PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Devon Merchant (ranked 3751 p4p, 3245 weight class) and Sam Bass (ranked 419 p4p, 379 weight class). Merchant comes to the cage accompanied by HonestKey- Pass. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Merchant
vs
Bass

190 cm
24
260
6 - 7 - 0

200 cm
29
275
9 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL T-Shirts!)

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Devon Merchant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sam Bass!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bass shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A big right from Merchant misses.
Merchant definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Merchant stuffs the takedown.
Bass tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Merchant swivels and escapes.
Devon Merchant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Bass.
Merchant leaves Bass with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Merchant keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice sprawl there from Merchant as Bass shoots in.
Merchant digs a good hook to Bass's body.
Merchant stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Merchant wants it to stay on the feet.
Good shot there by Merchant.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bass uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merchant.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bass.
Bass looks winded!
Nice uppercut lands for Merchant. That snapped Bass's head back.
Nice takedown defense from Merchant. No joy for Bass on that attempt.
Bass has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bass fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Merchant avoids it really well and circles away.
Bass moves away from the strike by Merchant.
Bass fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bass fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Merchant avoids it really well and circles away.
Bass dives in and grabs Merchant's left leg, looking for a takedown. Merchant pushes down on Bass's head and hops out.
Merchant just misses with a punch to the body.
Bass slips a straight right by Merchant.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Merchant, as that shot connected.
Merchant throws a jab but it's blocked by Bass.
Bass fails to land the takedown.
Bass shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Merchant shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bass manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Merchant stands and throws Bass's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Merchant lands a decent elbow from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Merchant in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Merchant scores with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bass tries to bench press Merchant off him but Merchant keeps the position.
Bass taking punishment in the form of punches.
Bass on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Bass tries to bench press Merchant off him but Merchant keeps the position.
Merchant scores with punches from side control.
Merchant scores with punches from side control.
Bass is looking for a sweep.
Bass trying to remain calm as Merchant controls from the top position.
Bass tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Merchant wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Merchant taking a breather here.
Merchant landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merchant scoring with punches from side control.
Merchant works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Merchant scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Bass to see if he's OK.
Merchant scores with punches from side control.
Merchant cracks Bass with a big right hand but Bass just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Bass is trying to improve his position.
Merchant lands some shots froms side control.
Bass taking punishment in the form of punches.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bass tries to improve position but can't.
Bass is not content to let Merchant control the position.
Merchant working the head with strikes.
Bass is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merchant grinds an elbow into Bass's temple.
Merchant wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bass keeps working.

Merchant is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bass has escaped the position, nice work there.
Merchant has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merchant creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Merchant controls the position.
Merchant working the ground and pound from side control.
Merchant remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Merchant's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bass tries to buck Merchant off but Merchant is having none of it.
Bass is trying to escape the position but Merchant is controlling the position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bass tries to buck Merchant off but Merchant is having none of it.
Merchant trying to control the position but Bass is working away.
Merchant cracks Bass with a big elbow.
Merchant works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Merchant advances to full mount.
Bass is in all sorts of trouble here.
Merchant fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Merchant landing shots from mount.
Bass is squirming around, avoiding Merchant's attempts to control the action.
The referee warns Bass that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Bass is rocked!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merchant softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Bass is out cold! Merchant jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Devon Merchant!
After winning the bout, Devon Merchant thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.