PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Merchant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and aaron maxwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). aaron maxwell is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Merchant
vs
maxwell

175 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 St Petersburg, Jim Merchant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, aaron maxwell!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merchant is looking to clinch but maxwell is avoiding it.
Jim Merchant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from maxwell is defended easily by Merchant.

Merchant shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
maxwell wants to get back to his feet.

maxwell pushes Merchant off and gets back to his feet.
Merchant tries to clinch but maxwell moves out of range.
Merchant misses with a takedown

and maxwell decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Merchant's guard.
Merchant could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
maxwell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
maxwell postures up in Merchant's guard and throws a big left but Merchant blocks it.
maxwell chips away with some ground and pound.
maxwell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merchant working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from maxwell.
maxwell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Merchant works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
maxwell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Merchant works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Merchant is looking for a triangle but maxwell pushes his legs off easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Merchant shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and maxwell counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Merchant!
Merchant is breathing heavily.
maxwell landing shots from mount.
Merchant working to try and regain half guard.
maxwell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
maxwell lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, maxwell cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
maxwell scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Merchant?
Merchant tries to lock up and control but maxwell gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The referee warns Merchant that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
maxwell scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Merchant wants to control but maxwell is having none of it.
maxwell landing strikes, looking to finish!
maxwell landing punches.

Merchant is rocked!
maxwell lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Oh Merchant is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
maxwell lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
maxwell lands a big elbow.
Merchant wants to hold on but maxwell pushes him away.
Merchant seems to have got his legs back now.
The referee warns Merchant that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
maxwell lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Merchant hang on?
Merchant is in a horrible position here. maxwell smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
maxwell lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Merchant tries to hold on but maxwell postures up.
maxwell dominating with strikes here.
maxwell landing punches.
maxwell working away from the top, dropping strikes.
maxwell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
maxwell dominating with strikes here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
maxwell cracks Merchant with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
maxwell lands a heavy elbow.
Merchant takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merchant is desperately trying to improve his position but maxwell has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, maxwell cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
maxwell unloading with bombs!
maxwell working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Merchant is wriggling around trying to escape.
maxwell with a couple of short strikes.
Merchant is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
maxwell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
maxwell looking to finish Merchant with some ground and pound. This is bad for Merchant!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Merchant takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
maxwell dominating with strikes here.
maxwell lands a nice shot to the head.
maxwell landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

aaron maxwell dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

maxwell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
maxwell with a poor takedown

so Merchant counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Merchant passes into half guard.

maxwell has one foot on Merchant's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheers as Merchant lands an impressive looking overhand right. maxwell doesn't seem phased though.
Merchant tries for a takedown but maxwell circles away easily

and maxwell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Merchant's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
maxwell works over Merchant with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
maxwell stands up over Merchant, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
maxwell with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Merchant keeping full guard, as maxwell tries to pass.

Merchant has his foot on maxwell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. maxwell works his way back into a safe position though.
maxwell postures up and lands a big shot to Merchant's brow.
aaron maxwell has got the better of the ground game so far.
maxwell works over Merchant with some ground and pound from guard.
maxwell distracts Merchant with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Merchant is trying to keep maxwell in close.
maxwell landing with the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Merchant is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
maxwell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Merchant.

maxwell has his feet on Merchant's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

maxwell drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
maxwell grinds an elbow into Merchant's temple.
maxwell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Merchant takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Merchant is trying to control maxwell's posture but maxwell avoids it.
maxwell is working Merchant over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
maxwell working the head and body with strikes.
Merchant is looking for a sweep.
maxwell lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
maxwell scoring with punches and elbows.
maxwell working the ground and pound.
Merchant takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
maxwell creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Merchant tries to bench press maxwell off him but maxwell keeps the position.
Merchant is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
maxwell lands a decent elbow from side control.
Merchant takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Merchant takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
maxwell is working Merchant over with some ground and pound from side control.
Check out the look on maxwell's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
maxwell scores with punches from side control.
maxwell cracks Merchant with a big elbow.
Merchant takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
maxwell cracks Merchant with a big elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
maxwell scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Merchant to see if he's OK.
Merchant is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

aaron maxwell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Merchant tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
maxwell shoots in for a double leg but Merchant sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Merchant defends well against a solid takedown attempt from maxwell.
Merchant scores with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merchant doesn't succeed with the takedown

and maxwell counters with a nice double leg into side control. Merchant won't be happy with that.
Merchant manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merchant is trying to defend against the ground and pound but maxwell scores with a couple of nice shots.
Merchant is looking to control maxwell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Merchant avoid being mounted?
maxwell lands strikes from half guard.
maxwell is nestled in close to Merchant, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Merchant kicks off maxwell and gets to his feet.
maxwell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Merchant counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for maxwell!
Jim Merchant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of aaron maxwell.
Merchant looking to control but maxwell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
maxwell wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

maxwell bucks up and throws Merchant to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Jim Merchant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Merchant drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
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!

maxwell wriggles free and stands up.

maxwell gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
maxwell scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Merchant on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
maxwell prevents Merchant from improving his position.
maxwell lands with a punch from half guard.
Merchant is looking to control maxwell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Merchant avoid being mounted?
Merchant tries to get to full guard but maxwell has control of the leg.
maxwell slips a nice elbow through Merchant's hands, connecting with Merchant's forehead.
maxwell lands with a punch from half guard.
Merchant wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
maxwell takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
maxwell lands strikes from half guard.
Merchant is trying to maintain the position but maxwell is very close to passing his half guard.
maxwell takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Merchant tries to get to full guard but maxwell has control of the leg.
maxwell lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
maxwell lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
maxwell scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Jim Merchant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. maxwell lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
aaron maxwell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got maxwell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... aaron maxwell!