PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Beckley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Merchant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Beckley has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Beckley
vs
Merchant

220 cm
30
206 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Beckley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Merchant!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merchant throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Beckley counters with a series of strikes. Merchant will be more careful next time no doubt.
Beckley misses with a head kick.
Merchant throws out a counter right but Beckley avoids it with no problem.
Merchant moves out of range of the body kick.
Beckley misses with a head kick.
Beckley lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Beckley fails to land with a series of punches.

Merchant feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Merchant wants to pass the guard but Beckley is keeping the position.
Beckley looking for a sweep. Not yet Beckley, not yet.
Merchant tries to free his leg and advance position but Beckley is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merchant is stalling in the full guard.
Merchant trying to control but Beckley is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Beckley shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Merchant napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Merchant on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merchant manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Beckley is looking to take a break and control but Merchant is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Beckley is thwarting Merchant's attempts to control the position.
Merchant tries to roll over but Beckley keeps him under control.
Merchant regains full guard. Nicely done.
Beckley with a flurry of punches that miss.
Beckley won't allow Merchant to sweep him here.
Beckley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Merchant is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Beckley is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Beckley stopping the sweep attempt from Merchant.
Beckley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Merchant avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckley is looking to work some ground and pound but Merchant has wrist control.
Beckley trying to control the position from guard on top but Merchant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merchant working a defensive guard here.

Beckley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Beckley throws a big elbow that misses.

Beckley is sitting in close to Merchant's body. Merchant has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Beckley is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Beckley is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Merchant.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Darren Merchant!
A relieved looking Darren Merchant thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.