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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denny Sideman (ranked 580 p4p, 1135 weight class) and Mark Merel (ranked 71 p4p, 156 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.
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| 183 cm
33
195
22 - 16 - 2 |
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191 cm
33
190
13 - 5 - 1 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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 22 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Denny Sideman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Merel!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sideman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sideman walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Merel clobbers Sideman with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Merel scores with a shot to the body.
Merel defending well as Sideman loads up on a big left hand.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Merel has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Merel catches Sideman with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Merel lands with an overhand left.
Merel takes a swing at Sideman's ribcage but misses.
Sideman swinging wildly here.
Merel looks to score with a jab to the body but Sideman is just out of range.
Merel just misses with a punch to the body.
Merel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Sideman.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Merel slips nicely into half guard.
Merel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sideman is looking for a sweep. Merel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sideman is looking for a sweep. Merel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ground and pound from Merel.
Merel looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Merel has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merel landing punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sideman is looking to escape.
Merel dominating with strikes here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sideman tries to reverse the position but Merel maintains control.
Merel with good strikes from the mount here!
Sideman is desperately trying to improve his position but Merel has a good base and remains in mount.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sideman wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Merel has the hooks in. Sideman is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Merel scores with punches from the back.
Sideman is covering up but some of the strikes from Merel are getting through and doing damage.
Sideman tries to escape but Merel has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Merel trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Merel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sideman is really stuck here.
Merel doesn't have the hooks in and Sideman manages to turn into his guard.
Merel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sideman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Merel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sideman has managed to get both his arms back between Merel's legs - danger averted.
Merel controls Sideman momentarily but Sideman frees himself.
Merel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sideman defends well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Merel trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mark Merel dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Merel lands a right hook to the body.
Merel tests Sideman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Merel works the jab nicely.
Sideman looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sideman looks to throw the jab but Merel is out of range.
Merel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Merel connects with a looping right hand.
Merel has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Merel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sideman moves away.
Nice defenses there by Sideman.
Mark Merel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sideman ducks under a wild hook from Merel.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sideman throws the left hand but Merel avoids the punch easily.
It seemed like Merel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A telegraphed right hand from Merel misses the target.
Merel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Merel shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Merel 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.
Sideman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merel sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sideman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Merel's guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sideman's guard.
Sideman keeping moving, preventing Merel from controlling successfully.
Sideman wants to sweep but no luck.
Merel wants to pass the guard but Sideman is keeping the position.
Merel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Merel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Merel wants to control from the top but Sideman keeps moving.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel stopping the sweep attempt from Sideman.
Merel wants to control from the top but Sideman keeps moving.
Sideman wants to sweep here but Merel controlling him for the moment.
Merel looking to sit in guard and control but Sideman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sideman postures up.
Sideman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's four 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.
Sideman is working hard here to advance position.
Sideman preventing the sweep.
Sideman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merel is keeping the position for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Merel keeping moving, preventing Sideman from controlling successfully.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sideman slips a jab from Merel.
Merel just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSideman.
Merel jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sideman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Denny Sideman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merel with a nice cross.
Merel lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mark Merel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Merel throws a nice looking combination but Sideman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sideman swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Merel connects with a jab.
Good exchange - Merel coming out on top.
A big right from Merel misses.
Merel ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Merel fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sideman sprawls well initially but Merel persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Merel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Merel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sideman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Merel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sideman tries to roll over but Merel keeps him under control.
Sideman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sideman keeping moving, preventing Merel from controlling successfully.
Merel throws a big elbow that misses.
Sideman keeping moving, preventing Merel from controlling successfully.
Merel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sideman keeping moving, preventing Merel from controlling successfully.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sideman takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Merel looks to throw the jab but Sideman is out of range.
Sideman takes one to the side of the head.
Merel moves out of range of the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merel. Sideman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Merel cracks Sideman with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Merel with a jab.
A shot to the body from Merel misses
and Merel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel checks the leg kick nicely there.
Merel throws a looping overhand right but Sideman ducks down to avoid it.
Sideman takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Mark Merel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Merel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sideman misses with a straight left.
Merel scores with a nice right hand.
A jab from Merel misses.
It looked like Sideman wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sideman takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Merel lands a right hook to the body.
A jab from Merel does it's job there.
Sideman moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sideman takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sideman fails to land with a series of punches.
Sideman is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Merel's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Sideman blocks a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Merel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sideman.
Sideman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Merel was well out of range. Poor timing from Sideman.
A swing and a miss from Merel.
Merel lands a jab to Sideman's midsection.
Sideman takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Merel throws a lazy right hand but Sideman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Merel lands with a good body shot.
Merel getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Merel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Merel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Merel!
A victorious Mark Merel thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
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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
45% |
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