PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billie Merrill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Dempsey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry Dempsey looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Merrill
vs
Dempsey

174 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

201 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Billie Merrill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Henry Dempsey!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Merrill darts in and clinches Dempsey up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Merrill.
Merrill wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Merrill can't break the clinch.
Merrill wants to break free but Dempsey has control.

Merrill is trying to trip Dempsey. He has hold of a leg but Dempsey is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Merrill persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Merrill postures up and lands a big shot to Dempsey's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merrill stops Dempsey from standing up.
Dempsey working a defensive guard here.
Merrill stopping the sweep attempt from Dempsey.
Merrill really is a fat lump.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merrill won't allow Dempsey to get back to his feet.
Merrill throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dempsey looking for a guillotine here but Merrill defends easily.
Merrill loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Merrill throwing strikes from guard but Dempsey blocks nicely.
Merrill might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merrill loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Merrill tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Dempsey is able to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Dempsey fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Merrill, pushing him back against the cage.

Merrill has Dempsey pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Merrill pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Dempsey tumbling to the mat - Merrill dives into Dempsey's guard.
Dempsey wants to stand but Merrill is controlling the position.
Dempsey not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merrill knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dempsey on the ground.
Merrill is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Merrill scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dempsey is on top in guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dempsey prevents Merrill from getting back to his feet.
Dempsey wants to stand but Merrill has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Dempsey preventing the sweep.
Dempsey slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Dempsey is looking to take a break and control but Merrill is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dempsey looks winded!
Dempsey might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Merrill haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merrill wants to get back to his feet but Dempsey drags him back down.
Merrill is looking for a sweep.
Merrill wants to get back to his feet but Dempsey drags him back down.
Dempsey controls the position from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Both fighters take a look at the clock.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billie Merrill dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Merrill looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Dempsey!
Dempsey tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
We've been informed that Dempsey has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Merrill trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Dempsey doesn't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dempsey trying to control but not successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey turns into Merrill and is now in his guard.

Merrill is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Billie Merrill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Merrill keeping moving, preventing Dempsey from controlling successfully.
Merrill is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Merrill throws his legs up looking for a submission but Dempsey uses it to pass to side control.
Merrill tries to escape but Dempsey is in control.
Merrill trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Merrill is looking to regain half guard here but Dempsey keeps moving and retains side control.
Merrill is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Dempsey asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Dempsey scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Merrill to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill is looking to get back to his feet here but Dempsey is keeping cool and he's managed to take Merrill's back.

Merrill defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Dempsey looking for the choke but no joy.
Dempsey is breathing heavily.

Dempsey is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Merrill knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Merrill for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merrill trying to get back to his feet but Dempsey is in full control for now.

Dempsey working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Merrill turns into Dempsey and is now in his guard.
Merrill with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dempsey looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merrill is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Dempsey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Dempsey tries to keep at a distance but Merrill has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dempsey looking to slow down the pace here.
A frustrated look appears on Merrill's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Merrill can't break the clinch.
Merrill tries to pull guard but Dempsey forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dempsey changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Merrill fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dempsey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Merrill tries to avoid it but Dempsey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Merrill to the ground. Merrill escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Merrill fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dempsey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merrill wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Merrill closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dempsey quickly recovers to half guard.
Merrill working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Merrill throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Merrill connects with a nice short shot to Dempsey's temple.
Merrill scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Merrill throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Dempsey to regain full guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merrill working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dempsey working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Merrill.
Dempsey avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Merrill has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Merrill stopping the sweep attempt from Dempsey.
Merrill postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dempsey wants to stand and escape but Merrill is having none of it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Dempsey has momentary wrist control but Merrill slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Merrill has Dempsey up against the cage in a clinch.

Merrill breaks the clinch.

Merrill takes the fight into the clinch.
Merrill is trying to break the clinch but Dempsey is controlling him.
Dempsey jumps guard but Merrill turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Billie Merrill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Dempsey.

Merrill's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Merrill closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dempsey quickly recovers to half guard.
Merrill scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merrill not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Merrill thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Merrill misses with a head shot. Dempsey uses the momentum to regain guard.
Merrill lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dempsey working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Merrill.
Merrill content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billie Merrill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Merrill has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billie Merrill!