PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sic Vicious (ranked 1797 p4p, 236 weight class) and Jack Merel (ranked 2774 p4p, 352 weight class). Merel has chosen Laura Tesoro - Higher as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vicious
vs
Merel

186 cm
30
179 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

181 cm
24
177 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sic Vicious !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Merel!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Alyssa Summers and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vicious .
Vicious scores with a punch to the head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Merel.
Merel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Merel throws a leg kick
and Vicious counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vicious throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd cheers as Vicious lands an impressive looking overhand right. Merel doesn't seem phased though.
Vicious throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Merel on the side of the head.
Merel takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vicious works over Merel's head and body with a nice combination.
Vicious swats away the attempt to clinch by Merel.
Vicious throws a hook but Merel blocks it.
Merel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Vicious misses with a wild combination.
Merel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Merel wants to counter the offense by Vicious and move into the clinch position.
Merel takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Vicious misses the shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Merel. That's going to slow Vicious down.
Merel scores with a nice head shot.
Vicious listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Merel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vicious ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merel moves away.
Vicious takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sic Vicious seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Vicious does no damage.
No joy there for Vicious , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Merel misses with a straight right.
Vicious lands with a nice combination. Merel backs away looking to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Merel walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Merel's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vicious connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Merel scrambles back to his feet.
Vicious misses the jab.
Merel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vicious throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vicious looks to land a left hand but Merel moved out of range nicely.
Merel tries to close the distance and clinch but Vicious swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vicious swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Merel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vicious was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Merel clinches with his opponent.
Merel working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Merel.
Merel misses with a punch to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Merel.
Vicious blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Merel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Merel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vicious 's efforts to push away.
Merel struggles to land a body shot inside as Vicious controls his hands.
Merel misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Merel.
A short right from Merel.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Merel.
A short left from Merel.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vicious .

Vicious breaks from the clinch.
Merel tries to clinch up but Vicious circles away and keeps his distance.
Vicious seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Merel defending well as Vicious loads up on a big left hand.
Vicious looks to score with a jab to the body but Merel is just out of range.
Vicious throws out a loose jab but Merel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Merel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vicious throws out the jab.
Merel misses the jab.
Vicious moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Merel swings for the body but Vicious moves out of range.
Vicious throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Despite the aggression on Merel's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vicious .
Merel lunges at Vicious with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Vicious 's hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vicious misses with an uppercut.
Merel is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Vicious steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Merel.
Vicious feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Merels jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Merel throws a head kick that misses
and Vicious connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Merel fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Vicious throws a hook to the side of Merel's head but Merel sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vicious blocks a jab.
A combination from Vicious does no damage.
A countering left hand to the body from Merel misses.
Sloppy strikes from Vicious . Those never looked like landing.

Merel clinches up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vicious blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vicious blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Merel misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sic Vicious dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Left hook, right uppercut from Vicious .
Merel throws a right hand that misses
and Vicious counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Merel works over Vicious 's head and body with a nice combination.
Vicious throws a shot from downtown. Merel moves away and avoids it.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Merel in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Vicious throws a hook but Merel blocks it.
Merel moves out of range of the strikes.
Merel throws a fast counter high kick but Vicious manages to duck under it in time.
Vicious throws a jab but it's blocked by Merel.
A swing and a miss from Merel.
Nice defenses there by Merel.
Vicious dodges the punch combination from Merel.
Merel slips a jab from Vicious .
Vicious lands with a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Vicious gets tackled into the cage by Merel. Merel maintains the clinch.
Vicious is trying to force a seperation but Merel has the dominant position.
Merel working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vicious escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vicious connects with a nice looking jab.
Merel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Vicious connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Merel's hands.
Vicious uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merel.
Vicious throws a combination that misses
and Merel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vicious throws a jab when Merel was well out of range.
Merel throws a leg kick
and Vicious counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Merel closes the distance but Vicious moves to the side
and Vicious counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Merel throws a predictable looking body shot
and Merel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Merel moves into range and clinches up with Vicious .
Merel throws a head punch that misses.
Vicious is looking to break free of the clinch but Merel has double underhooks.

Vicious breaks from the clinch.
No joy there for Vicious , who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Vicious . Those never looked like landing.
Vicious is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Merel can do to turn this around?
Merel throws a hook but Vicious avoids it easily.
Merel moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A shot to the liver by Vicious . Beautiful body shot.
Merel throws a head kick that misses
and Merel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Merel has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Merel moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Merel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vicious connects with a good right hand that stumbles Merel. Merel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Merel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Vicious . That did some damage!
Vicious lands with a shot to the body.
Merel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vicious uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Merel.
Vicious slips under a jab.
Vicious was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Merel doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Merel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vicious looks to score with a jab to the body but Merel is just out of range.
Vicious throws a sloppy body shot

and Merel counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Merel misses with the head strike.
Vicious struggles to land a body shot inside as Merel controls his hands.
Merel cracks Vicious with a nice body shot.
Merel swings wildly with an uppercut but Vicious uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vicious blocks an uppercut.
Merel throws a punch but it's blocked by Vicious .
Vicious blocks an uppercut.
Vicious is looking to break free of the clinch but Merel has double underhooks.
Merel misses with some punches.
Merel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vicious .
Merel misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vicious .
Vicious is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Merel misses with a punch on the inside.
Vicious lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Merel misses with some punches.
Merel has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Vicious seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Merel can turn it around.
Vicious blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Merel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Merel throws a head punch that misses.
Merel throws a head punch that misses.
Vicious can't find room to land a body shot as Merel controls the action.
Merel has a couple of punches blocked by Vicious .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sic Vicious dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Vicious misses with a few strikes there.
Vicious rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Merel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Merel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vicious , pushing him back against the cage.
Merel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Merel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vicious 's efforts to push away.
Merel misses with some punches.
Vicious tries to break the clinch but Merel is controlling the position.
A short uppercut from Merel.
Vicious is looking to control Merel's arms but Merel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vicious has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merel tries a body shot but Vicious blocks it.
Merel has Vicious pressed against the cage, preventing Vicious from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Vicious breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Merel throws a low kick, looking for Vicious 's leg but Vicious calmly moves out of range.
Vicious is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel throws a combination that misses
and Vicious counters with a nice uppercut.
Merel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vicious .
Vicious bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Merel's head backwards.
Vicious rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Merel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Merel.
Merel has a couple of punches blocked by Vicious .
Jack Merel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Vicious prevents a body shot from Merel.
Merel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Vicious struggles to land a body shot inside as Merel controls his hands.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Merel.
Merel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Merel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vicious can't break the clinch.
Merel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Merel can't find room to land a body shot as Vicious controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merel throws a punch but it's blocked by Vicious .
Merel misses with a body punch.
Merel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vicious has had enough of the clinch but Merel keeps him there for the moment.
Merel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vicious wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Merel misses with the head strike.
Merel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vicious 's elbow.
Merel misses with some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vicious blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Merel on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Merel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Merel tries to throw a body punch but Vicious avoids it by throwing Merel back against the cage.
Merel prevents Vicious from breaking the clinch.
Merel prevents Vicious from breaking the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vicious .
A frustrated look appears on Vicious 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Vicious blocks a body shot from Merel.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Merel.
Vicious blocking some punches.
Vicious is looking to control Merel's arms but Merel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vicious has his back to the cage.
Merel struggles to land a body shot inside as Vicious controls his hands.
Merel misses with the head strike.
Merel gets through Vicious 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merel lands a nice shot to the body.
Vicious blocks an uppercut.
Vicious blocking some punches.
Vicious tries to break free but Merel pushes him back against the cage.
Merel throws a punch but it's blocked by Vicious .

Vicious breaks the clinch.
Vicious throws a one two combo.
Merel cracks Vicious with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Vicious is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merel.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merel looks to throw the jab but Vicious is out of range.

Merel pushes Vicious up against the cage in a clinch.
A body shot lands from Vicious .

Vicious breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Merel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vicious 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Sic Vicious !
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!