PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billie Merrill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atif Muhammad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Atif Muhammad was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Merrill
vs
Muhammad

174 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

189 cm
21
245 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Billie Merrill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Atif Muhammad!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Muhammad shoots in and gets a takedown into Merrill's guard.
Merrill wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Muhammad manages to pass to side control.
Merrill could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Merrill is looking to improve his position.

Muhammad is trying to work for a kimura but Merrill is defending well.
Muhammad is looking to advance position but Merrill won't allow it.

Muhammad is looking for a kimura but Merrill is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Muhammad to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merrill is staying active underneath Muhammad, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Merrill wants to control but Muhammad is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Merrill kicks off Muhammad and gets to his feet.
Muhammad throws a leg kick but Merrill sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhammad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Muhammad clinches with his opponent.
Merrill has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Muhammad avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Muhammad lands a body punch in the clinch.

Muhammad pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Muhammad with a hook.

It looks like Billie Merrill has been cut.

Merrill moves into the clinch.

Merrill is trying to trip Muhammad. He has hold of a leg but Muhammad is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Merrill persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Muhammad has control of Merrill's left arm, preventing Merrill from doing any damage.
Muhammad is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Merrill is controlling him.
Muhammad has Merrill pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Muhammad 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.
Merrill is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Muhammad isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Merrill stacks Muhammad on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Merrill!
Merrill scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Muhammad to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad pushes Merrill away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Merrill gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Merrill lands a nice forearm strike.
Muhammad really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Merrill. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Muhammad tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Merrill easily slips into full mount!
Muhammad is wriggling around trying to escape.
Merrill working the ground and pound effectively.
Merrill pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Muhammad is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merrill lands a heavy elbow.
Muhammad is bucking up trying to escape but Merrill cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Merrill has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Muhammad's face.
Merrill with the ground and pound from mount.
Merrill lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Muhammad is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Muhammad is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Muhammad looks winded!
Merrill lands a couple of good shots and Muhammad has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billie Merrill dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Billie Merrill's cut.
That's time! Merrill's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Merrill tries to clinch up but Muhammad circles away and keeps his distance.
Muhammad connects with a nice looking jab.
Muhammad cracks Merrill with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Muhammad tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Merrill rushes Muhammad and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Merrill throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Muhammad blocks it with crossed arms.
Merrill working aggressively here.
Muhammad is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Merrill wants to take the fight to the mat but Muhammad manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merrill wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Muhammad has him pressed against the cage.

Muhammad pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Merrill wants to clinch.
Merrill is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Muhammad can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhammad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Merrill sprawls well. Merrill wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Muhammad gets slowly back to his feet.
Muhammad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Merrill's waist but Merrill gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Muhammad off to one side.
Muhammad tries to score a power double leg takedown but Merrill sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Muhammad somewhat.
Billie Merrill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atif Muhammad.
Muhammad fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Muhammad is breathing heavily.

Merrill clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merrill tries to pull guard but Muhammad forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Muhammad.
Merrill can't get the takedown.

Merrill escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Muhammad looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Merrill!

Muhammad wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Merrill, who protects the arm well.
Merrill tries to escape but Muhammad 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill struggling a bit here.
Merrill pushes Muhammad away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Muhammad gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Merrill might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Muhammad taking a break here but Merrill is having none of it and regains half guard.
Merrill keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Muhammad stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Muhammad is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Muhammad doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Muhammad takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Muhammad shoots in looking for a takedown but Merrill manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Muhammad's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Merrill attempts a counter takedown but Muhammad avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Muhammad fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Merrill fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Merrill looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Muhammad is fending him off so far but Merrill persists. Nope, Muhammad circles away and we're back to standing.
Muhammad swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Merrill showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Muhammad.
A quick step to the side and Merrill tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Merrill moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Atif Muhammad will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Billie Merrill's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Muhammad connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Muhammad is looking to clinch but Merrill is avoiding it.
Merrill moves in looking to clinch but Muhammad pushes him off.
Muhammad looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

Muhammad moves into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Muhammad gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Merrill.

Merrill breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Merrill shoots in and bounces Muhammad off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Merrill trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhammad wants to stand up but Merrill is controlling him.

Muhammad is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Muhammad wants to control but Merrill passes easily into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Muhammad can do anything to dispel that myth.
Muhammad is looking to escape.
Muhammad has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merrill is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Merrill lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Muhammad tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Merrill manages to move to mount!
Muhammad is working to get back to half guard.
Muhammad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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 Muhammad from getting the reversal.
Muhammad's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Merrill with a couple of short strikes.
Merrill is landing with some decent strikes but Muhammad is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Muhammad wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Muhammad is bucking up trying to escape but Merrill cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
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 is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Muhammad is looking to improve his position but Merrill isn't that keen on the idea.
A nice elbow there by Merrill.
Merrill is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Muhammad can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Merrill putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merrill punishing his opponent with strikes.
Muhammad is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billie 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

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