PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Merlin Charles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Wooten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Charles
vs
Wooten

223 cm
24
193 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

177 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Merlin Charles!
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, Kevin Wooten!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charles tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wooten sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Charles somewhat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Charles is defended easily by Wooten.
A leg kick checked by Charles.
Wooten tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Charles defends well and Wooten ends up having to push Charles into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The referee calls for Wooten to work.

Charles breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wooten.
Charles has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merlin Charles. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Charles drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Wooten is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Charles loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Charles wants to get up but he can't break Wooten's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Wooten not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooten looking for a sweep. Not yet Wooten, not yet.
Charles will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Charles throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wooten works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Wooten can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wooten working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Charles.
Wooten is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Charles has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kevin Wooten was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Charles throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wooten's waist but Wooten gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Charles off to one side.
Charles leaves Wooten with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Charles wants it to stay on the feet.

Wooten moves into range and clinches up with Charles.
Wooten wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wooten is trying to pull guard but Charles turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Charles as Wooten tries to tie him up.
Wooten is trying to break the clinch but Charles is controlling him.
Come on Wooten - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Charles breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Charles clinches with his opponent.

Charles breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooten tries to land knees in the clinch but Charles avoids the damage to the body.

Charles is fighting off a takedown attempt but Wooten is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Charles to the mat. Charles regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Charles trying to control the position.
Charles throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles is pulling down on Wooten's head. It's preventing any offense from Wooten, at least for the moment.
Charles thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Charles has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wooten can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wooten looking to sit in guard and control but Charles gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Charles is in close to Wooten's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Merlin Charles will probably get the nod.
That's time! Charles's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Charles gets tackled into the cage by Wooten. Wooten maintains the clinch.
Wooten goes for a takedown in the clinch but Charles prevents it.

Charles manages to break the clinch.
Charles is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Charles really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Wooten misses with a takedown attempt
and Charles counters with a body kick that stops Wooten in his tracks momentarily.
Wooten lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Charles circles away quickly and effectively.
Charles shoots for a takedown but Wooten saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wooten shoots in but Charles avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Merlin Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Wooten.
Charles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wooten but Wooten pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wooten misses with a kick to the body.
Kevin Wooten is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles tries to clinch up but Wooten circles away and keeps his distance.
Wooten has a takedown stuffed.
Wooten is breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Wooten as Charles shoots in.
Charles fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wooten avoids it really well and circles away.
Wooten fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kevin Wooten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Wooten with that takedown attempt.
Charles tries to clinch but Wooten moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Wooten as Charles shoots in.
Charles shoots in but no luck this time.
Charles shoots in for a takedown but Wooten shows good takedown defense.
Nice sprawl there from Charles as Wooten shoots in.
Charles throws a nice outside leg kick.
Charles blocks a leg kick.
Wooten fails to land the takedown.
Charles closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wooten circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wooten moves into the clinch.
Wooten is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Charles manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Charles or perhaps it was just good defense by Wooten which made him look bad.
Wooten is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Charles.
Wooten throws a right hand that Charles ducks under and follows up with a left that Charles also avoids with ease.
Charles stuffs the takedown attempt from Wooten. Wooten gets slowly back to his feet.
Charles explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Charles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles closes the distance and clinches up with Wooten, looking for a takedown. Charles pushes Wooten against the cage but Wooten circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Merlin Charles is winning the standup battle so far.
Wooten misses with a takedown attempt - Charles sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Charles tests Wooten's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Charles shoots for a double leg takedown but Wooten sprawls well. He's pushed Charles's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wooten misses with a takedown attempt - Charles sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Charles shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wooten as he avoids it easily.
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 Merlin Charles will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Charles is defended easily by Wooten.
No luck for Wooten with that takedown attempt.
Charles shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wooten as he avoids it easily.

Wooten closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Charles has picked Wooten up - he's going for a ride! Charles dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wooten is looking to control Charles's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wooten avoid being mounted?

Wooten is defending against the submission attempts here by Charles.

Charles stands up and beckons Wooten to join him on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wooten is defended easily by Charles.

Wooten has closed the distance and engaged Charles in a clinch.
Wooten jumps guard but Charles stands there with Wooten around his waist. Wooten gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Merlin Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Wooten.
Charles misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wooten.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Charles's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Charles checks the leg kick.
Wooten throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Charles's waist but Charles gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wooten off to one side.
Wooten dives in and grabs Charles's left leg, looking for a takedown. Charles pushes down on Wooten's head and hops out.
Wooten keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Charles will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Charles clinches with his opponent.
Charles tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wooten's elbow.
Wooten managing to block the knees to the body from Charles.
Wooten jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Charles walks away with a smile on his face. Wooten gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Charles displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wooten.
Charles tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wooten manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wooten shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Charles defends it nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Wooten as Charles shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooten slaps away a takedown attempt from Charles, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Wooten moves into range and clinches up with Charles.

Charles pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wooten looks for a takedown but Charles sprawls well.
Wooten moves out of range as Charles throws a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Charles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wooten but Wooten pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Wooten gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Merlin Charles.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Charles, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Merlin Charles!