PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boris Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Merde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merde has chosen Mötorhead's Burner as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Smirnov
vs
Merde

189 cm
24
214 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

175 cm
27
220 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Boris Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Merde!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merde shoots in but no luck this time.
Smirnov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merde moves away.
Merde wants to clinch up but Smirnov keeps it at a distance.
Merde misses with an uppercut.
Merde tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smirnov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Merde throws a hook but Smirnov blocks it.
Merde moves in looking to clinch but Smirnov pushes him off.
Merde throws out a loose jab but Smirnov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smirnov throws a hook but Merde avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Merde momentarily.
Merde looks to land a right hand but Smirnov moved out of range.

Merde shoots in and bounces Smirnov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Merde keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smirnov's head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to get back to his feet but Merde is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Merde loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smirnov wants to get back to his feet but Merde is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smirnov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Merde missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smirnov looking for a sweep. Not yet Smirnov, not yet.
Smirnov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Smirnov pushes Merde off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A jab from Merde misses.
Merde ducks under a wild hook from Smirnov.
Smirnov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Merde wants to clinch.

That's two 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.
Merde doesn't manage to clinch there - Smirnov circles away.
Smirnov scores with a sloppy right hand. Merde should have avoided that one.
Smirnov thows a body shot but no joy.
Merde moves away from the strike by Smirnov.
Merde fails with a takedown attempt.
Merde uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smirnov.
Boris Smirnov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merde keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smirnov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Merde looks gassed!
A looping hook to the body misses from Smirnov. Merde does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gerard Merde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merde gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Smirnov. That's going to slow Merde down.
Smirnov cracks Merde with an open hand slap.
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!
Smirnov leaves Merde with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Boris Smirnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerard Merde.
Merde closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Merde missing with a left hand there. Smirnov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Merde throws a hook to the side of Smirnov's head but Smirnov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Merde tries to clinch up but Smirnov circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merde takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Smirnov drops Merde with a beautiful combination! Merde stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Smirnov is looking for the KO!

It looks like Gerard Merde has been cut.
A nice inside leg kick there by Smirnov. That's going to slow Merde down.
The fighters circling - Smirnov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Merde takes a jab right on the kisser.
Merde uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smirnov.
Smirnov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Merde takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smirnov fails to land with a series of punches.
Smirnov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Merde takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Smirnov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gerard Merde's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smirnov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smirnov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Merde tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smirnov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smirnov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Merde's head backwards.
Merde takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Merde uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smirnov.
Smirnov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Merde moves away from the strike by Smirnov.
Smirnov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Merde jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Merde is breathing heavily.
Smirnov catches Merde with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Merde is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Merde takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Smirnov - just one landing.
Merde tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Merde shoots in looking for a takedown. Smirnov tries to sprawl out of it but Merde keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smirnov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smirnov throws a one two combo.
Smirnov misses with an uppercut. Merde saw that one coming.
Smirnov lands a jab to the head.
Good leg kick by Smirnov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Smirnov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Merde can do to turn this around?
Smirnov looks to land a left hand but Merde moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Smirnov.
Smirnov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smirnov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smirnov connects with a stiff jab that staggers Merde - oh and he follows up with a huge uppercut that knocks him out cold! Man, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Boris Smirnov!