PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phillip Merki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Loka Shawn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shawn has chosen Argy Bargy as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Merki
vs
Shawn

174 cm
18
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Heavy handed

Crashforce Voodoo Lab

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phillip Merki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Loka Shawn!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shawn throws a low kick, looking for Merki's leg but Merki calmly moves out of range.
Shawn connects with a good right hand that stumbles Merki. Merki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

It looks like Phillip Merki has been cut.
Shawn misses with a body kick.

Merki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Merki takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Merki is persistently looking for the submission but Shawn is defending it well.

Merki looking for the choke but no joy.
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!

Merki tightening his grip on Shawn, looking for the choke.

Merki is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Shawn is trying to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merki is looking for the choke from the back position but Shawn is controlling his hands well.
Merki gets his hands free as Shawn looks to control.

Shawn is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Merki gets his way!
Merki doesn't have the hooks in and Shawn manages to turn into his guard.

Merki has his foot on Shawn's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shawn works his way back into a safe position though.
Merki keeping moving, preventing Shawn from controlling successfully.
Merki might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Merki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Merki is breathing heavily.
Shawn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Merki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shawn passes into side control.
Shawn misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shawn wants to control but Merki is keeping him busy.
Shawn tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Merki tries to buck Shawn off but Shawn is having none of it.
Shawn wants to stand but Merki is controlling his arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Shawn moves into the clinch successfully.
Merki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Merki is pressed up against the cage. Shawn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Merki down to the mat. Merki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Shawn cracks Merki with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Shawn throws a nice looking combination but Merki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shawn doesn't manage to clinch there - Merki circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shawn tries for a takedown but Merki circles away easily

and Merki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Shawn's guard now.
Merki is pushing down on Shawn's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shawn is fighting to maintain full guard but Merki has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shawn is trying to stand back up but Merki is controlling him

Merki is working for a submission of some sort.

Merki wants to work for an arm triangle but Shawn is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Merki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Shawn throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Merki is pressing down on Shawn's thigh, looking to free his foot. Shawn is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shawn missing with punches from the bottom.
Shawn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merki is working away from the top position though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Merki looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Shawn keeping full guard, as Merki tries to pass.
Merki is pushing down on Shawn's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shawn is fighting to maintain full guard but Merki has managed to sneak the leg through.

Merki is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shawn is just riding it out for now. Merki eventually gives up the hold.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merki prevents Shawn from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip Merki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Phillip Merki's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shawn waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Merki.

Merki bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Merki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Merki tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
You can see the frustration on Shawn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shawn is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Merki is controlling him well.
Merki working away.
Merki advances nicely into full mount.

Merki goes for an armbar but Shawn turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Shawn.
Shawn wants to control from the top but Merki keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shawn would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Merki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Phillip Merki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Merki keeping moving, preventing Shawn from controlling successfully.

Merki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shawn trying to control the position from guard on top but Merki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shawn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shawn looking to pass the guard.
Shawn trying to control the position from guard on top but Merki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shawn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shawn loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Merki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shawn passes into half guard.
Shawn lands strikes from half guard.
Merki wants to improve his position but Shawn is controlling well.
It looks like Shawn is going to stand back up.
Merki wants to improve his position but Shawn is controlling well.
Merki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shawn.
Merki is trying to get back to full guard.
Merki wants to get back to full guard but Shawn has mounted him!
Shawn looking to finish with strikes here!
Merki regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merki is refusing to be controlled, as Shawn sits in half guard.
Shawn not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Merki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Merki has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Shawn is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Merki.
Shawn tries to move into full mount but can't pass Merki's legs.
Merki tries to bench press Shawn off him but Shawn keeps the position.
Shawn taking a breather here.
Merki avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Shawn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip Merki dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Phillip Merki's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Shawn looks to throw the jab but Merki is out of range.
Merki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Merki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Merki is working for a kimura but Shawn is defending it quite comfortably.
Shawn wants to improve his position but Merki is controlling well.
Merki trying to mount his opponent but Shawn defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shawn is trying to stand back up but Merki is controlling him
Merki trying to pass the guard but Shawn defending well.
Shawn moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Merki won't allow Shawn to get back to his feet.
Merki has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Merki looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Merki wants to free his trapped foot but Shawn is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Shawn wants to get back to his feet.
Shawn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merki passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Merki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shawn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shawn is trying to get back to his feet.

Merki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shawn, who protects the arm well.
Merki working away.

Merki is trying to get an arm triangle but Shawn is defending well.
Shawn wants to control but Merki postures up.

Merki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shawn knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shawn is trying to control Merki's posture but Merki avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shawn is trying to get back to his feet.
Shawn tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Merki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Merki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Shawn is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Merki swings around for an armbar but Shawn sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Merki's guard.
Merki keeping moving, preventing Shawn from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shawn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shawn wanted to stand there but Merki had control of the position.

Merki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shawn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Loka Shawn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shawn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shawn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Merki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shawn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Phillip Merki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shawn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phillip Merki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Merki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phillip Merki!