PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Milton Merritt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Halfpenny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Will Halfpenny has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Milton Merritt's chin.

Merritt
vs
Halfpenny

156 cm
19
214 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

193 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Milton Merritt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Will Halfpenny!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halfpenny misses with a takedown attempt
and Merritt counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Good work by Merritt as he checks the leg kick.

Halfpenny feints and as Merritt raises his hands in defense, Halfpenny changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Halfpenny wants to pass the guard but Merritt is keeping the position.
Merritt tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merritt is trying to control the position but Halfpenny postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halfpenny throws a big right hand that misses.
Merritt could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Halfpenny pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merritt is keeping the position for now.
Merritt trying to keep a closed guard but Halfpenny is proving a slippery customer.
Merritt might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Halfpenny trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merritt trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Milton Merritt just wasn't active enough.
Halfpenny goes for a double leg but Merritt avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Merritt continues to drive forward.
Halfpenny wants to take the fight to the mat but Merritt manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Milton Merritt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Halfpenny.

Halfpenny pulls guard.
Merritt trying to control but Halfpenny is working from the bottom.

Halfpenny working for submissions but it's allowed Merritt to get to half guard.
Halfpenny works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merritt trying to control the position from guard on top but Halfpenny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halfpenny is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Halfpenny not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merritt controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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. Milton Merritt wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Halfpenny circles away from the clinch attempt

so Halfpenny counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Merritt keeping moving, preventing Halfpenny from controlling successfully.
Merritt pulls Halfpenny in close to his closed guard and prevents Halfpenny from doing any damage or advancing position.
Merritt is trying to keep Halfpenny in close.
Merritt can't keep his opponent in guard - Halfpenny advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halfpenny slips a nice elbow through Merritt's hands, connecting with Merritt's forehead.
Still in half guard, Halfpenny seems content to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Halfpenny seems to be looking for submissions.
Halfpenny is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Halfpenny throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merritt is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Halfpenny dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Halfpenny clinches up with Merritt and pushes him back against the cage.
Merritt slowing the pace effectively.

Merritt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Halfpenny takes the fight into the clinch.
Merritt tries to circle away but Halfpenny has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Merritt's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Halfpenny breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Merritt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Merritt gets caught napping as Halfpenny dives in and scores a takedown. Merritt manages to retain guard.
Will Halfpenny has got the better of the ground game so far.
Halfpenny trying to control the position from guard on top but Merritt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merritt has a closed guard, preventing Halfpenny from standing up.
Merritt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Merritt trying to control the position.
Halfpenny 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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Halfpenny tries to stand but Merritt is controlling from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Will Halfpenny hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Halfpenny tries to clinch but Merritt moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halfpenny swats away the attempt to clinch by Merritt.
Halfpenny throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Halfpenny motions for Merritt to come forward. Halfpenny throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Halfpenny moves into the clinch.

Halfpenny pulls guard.
Halfpenny being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halfpenny has his foot on Merritt's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Merritt works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halfpenny wants to control the position but Merritt says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Halfpenny wants to control but Merritt is keeping busy.
Halfpenny is looking for a sweep. Merritt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Merritt is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Halfpenny doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Merritt.
Merritt moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Halfpenny.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Halfpenny showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Merritt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Merritt gets caught flat footed, as Halfpenny shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Merritt is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Halfpenny throws a big right hand that misses.
Merritt is trying to control the position but Halfpenny postures up.
Halfpenny is stalling in the full guard.
Merritt trying to control the position.
Merritt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Halfpenny is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halfpenny 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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Milton Merritt wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Halfpenny throws the kick towards the body but Merritt avoids it.
Halfpenny shoots in looking for a takedown but Merritt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Halfpenny's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Halfpenny moves into the clinch.

Halfpenny manages to pull guard.
Merritt would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Halfpenny throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halfpenny seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Halfpenny throws out a leg kick but Merritt moves out of range and Halfpenny only half commits.
Merritt stuffs the takedown.
Merritt doesn't manage to clinch there - Halfpenny circles away.

Halfpenny shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Halfpenny showed some decent athleticism there.
Halfpenny takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merritt wants to control but Halfpenny is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merritt is trying to control but Halfpenny passes into side control!
Merritt is not content to let Halfpenny control the position.
Merritt can't do much from the bottom here.
Halfpenny wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merritt keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Halfpenny.
Merritt can't do much from the bottom here.
Halfpenny tries to advance to mount but can't.
Halfpenny working away.
Halfpenny tries to score with some ground and pound. Merritt controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Halfpenny trying to control the position but Merritt is working away.
Milton Merritt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Will Halfpenny is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Merritt is trying to control Halfpenny's posture but Halfpenny avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Halfpenny comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Halfpenny 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Halfpenny!