PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Merrill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michel Page (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Merrill
vs
Page

188 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcel Merrill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michel Page!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Page enables Merrill to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Page manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Page looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Page had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Merrill defends it easily.
Merrill wants to stand but Page is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Page looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Merrill has picked Page up and slammed him! Page can't keep hold of the triangle and Merrill manages to pass to side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merrill remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Page wants to control but Merrill postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merrill thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Page tries to strike but it doesn't land.

Merrill thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Page wants to control but Merrill postures up.
Page seems a little lost for a moment, as Merrill dominates the positioning.
Page is trying to get back to his feet.
Page is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Merrill decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Page scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Page is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Merrill is just riding it out for now. Page eventually gives up the hold.
Merrill trying to control but Page postures up.
Merrill tries to roll over but Page keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill is looking to control Page's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Merrill avoid being mounted?
Merrill is trying to stand.
Merrill manages to get to full guard.

Page gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Page gets a takedown into half guard.
Merrill keeping control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merrill trying to hold on to Page's head to control him but Page postures up.
Merrill wants to get back to full guard.
Merrill regains full guard. Nicely done.

Merrill is looking for a triangle here but Page uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Merrill is looking to regain half guard here but Page keeps moving and retains side control.
Page is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Merrill is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Page has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
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 Marcel Merrill will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Page will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Page.
Merrill is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Page has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Page stands up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Page's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Page duly obliges.

Merrill moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merrill pulls Page into guard.
Page wanted to stand there but Merrill had control of the position.
Merrill wants to stand and escape but Page is having none of it.

Merrill working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Page doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Page manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Page looking to pass the guard.

Merrill scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Merrill tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Page defends well and Merrill ends up having to push Page into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Page scores with a push kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Page throws a head kick but Merrill moves out of range.
Merrill appears to be looking for a big counter.
Merrill shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Page as he avoids it easily.
Page fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Page keeps Merrill at a distance using the push kick.

Page manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Merrill on his heels. He'll look to pass Merrill's guard now, I'm sure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Page stands up from Merrill's guard - Page perhaps looking for a knockout.
Page dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Marcel Merrill is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Merrill takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Page rushes Merrill and presses him up against the cage.
Merrill tries to pull guard but Page won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcel Merrill. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Page breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merrill has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Page.
Merrill uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Page.
Merrill is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Page.
Merrill avoids the head kick by Page.
Page connects with a crisp jab.
Merrill with a poor takedown

and Page counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Page breaks the clinch.
Page throws a head kick that misses
and Merrill counters with a left and a right that stings Page.
Merrill misses with a takedown attempt - Page sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Merrill has his feet on Page's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Page throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Merrill shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Page napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Merrill decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Merrill avoids the body shot from Page.
Merrill chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Page can pounce on him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Page showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Merrill looks for a takedown but Page sprawls well.

Page shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Merrill manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Merrill manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Page closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Merrill manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Page keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Merrill jumps guard but Page stands there with Merrill around his waist. Merrill gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Page pulls guard effortlessly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Page has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Merrill can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Page is looking for a triangle here but Merrill uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Merrill stands up and beckons Page to his feet.
Merrill swats away the attempt to clinch by Page.
It looked like Merrill was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Page.
Merrill shoots in looking for a takedown but Page manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Merrill's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcel Merrill. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Page closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Merrill did well to prevent Page getting side control.

Merrill kicks off Page and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Page throws the kick towards the body but Merrill avoids it.
Merrill tries to counter with a takedown but Page is quick to defend against it.

Merrill throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Page tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Merrill is in Page's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Page working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Merrill has passed into half guard!
Page wants to get back to his feet.

Merrill is working for a submission of some sort.

Merrill is working for a kimura but Page is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill is thwarting Page's attempts to control the position.
Page is trying to stand up here but Merrill is controlling him well.

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

Page actively working from the bottom here.
Merrill controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Page throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Merrill changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Page tries to avoid it but Merrill manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Page to the ground. Page escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Page looks to land a combination but Merrill avoids it well.
Merrill feinted with a counter takedown.
Page looks to land a combination but Merrill avoids it well.
Merrill half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Merrill shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Page defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcel Merrill showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Merrill has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marcel Merrill!