PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billie Merrill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Strange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Merrill
vs
Strange

174 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

170 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 - 5 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Peter Strange!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Merrill clinches.
Strange looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Strange tries to score a body lock takedown but Merrill shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Merrill pulls guard.
Merrill could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Merrill wants to sweep here but Strange controlling him for the moment.
Strange working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Merrill is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Strange is controlling him.
Merrill avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Merrill is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Strange is controlling him.
Merrill looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Strange won't allow Merrill to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strange trying to control but Merrill is working from the bottom.

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

Merrill closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merrill turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Merrill manages to end up in side control.
Strange is letting Merrill control him for a moment.
Merrill throws an elbow but Strange slips to the side and avoids it well.
Merrill lands some shots froms side control.
Strange is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Strange is trying to escape the position but Merrill is controlling the position.
Strange is looking for a sweep.
Merrill throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Merrill working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merrill lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Strange takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Strange takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Merrill misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Merrill connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Strange some visible discomfort.
Merrill is chipping away with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strange tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill scoring with punches from side control.
Strange is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Strange dodges the ground and pound from Merrill.
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.
Merrill lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Merrill scoring with punches from side control.
Merrill moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Strange is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strange takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Merrill connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Strange some visible discomfort.
Merrill creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Strange sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Merrill working the head and body with strikes.

Strange is rocked!
Merrill taking a breather here.
Strange is still in real trouble! Can Merrill finish him?
Strange tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Merrill presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billie Merrill dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Strange stuffs the takedown.
Strange seems to have recovered his senses.
Billie Merrill seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merrill misses with a takedown attempt - Strange sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Strange appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Merrill clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strange drops down looking for an ankle pick but Merrill pulls his leg out and moves away.
Merrill shoots in but Strange avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And Strange tries to counter it with a takedown but Merrill pushes his down on his head and steps out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billie Merrill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strange is breathing heavily.

Merrill has Strange up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merrill pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Strange gets tackled into the cage by Merrill. Merrill maintains the clinch.

Merrill has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Strange regains guard immediately.
Merrill throwing strikes from guard but Strange blocks nicely.
Merrill working some strikes from top position.
Merrill is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Strange can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strange has momentary wrist control but Merrill slips an elbow through the middle.
Merrill working some strikes from top position.
Strange trying to keep a closed guard but Merrill is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Merrill accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Merrill slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merrill cracks Strange with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrill working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Merrill throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Strange works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Merrill missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Merrill stopping the sweep attempt from Strange.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Merrill shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Merrill showed some decent athleticism there.
Strange taking some punishment here, with Merrill in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Merrill there.
Strange keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Strange tries to get to full guard but Merrill has control of the leg.
Merrill controlling the action here.
Merrill working Strange over with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merrill sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Strange defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billie Merrill dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Merrill lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Merrill shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Strange but Strange pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Merrill jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Merrill moves into the clinch.

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

Merrill dives in and scores a takedown into Strange's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merrill arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Strange's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Billie Merrill!