PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Merton (ranked 4800 p4p, 25105 weight class) and Michael Burnside (ranked 544 p4p, 0 weight class). Burnside is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by gangnam style . Frank Merton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Merton
vs
Burnside

188 cm
21
218
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
205
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Merton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Burnside!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Burnside throws the kick towards the body but Merton avoids it.
Merton changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Burnside misses with a kick to the body
and Merton counters with a two punch combo.
Burnside pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Merton misses with a series of wild punches.
Burnside looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Burnside throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Burnside throws a half hearted mid kick.
Merton lands a high kick!
Merton lands a slapping body shot.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick.
Merton goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burnside throws the kick towards the body but Merton avoids it.
Merton takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Merton tries to clinch but Burnside moves out of range.
Merton avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnside looks for the body kick but Merton saw that one coming.
Merton is looking to counter the offense by Burnside and move into the clinch.
Burnside looks to land a body kick but Merton moved away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Merton.
Burnside throws a body kick that misses.
Merton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Burnside manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Burnside looks to land a body kick but Merton moved away.
Merton half committed to a counter leg kick.
Burnside pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Burnside throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Burnside doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Merton fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Burnside has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick.
Burnside misses with an attempted mid kick.
Merton lands a front kick.
Merton avoids a kick to the body.
Burnside tries to land a body kick

and Merton counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merton pushes off an throws an elbow but Burnside leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Merton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merton lands a head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burnside misses with a body kick.
Burnside misses with a body kick.
Merton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burnside on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Merton. Merton obviously looking to wear him down.
Merton throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Burnside's head.
Burnside throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Burnside misses with an attempted mid kick.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick from Burnside.
Burnside throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Burnside looks for the body kick but Merton saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merton scores with a head kick.
Burnside throws a push kick but Merton slaps the foot to one side.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick from Burnside.
Danga de danga de dang - Merton scores with a four punch combination!
Merton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burnside tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Burnside throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Burnside misses with a body kick.
Merton is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Burnside.
Burnside misses with a body kick.
Burnside looks winded!
Merton throws a series of punches but Burnside moves out of range.
Burnside throws a half hearted mid kick.
Merton blocks the body kick.
Merton moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burnside looks to land a body kick but Merton moved away.
Burnside misses with a body kick.
Merton lands with a nice combination. Burnside backs away looking to recover.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Merton fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Burnside.
Burnside misses with an attempted mid kick.
Merton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burnside paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Merton connects with a leg kick.
Merton scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Burnside circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merton looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Burnside takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick from Burnside.
Merton tries to clinch but Burnside is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Merton dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Burnside misses with a kick to the body.
Merton takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Merton appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Burnside's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Burnside throws the kick towards the body but Merton avoids it.
Merton keeps Burnside at a distance using the push kick.
Merton pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Burnside back to the cage. Merton follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Burnside looks for the body kick but Merton saw that one coming.
Merton half committed to a counter leg kick.
Burnside throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Merton tries to counter with a takedown but Burnside is quick to defend against it.
Burnside takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Merton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burnside can do to turn this around?
Merton moves out of range of the body kick.
Merton is looking to counter the offense by Burnside and move into the clinch.
Burnside throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Merton counters with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Burnside as he avoids it easily.
Burnside goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Burnside throws a half hearted mid kick.
Merton is looking for a counter combo.
Merton moves out of range as Burnside throws a body kick.
Frank Merton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick.
Merton fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Burnside has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Merton scores with a shot to the body.
Burnside misses with a body kick.
Burnside throws the kick towards the body but Merton avoids it.
Merton moves out of range as Burnside throws a body kick.
Merton is looking for a counter combo.
Burnside is breathing heavily.
Merton lands a high kick!
A solid leg kick lands there for Merton.
Merton shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Burnside eats them both and turns towards Merton to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Burnside misses with an attempted mid kick.
Merton is looking to wear down Burnside with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Merton dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Burnside. That did some damage!
Burnside looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Merton appears to be looking for a big counter.
Burnside misses with the body kick
and Merton counters with an inside leg kick.
Merton avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merton lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merton scores with a head kick.
Burnside misses with the body kick
and Merton counters with a left to the body.
Merton fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Burnside looks to throw a body kick
and Merton counters with a two punch combo.
Burnside is looking to land body kicks.
Merton seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Merton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burnside paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burnside misses with a body kick.
It looked like Merton was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Michael Burnside seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Burnside manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Burnside tries to land a front kick but Merton steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Merton lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Merton stalks Burnside and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Burnside's face. Burnside staggers backwards, shaken.
Burnside throws a body kick that misses
and Merton counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick from Burnside.
Merton cracks a nice hook into Burnside's ribs.
Burnside looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Burnside throws a half hearted mid kick.
Merton tries to clinch but Burnside moves out of range.
Burnside takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Burnside misses with an attempted mid kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Merton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burnside throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Burnside throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A lazy body kick from Burnside
and Merton makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burnside tries to land a front kick but Merton steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Burnside misses with a kick to the body.
Merton chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Merton tries to clinch up but Burnside circles away and keeps his distance.
Merton throws a head kick that half lands.
Merton scores with a head kick.
Merton is working the combinations to good effect here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Merton - that will leave a mark!
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!
Burnside looks to throw a body kick
and Merton counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Burnside.
A chopping leg kick lands by Merton.
Burnside takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A lazy body kick from Burnside
and Merton counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Burnside throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Merton counters with a left to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Merton dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

That kick from Merton tenderised Burnside's leg. Burnside is trying to keep his angry face on.
Burnside throws a wild body kick that Merton sees coming a mile off.
A nice leg kick from Merton, right into the meat of the thigh.
Burnside throws a half hearted mid kick.
Burnside on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Burnside misses with a kick to the body.
Merton drops down looking for a counter takedown but Burnside sprawls and moves away.
Burnside pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A nice leg kick lands there from Merton.
Burnside looks for the body kick but Merton saw that one coming.
As Burnside tries to get set, Merton tries to push him back and clinch up but Burnside manages to avoid the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burnside tries to land a front kick but Merton steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
It appears Merton was looking to counter with a kick there.
Merton with a nice calf kick.
Frank Merton is winning the standup battle so far.
Merton fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Burnside on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Merton misses with a series of wild punches.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Burnside in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick.
Burnside looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Burnside looks to throw a body kick
and Merton counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Burnside takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burnside on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Merton. Merton obviously looking to wear him down.
Burnside throws the kick towards the body but Merton avoids it.
Merton tries to counter with a takedown but Burnside is quick to defend against it.
Merton takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Burnside throws a half hearted mid kick.
Burnside misses with a body kick.
Merton tries to counter by clinching up but Burnside breaks away and moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Burnside.
Merton tries to clinch up.
Burnside misses with a kick to the body.
Merton is looking to slow Burnside down with leg kicks.
Michael Burnside has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burnside looks to land a body kick but Merton moved away.
Merton moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Burnside throws a wild body kick that Merton sees coming a mile off.
Merton scoring well with a low kick there.
Merton lands with a kick to the temple. Burnside shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Merton moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merton moves out of range of the body kick.
Burnside throws a lazy body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Merton moves in looking to clinch but Burnside pushes him off.
Merton tries to clinch up.
Merton throws a one two combo.
Burnside throws a lazy body kick
and Merton makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Burnside throws a wild body kick that Merton sees coming a mile off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnside swats away the attempt to clinch by Merton.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick.
Merton wants to clinch up but Burnside keeps it at a distance.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick from Burnside.
Merton moves out of range of the body kick.
Burnside tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Burnside throws a half hearted mid kick.
Burnside throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Merton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Burnside swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Merton lets loose with a powerful body kick. Burnside will feel that in the morning.
Left hook, right uppercut from Merton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burnside misses with an attempted mid kick.
Burnside throws the kick towards the body but Merton avoids it.
Burnside takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Merton lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Merton tries to close the distance and clinch but Burnside swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burnside is looking to land body kicks.
Merton blocks the body kick.
Burnside misses with a kick to the body.
Merton tries to counter by clinching up but Burnside breaks away and moves out of range.
Merton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burnside paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burnside throws the kick towards the body but Merton avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Merton looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Frank Merton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Merton throws a head kick that Burnside semi-blocks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Merton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Merton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Merton!
Michael Burnside spoke after the fight, saying 'He's a better fighter than me ngl xoxo'.