PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Fitzmagic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vittorino Merlino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Fitzmagic
vs
Merlino

170 cm
24
190 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
195 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ryan Fitzmagic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vittorino Merlino!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merlino stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Merlino wants it to stay on the feet.
Fitzmagic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Merlino sprawls well. Merlino wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fitzmagic gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Merlino or perhaps it was just good defense by Fitzmagic which made him look bad.

Merlino darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Merlino is trying to work for a kimura but Fitzmagic is defending well.
Merlino passes the guard and advances to mount!

Merlino jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Fitzmagic is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Fitzmagic and Merlino has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Merlino goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Fitzmagic has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Merlino but great work by Fitzmagic.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitzmagic is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Merlino has escaped the position, nice work there.
Merlino is trying to control Fitzmagic's posture but Fitzmagic avoids it.
Merlino is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Merlino is looking to improve his position.
Fitzmagic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlino keeps working.
Fitzmagic passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Merlino!
Merlino is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitzmagic with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Merlino sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Merlino tries to get to full guard but Fitzmagic has control of the leg.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Merlino is pressing down on Fitzmagic's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fitzmagic works a leg free and moves into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Merlino is looking to improve his position.
Merlino gets full guard.
Merlino is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlino keeping moving, preventing Fitzmagic from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzmagic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merlino is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Merlino keeping moving, preventing Fitzmagic from controlling successfully.
Merlino manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fitzmagic manages to get himself to full guard.
Fitzmagic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Merlino is controlling him.
Fitzmagic looking for a sweep. Not yet Fitzmagic, not yet.
Merlino advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Merlino looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Merlino is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fitzmagic has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fitzmagic manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Merlino is working for a submission of some sort.

Merlino is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Fitzmagic is just riding it out for now. Merlino eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vittorino Merlino dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Merlino misses with a takedown

and Fitzmagic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Merlino's guard.
Fitzmagic slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Merlino tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merlino being controlled here, momentarily.
Merlino wants to sweep here but Fitzmagic controlling him for the moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Fitzmagic is stalling in the full guard.

Ryan Fitzmagic has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Merlino dives in and grabs Fitzmagic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fitzmagic pushes down on Merlino's head and hops out.
Vittorino Merlino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitzmagic wants to clinch

and Merlino counters with a single leg into guard. Fitzmagic didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlino pushes down on Fitzmagic's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Merlino is trying to improve position by moving to mount. Fitzmagic has hold of his neck though and manages to move into guard! All of a sudden, Merlino is in a lot of trouble! Fitzmagic is straining to finish and he's done it! Merlino taps out! Amazing!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ryan Fitzmagic!