PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Rosseti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phillip Merki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phillip Merki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rosseti
vs
Merki

177 cm
20
187 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

174 cm
19
189 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vitor Rosseti!
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, Phillip Merki!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Merki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rosseti's half guard.
Merki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Merki blocks the strikes from Rosseti.

Merki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rosseti is in trouble now - Merki has advanced to mount!
Merki wants to take Rosseti's back but he can't do it this time.

Merki jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rosseti manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merki tries to advance to mount but can't.
Rosseti is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merki is trying to move to mount but Rosseti reverses beautifully and ends up in Merki's guard.

Merki looking for a guillotine here but Rosseti defends easily.

Merki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rosseti defends well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Merki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rosseti throwing strikes from guard but Merki blocks nicely.

Rosseti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
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.
Rosseti works over Merki with some ground and pound from guard.

Merki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Merki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rosseti.

Merki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rosseti can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rosseti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Merki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rosseti is aware though and is defending well.

Merki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Merki has his foot on Rosseti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rosseti works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rosseti got a little sloppy there for a moment and Merki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rosseti has managed to get both his arms back between Merki's legs - danger averted.

Merki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rosseti doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rosseti manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rosseti forces his way into half guard.
Rosseti thows a huge punch but Merki dodges it nicely.
Merki is pressing down on Rosseti's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Rosseti thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Merki looking for a guillotine here but Rosseti defends easily.
Rosseti has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Merki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Merki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rosseti gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Merki had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rosseti is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Merki Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rosseti's back instead.
Rosseti rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rosseti is in trouble now - Merki has advanced to mount!

Merki looking for a guillotine from mount but Rosseti is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip Merki dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Merki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Merki advances to full mount.

Merki looking for a guillotine from mount but Rosseti is having none of it.
Merki wants to take Rosseti's back here but Rosseti is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

Merki has hold of Rosseti's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rosseti manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Merki pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merki working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Merki seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Rosseti is holding on tight.

Merki looking to secure an arm triangle but Rosseti defends it well.

Merki is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rosseti has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Merki wants to finish this one by submission but Rosseti is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Merki.
Phillip Merki has got the better of the ground game so far.

Merki looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Merki goes for an armbar but Rosseti turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rosseti.
Rosseti chips away with some ground and pound.

Merki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rosseti defends well.

Merki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Merki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Merki is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Rosseti frees his head nicely. Oh but Merki has switched to an armbar! Rosseti is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Phillip Merki!