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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kingsl Merlin (ranked 4554 p4p, 6070 weight class) and Christopher Starmer (ranked 0 p4p, 665 weight class). Kingsl Merlin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 177 cm
25
185
0 - 0 - 0 |
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184 cm
22
184
0 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin |
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Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined |
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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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kingsl Merlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Christopher Starmer!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Darius Henderson and Damien Edna.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merlin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Starmer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Merlin somewhat.
Merlin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Merlin goes for a double leg but Starmer avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Starmer continues to drive forward.
Merlin manages to break the clinch.
Starmer feints and as Merlin raises his hands in defense, Starmer changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Starmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Starmer defends it easily.
Starmer stands and throws Merlin's legs to the side, diving into side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Starmer trying to control the position but Merlin is working away.
Starmer goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Merlin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Starmer but great work by Merlin.
Merlin working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Starmer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Starmer keeps trying to improve his position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Starmer is trying to improve his position.
Merlin goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Starmer has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Merlin but great work by Starmer.
Starmer wants to control but Merlin is keeping him busy.
Starmer has knee on belly and moves into mount.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Merlin is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Starmer looking to control but Merlin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin wants to control but Starmer is having none of it.
Starmer with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Starmer looking to control but Merlin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Starmer looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Merlin is trying desperately to improve position.
Starmer tries to control but Merlin wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merlin is working to get back to half guard.
Merlin slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Christopher Starmer will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Merlin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kingsl Merlin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Merlin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merlin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Merlin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Merlin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Starmer looking to control.
Merlin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Starmer, up you get!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starmer finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Merlin slaps away a takedown attempt from Starmer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Merlin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Merlin lands in his opponent's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Starmer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Starmer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Merlin controls the pace.
Starmer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Merlin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Starmer's guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Starmer is looking for a triangle but Merlin pushes his legs off easily.
Merlin controlling from the top position.
Starmer is trying to control the position but Merlin postures up.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Christopher Starmer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starmer drives through with a takedown into guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starmer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Starmer wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Starmer is breathing heavily.
Merlin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Starmer defends well.
Merlin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Starmer defends well.
Starmer won't allow Merlin to sweep him here.
Merlin wants to get back to his feet but Starmer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Starmer passes Merlin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Starmer prevents Merlin from improving his position.
Starmer is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Starmer is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Merlin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kingsl Merlin dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Starmer tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Merlin was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Merlin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Merlin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Merlin is defended easily by Starmer.
Merlin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starmer throws a body punch but Merlin moves out of range.
Merlin instigates a clinch.
Starmer wants a takedown.
Merlin manages to pull guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin wants to stand but Starmer is controlling the position.
Starmer trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Starmer passes Merlin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Merlin is looking to improve his position.
Starmer wants to pass the guard but Merlin is defending well.
Merlin wants to get back to his feet.
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.
Starmer trying to control from half guard but Merlin is working away.
Merlin landing strikes from the bottom.
Starmer trying to control from half guard but Merlin is working away.
Merlin is controlling Starmer's trapped leg to prevent Starmer from advancing to side control.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kingsl Merlin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Starmer is pressing down on Merlin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starmer trying to control the position.
Merlin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Starmer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Starmer had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Merlin defends it easily.
Starmer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Starmer is retaining full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Merlin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Merlin wants to get up but he can't break Starmer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Merlin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Starmer looking for a sweep. Not yet Starmer, not yet.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kingsl Merlin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Merlin 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kingsl Merlin!
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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
25% |
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