PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bill Mertof (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Sproles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Bill Mertof has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mertof
vs
Sproles

150 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bill Mertof!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brian Sproles!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sproles swinging wilding here.
Sproles walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mertof checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mertof checks a low kick from Sproles.
Sproles blocks a head kick by Mertof.
Sproles takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sproles throws a head kick that misses
and Mertof counters with a big head kick but Sproles shrugs it off.

Sproles is rocked!
Sproles motions for Mertof to come forward. Sproles throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sproles throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Mertof counters with a head kick that drops Sproles - he's looking to finish, following his stunned foe to the ground!
Sproles is still in real trouble! Can Mertof finish him?
Mertof prevents Sproles from improving his position.
Mertof is pressing down on Sproles's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sproles is holding on for now.
Sproles wants to improve his position but Mertof is controlling well.
Sproles is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sproles seems to have recovered his senses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sproles can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mertof thows a huge punch but Sproles dodges it nicely.
Sproles strikes from the bottom but Mertof uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Sproles striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sproles misses with the body kick
and Mertof counters with a nice body kick.
Sproles is a very stocky fighter. Infact he's such a weird shape that he's almost like some sort of comedy character - it's hard to believe he's real.
Mertof tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sproles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mertof throws a wild body kick that Sproles sees coming a mile off.
Sproles throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Mertof counters with a thumping low kick.
Sproles looks gassed!
Sproles swings for the body but Mertof moves out of range.
Mertof pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sproles is out of range and Mertof settles back down.
Sproles blocks a head kick by Mertof.
Sproles misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mertof misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sproles circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Mertof. Sproles shrugs it off though.
Sproles throws a sloppy head kick
and Mertof counters with a slapping leg kick.
Mertof ducks under a wild hook from Sproles.
Sproles throws a right and a left that Mertof avoids nicely.
Mertof pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sproles throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Mertof counters with a thumping low kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sproles.
The ground and pound from Sproles seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sproles advances to mount.
Sproles scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Mertof?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mertof is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mertof keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mertof could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sproles with good strikes from the mount here!
Mertof tries to hold on but Sproles pushes him away.
Sproles lands a heavy elbow.
Sproles prevents Mertof from getting the reversal.
Mertof is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mertof manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mertof tries to roll over but Sproles keeps him under control.
Sproles scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sproles thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mertof's head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mertof is looking to improve his position.
Sproles looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mertof on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mertof is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sproles scores with a couple of nice shots.

Mertof is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Sproles pulls his head out easily.
Mertof has hold of Sproles's hands but Sproles slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mertof is trying to maintain the position but Sproles is very close to passing his half guard.
Mertof flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mertof throws a strike from the bottom but Sproles passes into side control!
Mertof struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Mertof dominated that round.
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.

Mertof tries to clinch but Sproles moves out of range.
Mertof throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mertof fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bill Mertof is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mertof throws a head kick that misses.
Sproles throws a right and a left that Mertof avoids nicely.
Sproles ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mertof moves away.
Mertof throws a body kick that misses.
Sproles tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mertof swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mertof throws a head kick but Sproles moves out of range.
Brian Sproles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sproles is looking to score with low kicks.
Sproles swats away the attempt to clinch by Mertof.
A low kick from Sproles misses
and Mertof counters with a head kick. That will keep Sproles thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mertof takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mertof looks to land a body kick but Sproles moved away.
Mertof connects with a high kick.
Sproles throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mertof connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick misses from Mertof.
Sproles moves out of range of the body kick.
Mertof lands a head kick. Sproles smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sproles lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mertof has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mertof and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mertof throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sproles throws a looping overhand right but Mertof ducks down to avoid it.

Mertof gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sproles is trying to break free.
Sproles is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mertof breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mertof fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mertof throws a head kick that misses.
Mertof blocks a jab.
Mertof uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sproles.
Mertof uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sproles.
Mertof tries to clinch but Sproles moves out of range.
Sproles throws a jab but it's blocked by Mertof.
Mertof goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sproles throws a lazy head kick
and Mertof counters with a body kick that stops Sproles in his tracks momentarily.
Mertof wants to clinch up but Sproles keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Mertof.
Mertof doesn't manage to clinch there - Sproles circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mertof tries a head kick but it misses.
Sproles swats away the attempt to clinch by Mertof.
Sproles misses with a leg kick
letting Mertof counter with a right hand.
Mertof lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sproles throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mertof tries to clinch up.
Mertof tries a head kick but it misses.
Sproles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick by Sproles misses
and Mertof counters with a one-two to the body.
Sproles throws a sloppy body shot
and Mertof counters with a left and a right that stings Sproles.
Sproles misses with a head kick.
Sproles throws a low kick, looking for Mertof's leg but Mertof calmly moves out of range.
Sproles throws a sloppy head kick and Mertof moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mertof thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sproles if he has to take too many more of those.
Sproles throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sproles throws a head kick that misses.
Sproles misses with a head kick.
Bill Mertof is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sproles keeps the fight on the outside.
Sproles tries for a takedown but Mertof sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A punch combination from Mertof misses.
Sproles misses with a kick to the body
and Mertof counters with a big head kick but Sproles shrugs it off.
Sproles tries to score with a low kick but Mertof moves his leg out of the way.
Sproles misses with a low kick.
Sproles throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sproles avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sproles takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Mertof dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sproles throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mertof's waist but Mertof gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sproles off to one side.
Mertof tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice defenses there by Mertof.
Sproles throws a head kick but Mertof moves out of range.
Mertof tries a head kick but it misses.
Sproles tries a low kick but Mertof avoids it.
Sproles throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A thudding body kick lands there by Mertof!
Mertof blocks a head kick by Sproles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sproles finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mertof looks to score with a jab to the body but Sproles is just out of range.
Sproles just misses with a punch to the body.
Sproles throws a wild body kick that Mertof sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sproles shoots in but no luck this time.
Mertof moves in looking to clinch but Sproles pushes him off.
Sproles throws a head kick that misses
and Mertof counters with an outside leg kick.
Sproles on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Mertof tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sproles paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sproles keeps the fight on the outside.
Mertof throws a leg kick which misses Sproles's front leg but catches the back leg as Sproles tries to avoid it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mertof.
Sproles throws a combination that misses
and Mertof counters with a solid body kick.
Mertof tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sproles paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sproles misses with a wild combination.
Sproles shoots in but Mertof avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bill Mertof has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Sproles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mertof tries to clinch up.
Sproles throws a chopping leg kick but Mertof manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sproles rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mertof moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sproles throws a push kick but Mertof slaps the foot to one side.
Bill Mertof is winning the standup battle so far.
Sproles throws the kick towards the body but Mertof avoids it.
Mertof looks to land a body kick but Sproles moved away.
Sproles thows a body shot but no joy.
Sproles has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Mertof.
A head kick by Sproles misses
and Mertof counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sproles is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Mertof checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sproles shoots in for a double leg but Mertof sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sproles rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mertof moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mertof uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sproles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sproles shoots for a takedown but Mertof saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sproles misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mertof.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sproles.
Mertof tries to buck Sproles off but Sproles is having none of it.
Sproles working the head and body with strikes.
Mertof manages to get back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Sproles.

Mertof is rocked!
Sproles wants to pass to mount but Mertof is defending the position.
Oh Mertof is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Mertof looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nice strikes from Sproles there.
Mertof has hold of Sproles's hands but Sproles slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sproles lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mertof taking some punishment here, with Sproles in his half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mertof wants to get back to full guard.
Mertof gets back to full guard.
Brian Sproles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sproles landing some decent shots from guard.
Sproles passes Mertof's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sproles lands with a punch from half 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!
Mertof trying to control from the bottom.
Mertof might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mertof trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Mertof really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sproles working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Mertof slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Mertof moves into full guard.

Mertof has his foot on Sproles's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sproles works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Sproles.
I think Mertof has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Mertof!