PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rusty Merritt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Horkors Geovani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rusty Merritt has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Merritt
vs
Geovani

218 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

174 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rusty Merritt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Horkors Geovani!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merritt fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Geovani manages to avoid it.
Merritt changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Geovani tries to avoid it but Merritt manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Geovani to the ground. Geovani escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Merritt throws a hook to the side of Geovani's head but Geovani sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Geovani throws a big counter head kick but Merritt avoids it with no problem.
A combination from Merritt does no damage.
Geovani throws a big counter head kick but Merritt avoids it with no problem.
Merritt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Merritt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Merritt looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Geovani throws out a counter right but Merritt avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merritt bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Geovani's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merritt throws the left hand but Geovani avoids the punch easily.
Merritt shoots in looking for a takedown but Geovani manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Merritt's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Geovani throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rusty Merritt. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Merritt drives through and clinches with Geovani against the cage.
Geovani is trying to push Merritt away but Merritt has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Geovani is trying to break the clinch but Merritt has him pressed against the cage.
Geovani tries to break the clinch but Merritt is controlling the position.
Merritt with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Geovani changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Merritt fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Merritt is trying hard to land a takedown here. Geovani sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Merritt swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Merritt dives in and scores a takedown into Geovani's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merritt wants to control from the top but Geovani keeps moving.
Geovani has a closed guard, preventing Merritt from standing up.
Geovani can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Merritt controls the pace.

Merritt drops back, looking for a kneebar! Geovani looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Geovani looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Geovani!

Geovani tries for a kimura but Merritt is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Geovani tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Geovani tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Geovani has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Geovani is trying to get an arm triangle but Merritt is defending well.

Geovani is trying to get an arm triangle but Merritt is defending well.
Merritt can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Geovani goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Merritt rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Geovani's guard! Nice work there by Merritt!
Merritt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Merritt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Merritt postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Geovani is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Merritt, into his guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Geovani drops back, looking for a kneebar! Merritt looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Merritt looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Merritt!

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 Rusty Merritt will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Merritt forces Geovani back against the cage and clinches.
Geovani working hard to break the clinch.
Geovani being controlled against the cage.

Merritt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Geovani gets a double leg takedown into Merritt's guard.

Merritt manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Merritt is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Merritt working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merritt leaning his opponent against the cage.
Merritt really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Merritt gets control of Geovani's arms and successfully pulls guard. Merritt will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Merritt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Geovani is controlling him.
Geovani stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merritt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Geovani is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Geovani postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Merritt is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Geovani, into his guard.

Merritt controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merritt wants to stand but Geovani is controlling his posture from full guard.
Merritt throws an elbow that misses. Geovani uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Merritt's guard. Nice move by Geovani!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Geovani is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Merritt controls Geovani momentarily but Geovani frees himself.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merritt postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Merritt wanted to stand there but Geovani had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Geovani wants to stand up but Merritt is controlling him.
Merritt is standing up over Geovani. Geovani looks to escape but Merritt dives into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Geovani tries to escape but Merritt is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusty Merritt dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Merritt goes for a double leg but Geovani avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Geovani continues to drive forward.
Geovani shoots in for a double leg but Merritt sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Merritt tries to clinch there but Geovani circles away.
Merritt misses with the combination.
Geovani unleashes a big counter combination but Merritt bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Merritt swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Merritt instigates a clinch.
Geovani tries to throw a body punch but Merritt avoids it by throwing Geovani back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merritt stalling in the clinch.
Geovani goes for a takedown in the clinch but Merritt prevents it.
Merritt is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rusty Merritt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Horkors Geovani.
Merritt tries to throw a body punch but Geovani avoids it by throwing Merritt back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Merritt.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Merritt lands an uppercut.
Geovani being controlled against the cage.

Merritt breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merritt with a nice cross.
Merritt wants to clinch up but Geovani keeps it at a distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Geovani! But no joy.
Merritt swinging wildly here.
Danga de danga de dang - Merritt scores with a four punch combination!

Geovani throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Merritt tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Geovani is in Merritt's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Merritt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Geovani is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Geovani tries to free his leg and advance position but Merritt is retaining full guard.
Geovani keeps trying to improve his position.

Geovani drops back looking for a leg! Merritt is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Merritt manages to kick Geovani off! Geovani jumps back into Merritt's guard.
Merritt controls Geovani momentarily but Geovani frees himself.
Merritt knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Geovani on the ground.
Geovani passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Merritt manages to work his way to half guard, despite Geovani's best efforts.

Geovani is trying to work for a kimura but Merritt is defending well.

Geovani looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Geovani takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merritt trying to hold on to Geovani's head to control him but Geovani postures up.
Merritt is trying to get back to full guard.

Geovani seems to be looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Geovani is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Horkors Geovani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rusty Merritt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Geovani seems to be working for a kimura but Merritt defends the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rusty Merritt showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Merritt, 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rusty Merritt!