PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Preston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joachim Merkel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Preston
vs
Merkel

168 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt Preston!
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, Joachim Merkel!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merkel throws the kick towards the body but Preston avoids it.
Merkel misses with a series of wild punches.
Merkel misses the jab.

Preston fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Merkel to the ground. Preston is now in Merkel's guard.
Merkel has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Preston trying to control the position from guard on top but Merkel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merkel keeping full guard, as Preston tries to pass.
Merkel wants to stand and escape but Preston is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Preston pushes down on Merkel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Merkel is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Preston jumps into side control!
Preston landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Preston wants to stand but Merkel has his arm trapped.
Merkel can't do much from the bottom here.
Preston taking a breather here.
Preston in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merkel manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Merkel is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Preston wants to control but Merkel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Preston tries to roll over but Merkel keeps him under control.
Merkel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Merkel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Preston makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Preston.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Preston throws a couple of heel strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Preston pulls Merkel in close to prevent any damage.
Preston keeping moving, preventing Merkel from controlling successfully.
Merkel passes Preston's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Merkel is keen to just control but Preston is a slippery customer.
Merkel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Preston defending well though.
Preston keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Preston is trying to control but can't.
Preston is trying to stand back up but Merkel is controlling him
Preston is refusing to be controlled, as Merkel sits in half guard.
Merkel misses with a head shot. Preston uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merkel throws a big right hand that misses.
Preston throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Merkel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Merkel trying to move into half guard but instead Preston has managed to sweep!
Preston slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Merkel is trying to control the position but Preston postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Preston controls from within his opponent's guard.
Preston forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Preston dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Merkel tries to clinch but Preston is having none of it.
Merkel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Preston.
Preston shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Merkel but Merkel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Merkel shoots in for a takedown but Preston shows good takedown defense.
Preston fails with a takedown attempt.
Preston closes the distance and clinches up with Merkel, looking for a takedown. Preston pushes Merkel against the cage but Merkel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Preston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merkel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merkel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Preston paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Merkel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Preston.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Merkel as Preston shoots in.
Preston blocks a head kick by Merkel.
Merkel lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Merkel.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Preston has a takedown stuffed.
Preston is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merkel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Merkel. Preston shrugs it off though.
Merkel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merkel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Merkel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Preston fails with the takedown.
Merkel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merkel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Preston takes a kick to the side of the head.
Merkel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Preston but Preston pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Merkel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Preston to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Preston with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkel looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Preston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Preston stopping the sweep attempt from Merkel.
Preston throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Preston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Preston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merkel is keeping the position for now.

Merkel pushes Preston off and scrambles back to his feet.

Merkel gets a clinch.

Merkel gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Merkel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Preston is trying to stand back up but Merkel is controlling him
Merkel wants to free his trapped foot but Preston is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nice strikes from Merkel there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joachim Merkel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Preston misses with a kick to the body.
Preston tries to close the distance and clinch but Merkel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Merkel misses with a series of wild punches.
Preston closes the distance and clinches up with Merkel, looking for a takedown. Preston pushes Merkel against the cage but Merkel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Merkel swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Merkel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Preston.
Preston fails to land the takedown.

Preston looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Preston trying to control the position from guard on top but Merkel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Preston is really struggling to control Merkel but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Merkel working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Matt Preston.
Preston fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Preston. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Merkel rushes Preston and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merkel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Merkel is looking to control Preston's arms but Preston gets an underhook and turns him. Now Merkel has his back to the cage.

Preston has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Merkel regains guard immediately.
Preston wants to control from the top but Merkel keeps moving.
Merkel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Preston is controlling him.
Preston looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Preston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merkel is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Matt Preston.
Merkel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Preston swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Merkel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Preston shoots in looking for a takedown but Merkel manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Preston's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Merkel wants to clinch up but Preston keeps it at a distance.
Preston doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Merkel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Preston fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Merkel has managed to clinch.
Merkel landing knees to the body.
Merkel misses with a hook to the ribs.

Merkel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Merkel lands with a nice combination. Preston backs away looking to recover.
Merkel tries to clinch there but Preston circles away.
Merkel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Preston tries to clinch but Merkel is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merkel leaves Preston with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Merkel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Matt Preston.
I think Preston 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Preston!