PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billie Merrill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pierre Ducati (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Merrill
vs
Ducati

174 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

187 cm
24
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Billie 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, Pierre Ducati!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ducati lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Billie Merrill has been cut.
Merrill tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ducati paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ducati steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Merrill.

Ducati shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ducati wants to pass to mount but Merrill is defending the position.
Ducati controlling the action here.
Merrill could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Merrill trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Ducati manages to pass to mount!
Ducati fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Merrill regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ducati is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Ducati is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Merrill defends it well.
Ducati sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Merrill is trying to stand up here but Ducati is controlling him well.
Merrill might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ducati is controlling the pace.

Ducati is looking for a kimura but Merrill is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ducati to get the leverage.

Merrill has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Ducati is on him like a limpet, forcing Merrill back against the cage.
Merrill has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ducati avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Ducati has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Merrill regains guard immediately.
Ducati slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill wants to stand up but Ducati is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merrill has a closed guard, preventing Ducati from standing up.
Ducati advances to half guard.
Ducati performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

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.

Merrill looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ducati stands up from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ducati darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Ducati dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Billie Merrill's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Merrill closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ducati quickly recovers to half guard.
Ducati wants to control but Merrill is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ducati works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ducati wants to hit a switch here but Merrill passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ducati there!
Merrill can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ducati is looking to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ducati sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ducati has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merrill is thwarting Ducati's attempts to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ducati can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ducati is trying to get back to full guard.
Ducati manages to get to full guard.

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.
Ducati not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ducati. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Merrill throwing strikes but missing.
Ducati manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Merrill manages to get himself to full guard.

Ducati connects with a couple of short punches.
Ducati sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill keeping full guard, as Ducati tries to pass.
Ducati is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ducati stands and throws Merrill's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ducati lands a few punches from side control.
Ducati tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Ducati trying to control the action but Merrill is working from the bottom.
Ducati tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ducati goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Merrill rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ducati's guard! Nice work there by Merrill!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pierre Ducati will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Billie Merrill's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ducati clinches up with Merrill and pushes him back against the cage.

Ducati breaks the clinch.

Ducati closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Merrill to the mat! Merrill manages to get full guard.
Ducati would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ducati slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ducati grinds an elbow into Merrill's temple.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merrill is not content to let Ducati control the position.
Ducati controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merrill tries to bench press Ducati off him but Ducati keeps the position.
Ducati scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Merrill to see if he's OK.
Merrill manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ducati wants to get back to full guard but Merrill has passed into side control.
Ducati tries to buck Merrill off but Merrill is having none of it.
Ducati regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merrill throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ducati wants to get back to full guard.
Pierre Ducati has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ducati manages to get to full guard.
Merrill is fighting to break Ducati's control of his arms but Ducati is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ducati has his hands on Merrill's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Merrill got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ducati has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Merrill has managed to get both his arms back between Ducati's legs - danger averted.
Ducati takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ducati is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Merrill wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ducati wants to work for an arm triangle but Merrill is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Billie Merrill has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pierre Ducati is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Merrill looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pierre Ducati comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ducati has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pierre Ducati!