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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Chang (ranked 2640 p4p, 280 weight class) and Xavier Merlin (ranked 2685 p4p, 283 weight class). 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.
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| 175 cm
26
167 lbs
3 - 5 - 1 |
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170 cm
26
162 lbs
14 - 14 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
3 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pedro Chang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Merlin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Merlin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Chang counter with a right hand.
Merlin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Chang is fending him off so far but Merlin persists. Nope, Chang circles away and we're back to standing.
Merlin tries for a takedown but Chang sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pedro Chang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Merlin.
Merlin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Changs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Merlin checks a low kick from Chang.
Chang scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Merlin has his takedown stuffed
and Chang makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin swings widly with a right hand
and Merlin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Merlin shoots in but Chang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Chang is looking for a counter combo.
Chang ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merlin moves away.
Merlin feints the counter takedown.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin throws out a loose jab but Chang uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chang tries to score with a low kick but Merlin moves his leg out of the way.
Chang seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Merlin darts in looking for a takedown but Chang gets double underhooks and turns Merlin into the cage.
Merlin misses with a straight right.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Chang but Chang pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Merlin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Chang was covering up waiting for the punch and Merlin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Chang pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chang bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Merlin's guard.
Merlin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chang is aware though and is defending well.
Chang wants to stand but Merlin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Chang won't allow Merlin to sweep him here.
Chang wants to stand but Merlin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Merlin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Chang defends well.
Chang has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Merlin isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Chang stacks Merlin on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Chang!
Merlin is looking for a sweep.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chang wants to stand but Merlin has his arm trapped.
Chang stands up.
Chang throws a low kick but Merlin moves out of range easily.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown but Chang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Merlin shoots in and bounces Chang off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Merlin trying to control but Chang is working from the bottom.
Merlin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Chang manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Merlin has Chang in his guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin pulls Chang in to control the position.
Merlin is looking for a triangle here but Chang uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Chang stands up.
Merlin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chang is trying to stand back up but Merlin is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Pedro Chang dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Merlin closes the distance and clinches up with Chang, looking for a takedown. Merlin pushes Chang against the cage but Chang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Merlin closes the distance and clinches up with Chang, looking for a takedown. Merlin pushes Chang against the cage but Chang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Merlin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Chang!
Merlin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Chang rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Merlin's guard! Nice work there by Chang!
Merlin is trying to keep Chang in close.
Chang gets to his feet. Merlin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Chang defends it nicely.
Chang throws a quick counter kick to the body but Merlin avoids it.
Pedro Chang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Merlin.
Chang throws a sloppy head kick and Merlin moves out of range easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Chang attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Merlin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Chang to counter with a crisp jab.
Chang dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Merlin takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Chang connects with a jab.
Merlin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Chang throws a jab when Merlin was well out of range.
And Merlin tries to counter it with a takedown but Chang pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Merlin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Chang swivels and escapes.
Pedro Chang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Merlin is defended easily by Chang.
Merlin is breathing heavily.
Chang tries a head kick but it misses.
Merlin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin cracks Chang with a good jab.
Chang lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Chang gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Chang manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chang looking to slow down the pace here.
Chang misses with an elbow strike.
Chang misses with some punches.
Chang misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Merlin.
Merlin throws a punch but it's blocked by Chang.
Chang is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short uppercut from Merlin.
Merlin lands with a left to the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chang misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chang.
Merlin throws a punch but it's blocked by Chang.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Merlin.
Merlin tries a body shot but Chang blocks it.
Merlin takes a shot to the head.
Chang content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Chang trying to control the position but instead, Merlin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Chang into the cage.
A short right from Merlin.
Merlin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Chang backwards.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Chang.
Merlin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Chang prevents it.
Chang misses with a hook from the clinch.
Merlin lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chang tries to land a knee to the head but Merlin blocks with his arms.
Merlin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Chang misses with a punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Chang.
Merlin misses with a punch on the inside.
Merlin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Chang backwards.
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!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Merlin working aggressively here.
Chang lands a knee to the head.
Chang lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Merlin tries a body shot but Chang blocks it.
Merlin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Chang tries to throw a body punch but Merlin avoids it by throwing Chang back against the cage.
Chang avoiding damage.
Chang lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Pedro Chang dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Merlin misses with a takedown attempt
and Chang counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Merlin lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
It looks like Pedro Chang has been cut.
Merlin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Chang's guard.
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from Chang.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Chang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin stops Chang from standing up.
Chang pushes Merlin off and scrambles back to his feet.
Merlin shoots in and drives through. Chang sprawls well.
It looked like Chang was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Merlin.
Merlin swings widly with a right hand
and Chang counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chang is looking to land body kicks.
Merlin fails with the takedown
and Chang counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Pedro Chang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Merlin.
Merlin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Chang tries to land a front kick but Merlin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Chang is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merlin has a takedown stuffed.
Chang misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Merlin.
Chang gets a clinch.
Chang lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Merlin misses with some punches.
Merlin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Chang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Merlin can do to turn this around?
Merlin tries to work over Chang's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Merlin has a couple of punches blocked by Chang.
A short body shot lands from Chang as the two fighters clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Merlin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Merlin takes an elbow to the forehead.
Merlin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Merlin misses with a punch on the inside.
Chang's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Chang is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Chang misses with a hook from the clinch.
Chang missing with knees to the body.
Merlin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Merlin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Chang working Merlin over with knees to the body.
Pedro Chang has scored more points in the clinch so far.
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!
Merlin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Chang tries to throw a body punch but Merlin avoids it by throwing Chang back against the cage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chang scores with a shot to the side of Merlin's head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Chang.
Chang trying to land knees to the body.
Merlin working aggressively here.
Merlin takes an elbow to the forehead.
Chang lands an elbow that stopped Merlin in his tracks for a moment.
Merlin is rocked!
Chang lands a knee to the head.
Merlin is still on wobbly legs! Can Chang finish him?
Merlin working aggressively here.
Chang creates some distance and fires off a vicious elbow that drops Merlin! He pounces and finishes the fight with more strikes! Nice KO for Chang.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Pedro Chang!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
67% |
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