PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Merrill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Eduardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Eduardo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Merrill
vs
Eduardo

218 cm
24
162 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

189 cm
25
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hugo Merrill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Johnny Eduardo!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Merrill drives through with a takedown into Eduardo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Eduardo manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Eduardo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Eduardo wants it to stay on the feet.

Eduardo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Merrill to the mat! Merrill manages to get full guard.

Merrill is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Merrill pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eduardo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Eduardo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Eduardo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Eduardo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Eduardo postures up in Merrill's guard and throws a big left but Merrill blocks it.
Merrill being controlled here, momentarily.
Eduardo stopping the sweep attempt from Merrill.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eduardo throwing strikes but missing.

Eduardo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Merrill dives on top into guard.

Eduardo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Merrill defends well.
Merrill trying to control the position from guard on top but Eduardo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merrill lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Eduardo looking for subs off his back but Merrill has passed one foot through into half guard.
Eduardo tries to roll over but Merrill keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eduardo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merrill pulls his head out easily.

Eduardo actively working from the bottom here.
Merrill trying to control the action but Eduardo is working from the bottom.
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 Eduardo's temple.

Eduardo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Eduardo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merrill pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Merrill lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eduardo is staying active underneath Merrill, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Eduardo actively working from the bottom here.
Merrill takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
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 Eduardo's temple.

Eduardo looking for a kimura from the bottom but Merrill passes into side control!
Eduardo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eduardo tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Merrill presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Eduardo is looking to improve his position but Merrill isn't that keen on the idea.
Merrill will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Merrill trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Merrill cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Merrill prevents Eduardo from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Merrill dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Eduardo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Merrill sprawls well initially but Eduardo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Eduardo lands strikes from half guard.
Eduardo is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Merrill!
Merrill tries to reverse the position but Eduardo maintains control.

Eduardo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Merrill turns into him and now he's in Eduardo's guard.

Eduardo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Merrill escapes and throws Eduardo's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Merrill decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Eduardo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merrill landing strikes from the bottom.
Eduardo slips a nice elbow through Merrill's hands, connecting with Merrill's forehead.

Eduardo is looking for a kimura here.
Merrill is pressing down on Eduardo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Merrill throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Merrill keeping moving, preventing Eduardo from controlling successfully.
Eduardo throws an elbow that misses. Merrill uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Eduardo's guard. Nice move by Merrill!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eduardo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Merrill passes into half guard.
Eduardo is looking to improve his position.

Eduardo looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Merrill pushes past his half guard into mount!
Eduardo tries to reverse the position but Merrill maintains control.
Eduardo slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Merrill scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Merrill is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eduardo taking some punishment here, with Merrill in his half guard.

Eduardo actively working from the bottom here.
Eduardo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
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 Eduardo's temple.
Merrill takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Merrill wants to take a breather but Eduardo is having none of it.

Eduardo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merrill pulls his head out easily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Eduardo looking for subs from the bottom but Merrill mounts him!
Merrill landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merrill is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Eduardo can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Merrill trying to control but Eduardo is having none of it.
Merrill takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Merrill prevents Eduardo from getting the reversal.
Merrill looking to control and managing it successfully.
Eduardo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Merrill dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Merrill throws a head kick but Eduardo moves out of range.
Merrill really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Eduardo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Merrill throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Merrill rushes Eduardo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Merrill using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Eduardo gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Merrill regains guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Merrill is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Eduardo prevents Merrill from getting back to his feet.

Merrill working for submissions but it's allowed Eduardo to get to half guard.
Eduardo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eduardo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Eduardo working Merrill over with strikes.
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. Eduardo connects with a nice short shot to Merrill's temple.
Eduardo is looking to take a break and control but Merrill is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Eduardo trying to control from Merrill's half guard. Merrill has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Eduardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Merrill is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eduardo trying to move into half guard but instead Merrill has managed to sweep!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eduardo is looking for a triangle here but Merrill uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Merrill landing strikes.
Eduardo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Merrill off and has taken his back!

Eduardo 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.
Merrill trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Merrill defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
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!
Eduardo is trying to stick to Merrill's back but Merrill is turning into Eduardo. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Eduardo's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Merrill.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eduardo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Merrill content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Merrill 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.
Merrill keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Eduardo's head.

Eduardo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Merrill is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Eduardo.
Merrill controls the position.
Eduardo is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hugo Merrill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Merrill is looking to take a break and control but Eduardo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Eduardo is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Eduardo is pushing Merrill's head away, looking to escape. Merrill manages to hold on to the position though.
Eduardo is trying to escape the position but Merrill is controlling the position.
Eduardo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merrill working the ground and pound.
Johnny Eduardo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hugo Merrill is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee asks Merrill politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Merrill prefers to stall for the moment though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugo Merrill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Merrill, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

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