PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Merlin Charles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Lang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Charles
vs
Lang

223 cm
25
193 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

175 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 - 5 - 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, Rocky Lang!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charles looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lang misses with a shot to the body
and Charles counters with a leg kick.

Lang clinches.
Charles tries to circle away but Lang has him pinned against the cage.
Lang has had enough of the clinch but Charles keeps him there for the moment.

Lang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lang moves out of range as Charles throws a body kick.
Charles changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Charles scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Charles shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lang is trying to defend but Charles finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Lang avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Charles.
Lang is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lang is controlling Charles's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Lang is trying to maintain the position but Charles is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lang trying to hold on to Charles's head to control him but Charles postures up.
Charles throwing shots but Lang is blocking nicely.

Charles decides to stand and escape the position.

Lang moves into the clinch successfully.
Charles tries to circle away but Lang has him pinned against the cage.
Charles can't find room to land a body shot as Lang controls the action.

Lang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Lang closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lang is trying to pull guard but Charles turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Lang manages to break the clinch.

Lang closes the distance and clinches.
Charles has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lang after a bit of a struggle.
Lang tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lang tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Charles just stands there and leans against the cage.
Merlin Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Lang.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Charles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Charles prevents the takedown attempt.
Charles is trying to break free.
Lang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles blocks a body shot from Lang.
Charles working hard to break the clinch.

Lang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lang throws the kick towards the body but Charles avoids it.
Charles shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lang defends it nicely.

Lang changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Charles looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lang tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
I wouldn't like to be where Charles is right now.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Lang wants to lay and pray for a moment but Charles keeps working.
Charles wants to control but Lang postures up.

Lang goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Charles has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Lang but great work by Charles.
Charles will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lang takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Charles stands up and we're back to a striking position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lang misses with a low kick as Charles jumps back.

Lang gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rocky Lang will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lang throws a lazy uppercut
letting Charles counter with a right hand.

Lang gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lang is trying to force a seperation but Charles has the dominant position.
Charles can't break the clinch.
Charles prevents a takedown attempt there.
Charles gets underhooks to prevent Lang's takedown attempt.

Lang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lang misses the shot to the body.
Charles uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lang.

Charles gets tackled into the cage by Lang. Lang maintains the clinch.
Charles can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Charles looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lang is fending him off so far but Charles persists. Nope, Lang circles away and we're back to standing.
A shot to the liver by Lang. Beautiful body shot.

Lang closes the distance and pushes Charles back into the cage.
Charles drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Charles breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lang misses with a combination
and Charles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rocky Lang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Charles tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lang defends well and Charles ends up having to push Lang into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merlin Charles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Charles is trying to push Lang away but Lang has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lang is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lang tries to break free but Charles pushes him back against the cage.
Lang fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lang is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Charles is defending well.
Charles gets underhooks to prevent Lang's takedown attempt.
Lang tries to score a body lock takedown but Charles shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lang is breathing heavily.
Charles wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Charles is trying to break the clinch but Lang has him pressed against the cage.
Charles has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Charles tries to throw a body punch but Lang avoids it by throwing Charles back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles is trying to push Lang away but Lang has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Charles prevents the takedown attempt.
Lang scores with a hook to the body.
Charles stalling.
Lang trying to stall but Charles improves his position.
Charles is pressed up against the cage. Lang has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Charles down to the mat. Charles avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Lang pushes Charles up against the cage in a clinch.
Charles tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lang's elbow.
Charles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lang working hard to break 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lang jumps guard but Charles stands there with Lang around his waist. Lang gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Charles is defending well for now.

Charles breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lang stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lang wants it to stay on the feet.

Lang rushes Charles and presses him up against the cage.
Lang is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Lang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lang swinging wildly here.
Lang leaves Charles with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Charles is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Lang gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lang is trying to pull guard but Charles has him pressed against the cage.
Charles is trying to push Lang away but Lang has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Charles dodges an elbow strike from Lang.
Rocky Lang seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lang jumps guard but Charles stands there with Lang around his waist. Lang gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Charles breaks from the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Charles is defended easily by Lang.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lang but Lang pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merlin Charles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Charles avoids the body shot from Lang.

Lang lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Charles sprawling to the canvas. Lang follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Charles hang on?

Charles is rocked!

It looks like Merlin Charles has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Charles has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lang is working away from the top position though.
Oh Charles is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lang works his foot free and advances to mount.
Lang drops a big elbow. That's hurt Charles! More shots from Lang and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rocky Lang!