PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Randy Kelly (ranked 1322 p4p, 158 weight class) and Xavier Merlin (ranked 2275 p4p, 244 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kelly
vs
Merlin

185 cm
25
158 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
162 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

RISE Nutrition
Urban Fighter

RISE Nutrition
Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Randy Kelly!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Merlin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Merlin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Merlin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kelly swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kelly has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Arvins Bootcamp in the buildup to the fight.
Merlin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merlin throws a jab but it's blocked by Kelly.
Kelly looks to land a left hand but Merlin moved out of range nicely.
Merlin lands with a cross.
Kelly is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merlin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kelly on the side of the head.
Merlin lands a body shot.
Merlin has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Merlin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Merlin 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.
Kelly tries to clinch but Merlin moves out of range.
Kelly slips a straight right by Merlin.
Kelly really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Merlin lands a jab to the nose.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kelly tries to close the distance and clinch up but Merlin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kelly uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merlin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin swats away the attempt to clinch by Kelly.
Kelly throws a lazy right hand but Merlin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Merlin misses with a two punch combination.
Kelly tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Merlin manages to circle out of the way.
Merlin misses with an uppercut.
Kelly tries to clinch but Merlin moves out of range.
Kelly tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Merlin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Merlin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kelly was well out of range. Poor timing from Merlin.
Kelly tries to clinch up.
Merlin throws out a counter right but Kelly avoids it with no problem.
Merlin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Merlin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Merlin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merlin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Merlin throws a jab when Kelly was well out of range.
Merlin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Merlin blocks a jab.

Kelly closes the distance and clinches.
Merlin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Merlin fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin struggles to land a body shot inside as Kelly controls his hands.
Merlin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kelly looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Merlin digs a right hand into Kelly's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kelly's gas tank.
Merlin misses with some punches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Merlin.
Kelly jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Merlin walks away with a smile on his face. Kelly gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kelly moves out of range as Merlin strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kelly looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kelly just misses with a punch to the body.
It seemed like Merlin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kelly tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Merlin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Merlin swats away the attempt to clinch by Kelly.
Merlin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kelly takes one to the side of the head.

Kelly clinches up with Merlin and pushes him back against the cage.
Merlin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kelly is trying to push Merlin away but Merlin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Kelly's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kelly is trying to break free.
Kelly tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Merlin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Merlin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kelly wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Merlin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Merlin struggles to land a body shot inside as Kelly controls his hands.
Kelly fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Kelly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kelly misses with a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Merlin as the two fighters clinch.
Merlin misses with a punch to the body.
Kelly fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kelly blocks a body shot from Merlin.
Merlin can't find room to land a body shot as Kelly controls the action.

Merlin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Merlin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Merlin working a defensive guard here.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.

Merlin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Merlin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kelly wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Kelly wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Merlin dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kelly bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Merlin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kelly just misses with a punch to the body.
Kelly doesn't manage to clinch there - Merlin circles away.
Kelly throws a sloppy head kick and Merlin moves out of range easily.
Kelly tries to clinch up.
Merlin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Merlin misses with a straight right.
Merlin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kelly looks to land a combination but Merlin avoids it well.

Kelly has closed the distance and engaged Merlin in a clinch.
Kelly wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Merlin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Merlin taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kelly manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kelly has control of Merlin's left arm, preventing Merlin from doing any damage.

Kelly throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Merlin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Kelly is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Kelly keeps moving.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Kelly is keeping the position.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Kelly keeps moving.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kelly swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Kelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kelly takes a swing at Merlin's ribcage but misses.
A punch combination from Merlin misses.
Kelly uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merlin.
Merlin lands a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kelly looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Merlin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Merlin counters with a stiff right hand.
Kelly on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Merlin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kelly manages to avoid it.

Kelly pushes Merlin up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly looking to slow down the pace here.

Kelly escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kelly wants to clinch.
Merlin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Merlin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kelly throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Merlin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kelly is looking to wear down Merlin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kelly looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Merlin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merlin scores with a shot to the body.
Kelly swings for the body but Merlin moves out of range.
Merlin throws an overhand right that lands on Kelly's shoulder, as Kelly tries to avoid the shot.
Merlin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Merlin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly throws a hook to the side of Merlin's head but Merlin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Randy Kelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kelly darts in and clinches Merlin up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Merlin fails to land.
Merlin cracks Kelly with a nice body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Merlin fails to land.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Merlin tries to work over Kelly's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kelly fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kelly tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Merlin just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kelly breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A big left from Merlin misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kelly is looking to clinch.
Merlin scores with a sloppy right hand. Kelly should have avoided that one.
Kelly tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kelly swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Xavier Merlin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kelly tries to close the distance and clinch but Merlin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Merlin swats away the attempt to clinch by Kelly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Merlin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kelly tries to close the distance and clinch up but Merlin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Merlin with a nice cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merlin. Kelly does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kelly slips a jab and a cross from Merlin.
Merlin misses with a two punch combination.
A swing and a miss from Merlin.
It looked like Kelly was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Merlin.
A jab from Merlin misses.
Merlin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Merlin throws a right hand that Kelly ducks under and follows up with a left that Kelly also avoids with ease.
Merlin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kelly.
Merlin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kelly wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin feints a jab promting Kelly to slip. Merlin then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kelly slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Kelly throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly moves into the clinch.
Kelly jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Merlin walks away with a smile on his face. Kelly gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Merlin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Merlin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kelly. Merlin does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big right from Merlin misses.
Merlin just misses with a punch to the body.
Merlin keeps the fight on the outside.
Kelly fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Merlin manages to avoid it.
Kelly takes one on the button.
Kelly tries to clinch but Merlin is having none of it.
Kelly tries to clinch up.
Kelly tries to clinch but Merlin is having none of it.
Kelly tries to clinch up.
Some wild striking there from Merlin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly tries to close the distance and clinch but Merlin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Merlin misses with an uppercut. Kelly saw that one coming.

Kelly instigates a clinch.
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!
Kelly is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Merlin is keeping busy.
Merlin lands a shoulder strike.

Merlin successfully pulls guard.

Kelly is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kelly tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.

Merlin is looking for a triangle here but Kelly uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Merlin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merlin is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kelly's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin won't allow Kelly to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kelly is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Merlin defends it well.

Merlin looking for submissions off his back.

Merlin actively working from the bottom here.
Merlin is looking to improve his position.
Merlin is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kelly frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Merlin is trying to control the position here but Kelly swings around for an armbar and he's got it! This one is all over, courtesy of a slick submission by Kelly!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Randy Kelly!
Randy Kelly retains his lightweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Randy Kelly thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.