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merlino fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vittorino Merlino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Looney keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Looney shoots and misses

and Merlino counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Looney!

Merlino working for a submission but Looney is keeping him at bay.
Looney can't escape the position.
Merlino looking to finish with strikes here!

Merlino wants to finish this one by submission but Looney is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Merlino.
Looney sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Looney is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Merlino is looking for a kimura here.
Merlino looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Merlino seems to be working for a kimura but Looney defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Looney keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Looney gets full guard.
Looney keeping full guard, as Merlino tries to pass.
Merlino loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Looney escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Merlino gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Merlino is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Looney is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Looney has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Looney is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Merlino is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Merlino has escaped and now he's on top!
Merlino won't allow Looney to sweep him here.
Looney working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Merlino.
Merlino throws a big right hand that misses.
Merlino is looking to advance position but Looney has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Looney wants to finish this one by submission but Merlino is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Looney.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Looney moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Merlino has worked his arm free - good work by Merlino!

Looney tries for a kimura but Merlino is defending well.

Looney working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merlino gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vittorino Merlino dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Looney shoots in for a takedown but Merlino shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Merlino shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Looney.
Merlino avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Merlino misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Merlino misses with a takedown

and Looney counters with a single leg into guard. Merlino didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vittorino Merlino. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Looney is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Merlino is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Merlino has escaped and now he's on top!
Merlino missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Merlino has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Looney keeping full guard, as Merlino tries to pass.
Merlino postures up in Looney's guard and throws a big left but Looney blocks it.

Merlino drops back, looking for a kneebar! Looney looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Looney looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Looney!

Looney thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Looney is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Merlino has escaped the position, nice work there.

Looney goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Merlino rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Looney's guard! Nice work there by Merlino!

Merlino drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Looney dives on top into guard.

Looney postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Merlino is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Looney, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Looney preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Merlino is looking to work some ground and pound but Looney has wrist control.
Looney utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Looney looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Merlino has gone for a leg lock! Looney slips out almost immediately though and dives into Merlino's guard.

Looney drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Merlino manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Looney has Merlino in his guard.
Looney is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Looney preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Merlino advances to half guard.

Merlino seems to be looking for submissions.
Merlino throwing shots but Looney is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Merlino wants to work for an arm triangle but Looney is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Looney is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Merlino's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Merlino's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vittorino Merlino will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Merlino. No joy for Looney on that attempt.

Merlino closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Looney did well to prevent Merlino getting side control.
Merlino throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Merlino is trying to work for a kimura but Looney is defending well.
Looney manages to get to full guard.
Looney is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Merlino pushes Looney off looking to stand but Looney dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Looney is working for a submission of some sort.

Looney is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Merlino has managed to free his arm - good work.

Looney is trying to work for a kimura but Merlino is defending well.

Merlino is defending against the submission attempts here by Looney.
Looney takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merlino tries to roll over but Looney keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlino makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Merlino.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Merlino's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Merlino throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Merlino throwing strikes from guard but Looney blocks nicely.
Looney avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Merlino pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Looney is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlino postures up in Looney's guard and throws a big left but Looney blocks it.
Merlino is looking to advance position but Looney has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Looney goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Merlino turns into him and now he's in Looney's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlino postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Merlino pushes down on Looney's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Merlino missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merlino thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Merlino is working for a kimura here but Looney manages to reverse the position and he's now in Merlino's guard.
Merlino manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
Vittorino Merlino showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Merlino 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Vittorino Merlino!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Vittorino Merlino!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Vittorino Merlino!

Vittorino Merlino wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Vittorino Merlino thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.