PBP Commentary

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

Campos
vs
Merrick

183 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Scott Campos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Merrick!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Alyssa Summers and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Campos tries to sprawl but Merrick drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Merrick looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Merrick is trying to work for a kimura but Campos is defending well.
Merrick not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merrick throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Still in half guard, Merrick seems content to control.
Merrick's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Merrick was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Campos doesn't manage to clinch there - Merrick circles away.
Merrick throws a body punch but Campos moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Merrick gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Campos regains guard.
Merrick is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merrick wants to pass the guard but Campos is keeping the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Merrick controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Merrick was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Campos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Campos shoots in but Merrick avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrick fails with a takedown attempt.
Merrick shoots for a double leg takedown but Campos sprawls well. He's pushed Merrick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Merrick closes the distance and clinches.
Campos is trying to break free.

Merrick works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Merrick slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Merrick tries to free his leg and advance position but Campos is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merrick postures up and lands a big shot to Campos's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merrick is looking to work some ground and pound but Campos has wrist control.
Merrick's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Merrick hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Campos stuffs the takedown.
Scott Campos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Merrick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Merrick drives through with a takedown into guard.
Merrick slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Merrick gets a double leg takedown into Campos's guard.
Merrick looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Merrick wants to stand but Campos has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Campos keeping full guard, as Merrick tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by James Merrick.
Campos tries to clinch up.

Campos clinches.
Campos goes for a takedown attempt but Merrick pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Merrick has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Merrick's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Merrick shoots in and bounces Campos off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Merrick sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Merrick hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Merrick shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Campos as he avoids it easily.
Campos shoots for a takedown but Merrick saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Merrick looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Campos slaps away a takedown attempt from Merrick, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Scott Campos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Merrick.

Merrick drives through with a takedown into Campos's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Merrick is breathing heavily.
Merrick slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merrick tries to stand but Campos is controlling from the bottom.
Campos looking for a sweep. Not yet Campos, not yet.
Merrick working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Campos keeping full guard, as Merrick tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Merrick was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Merrick clinches up with Campos and pushes him back against the cage.

Merrick pulls guard successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Merrick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Campos has taken the fight to the clinch.
Campos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Campos pulls guard effortlessly.
Merrick landing with the ground and pound.
Merrick's corner is telling him to maintain position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Campos is on top in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Merrick holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merrick wants to sweep here but Campos controlling him for the moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by James Merrick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Campos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Campos tries to pull guard but Merrick won't allow it.
Campos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Campos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Merrick avoids it.
Campos taking a breather.
Campos being controlled against the cage.
Merrick scores with a shot to the side of Campos's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campos has Merrick pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Merrick manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Campos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Campos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Merrick walks away with a smile on his face. Campos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Merrick fails with a takedown attempt.

Merrick has Campos up against the cage in a clinch.

Merrick manages to break the clinch.

Merrick darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Still in half guard, Merrick seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Merrick has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Campos has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merrick is working away from the top position though.
Merrick winds up and cracks Campos with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Merrick keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

James Merrick has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Merrick tries to score a power double leg takedown but Campos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Merrick somewhat.

Merrick clinches up with Campos and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Merrick manages to pull guard.
Merrick manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Campos manages to get himself to full guard.
Merrick is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Merrick postures up in Campos's guard and throws a big left but Campos blocks it.
Scott Campos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Merrick is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merrick pushes down on Campos's leg and manages to get into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Merrick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Merrick 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Merrick!