PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Merlin Charles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Viper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Charles
vs
Viper

223 cm
24
193 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

176 cm
24
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

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 - 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, Alex Viper!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Charles closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Viper tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Charles wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Viper's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Charles will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Viper dodges the ground and pound from Charles.

Charles tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Viper tries to improve position but can't.
Who's going to make the next move?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Viper gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Charles is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Viper is just riding it out for now. Charles eventually gives up the hold.

Viper actively working from the bottom here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Viper can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viper moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Viper lands a decent punch to the body there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Viper pushes Charles off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Charles gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Viper counters with a takedown into side control.
Viper working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Viper is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Charles is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Viper working the ground and pound from side control.
Viper working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viper with the ground and pound but Charles regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Viper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Charles does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Viper lands strikes from half guard.
Charles trying to control from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Viper.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Viper works his foot free and advances to mount.
Charles takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Charles is breathing heavily.
Viper lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Viper is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viper landing strikes from the mount.
Viper avoids the attempt from Charles to control.
A nice elbow there by Viper.
Viper has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Charles is in a horrible position here. Viper smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Viper in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Viper cracks Charles with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Viper putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Viper unloading with bombs!
Viper working the ground and pound effectively.

Charles is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Viper unloading with bombs!
Oh Charles is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Viper working Charles over with strikes here.

Viper looking to secure an arm triangle but Charles defends it well.
Viper unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Viper working the ground and pound effectively.
Viper dominating with strikes here.
Viper with a couple of short strikes.
Viper postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Charles in real trouble here! The ref calls for Charles to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alex Viper!
Alex Viper seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.