PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Merchant (ranked 5614 p4p, 5462 weight class) and Dick Delaware (ranked 566 p4p, 559 weight class). Dick Delaware has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Merchant
vs
Delaware

200 cm
25
220
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
19
203
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Justin Merchant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dick Delaware !
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Delaware shoots in for a takedown but Merchant shows good takedown defense.
Merchant swats away the attempt to clinch by Delaware .
Merchant fires out a quick counter leg kick but Delaware just manages to avoid it.
Delaware wants to clinch but Merchant slips to the side
and Merchant counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Delaware misses with a combination
and Merchant counters with a good low kick that Delaware was not able to check.
Merchant tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Delaware was well out of range. Poor timing from Merchant.
A big right from Delaware misses.
Delaware with a lazy takedown attempt
and Merchant counters with a right hand to the body.
Delaware throws a nice looking combination but Merchant bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merchant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Delaware .
Delaware looks to land a combination but Merchant avoids it well.

Delaware moves into the clinch successfully.

Delaware pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Delaware misses with a two punch combination.
As Delaware backs away, Merchant returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Dick Delaware seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merchant dodges the punch combination from Delaware .
Merchant chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A jab from Delaware misses.
Delaware throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Merchant connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Delaware throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Merchant finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Merchant lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Delaware throws a head kick that misses
and Merchant counters with a nice low kick that buckles Delaware 's knee momentarily.
Delaware misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Delaware throws a combination that misses
and Merchant counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delaware throws a combination that misses
and Merchant counters with a slapping leg kick.
Merchant tried to score with a low kick but Delaware checks it.
Merchant looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Justin Merchant is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Delaware lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Merchant backs up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Delaware misses with a two punch combination.
Merchant scores with a leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Merchant.
Delaware connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Delaware tries to clinch up but Merchant circles away and keeps his distance.
Delaware throws a right and a left that both miss.
Merchant half committed to a counter leg kick.
Merchant takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Delaware looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Justin Merchant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dick Delaware .
Delaware shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Merchant but Merchant pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As Delaware backs away, Merchant returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delaware fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Merchant swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Delaware doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Merchant counters with a left to the body.
Delaware fails with an attempt to clinch.
Delaware tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Merchant is able to avoid easily.
Merchant tried to counter with a leg kick but Delaware avoided it.
Delaware swinging wildly here.
Delaware swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Merchant counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Merchant lands with a thumping leg kick.
Delaware misses with a double jab.
Delaware fails with the takedown
and Merchant counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delaware fails to land with a series of punches.
Delaware fails with the takedown
and Merchant counters with a thumping low kick.
Delaware with a lazy takedown attempt
and Merchant makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Delaware throws a lazy body kick
and Merchant counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Delaware throws a nice looking combination but Merchant bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Delaware throws a right hand that Merchant ducks under and follows up with a left that Merchant also avoids with ease.
Delaware misses with a combination
and Merchant counters with an inside leg kick.
Delaware 's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Delaware throws a series of punches but Merchant moves out of range.
Delaware looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Delaware rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Merchant moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Merchant dodges the punch combination from Delaware .
Merchant appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Justin Merchant will probably get the nod.
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.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Delaware is defended easily by Merchant.
Delaware dives in and grabs Merchant's left leg, looking for a takedown. Merchant pushes down on Delaware 's head and hops out.
Merchant throws a low kick but Delaware moves out of range easily.
Merchant throws a lazy right hand but Delaware sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dick Delaware is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Delaware throws an overhand right that lands on Merchant's shoulder, as Merchant tries to avoid the shot.
Delaware throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Merchant staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merchant throws a series of punches but Delaware moves out of range.
Delaware fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Merchant avoids it really well and circles away.
Justin Merchant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dick Delaware .
Delaware throws a head kick but Merchant moves out of range.
Merchant is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delaware fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Merchant seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Delaware throws a leg kick but Merchant checks it.
Merchant is looking to wear down Delaware with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Delaware falls off balance throwing a combination
and Delaware takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Delaware has his takedown stuffed
and Merchant counters with a series of strikes. Delaware will be more careful next time no doubt.

Delaware closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Merchant misses with a punch to the body.
Merchant wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Merchant stalling in the clinch but Delaware improves position.
Merchant trying to control the position but instead, Delaware has worked for underhooks and has pushed Merchant into the cage.

Delaware manages to break the clinch.
Justin Merchant is winning the standup battle so far.
Delaware misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delaware misses with a wild body shot.
Merchant tries to counter with a takedown but Delaware is quick to defend against it.
Some wild striking there from Delaware .
Delaware misses with a combination
and Merchant counters with a left to the body.
Some wild striking there from Delaware .
Delaware throws a combination that misses
and Merchant counters with a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Delaware throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Delaware looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Merchant is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Delaware tries to bum rush Merchant with a series of wild strikes but Merchant uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Delaware fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merchant throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Merchant looks to score with a jab to the body but Delaware is just out of range.
Delaware changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Merchant throws a body shot but no joy.
Delaware throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Merchant scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Merchant throws a body shot but no joy.
Delaware closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Delaware lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Merchant circles away quickly and effectively.
Merchant was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Delaware misses with a jab, cross combination.
No luck for Delaware with that takedown attempt.
Merchant is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Delaware is breathing heavily.
Delaware works over Merchant's head and body with a nice combination.

Merchant is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OH! Merchant has been rocked by a huge right hand and is in deep trouble! Delaware smells blood and charges in for the finish! Delaware unloads a vicious overhand right and connects to the jaw of Merchant sending him face first to the canvas! Unbelievable!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:11 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Dick Delaware !