PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Merel (ranked 725 p4p, 101 weight class) and Rodney Alcala (ranked 809 p4p, 111 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Merel
vs
Alcala

191 cm
31
190 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
195 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Merel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rodney Alcala!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alcala scores with a sloppy right hand. Merel should have avoided that one.
Alcala misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Merel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alcala.
Alcala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Merel manages to avoid it.
Merel misses the jab.
A good leg kick by Alcala.

Merel shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Merel showed some decent athleticism there.

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

Merel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Merel has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Alcala can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alcala sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Merel tries to pass to full mount but Alcala defends it.
Alcala is refusing to be controlled, as Merel sits in half guard.
Merel winds up and cracks Alcala with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Alcala looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Alcala is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merel pulls his head out easily.
Merel passes to side control.
Merel working the ground and pound.
Alcala felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Alcala pushes Merel away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Merel gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Merel looks up at the clock and then as Alcala takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Merel smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Alcala is looking for a sweep.
Merel trying to control the position but Alcala is working away.
Alcala manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alcala looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Merel is nestled in close to Alcala, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Alcala is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merel pulls his head out easily.
Nice strikes from Merel there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alcala looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Merel not doing much here.
Ground and pound from Merel.
Ground and pound from Merel.

Alcala looking for submissions off his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merel working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Alcala is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Alcala is hurt! He's hurt bad - Merel fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Alcala from any more punishment! Congratulations to Merel! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mark Merel!
Mark Merel is the new middleweight champion!
A relieved looking Mark Merel thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.