PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thom Merrilin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean William (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Merrilin
vs
William

173 cm
18
149 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thom Merrilin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sean William!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Anthony Taglia and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

William dives in and scores a takedown into Merrilin's guard.
Merrilin trying to control the position here.
Merrilin wants to control but William passes easily into half guard.
Merrilin gets back to full guard.
William trying to control the position from guard on top but Merrilin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
William must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
William preventing the sweep.
Merrilin is trying to keep William in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merrilin wants to control the position but William says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Merrilin actively working from the bottom here.

William is working for a kimura but Merrilin is defending it quite comfortably.
William prevents Merrilin from improving his position.
Merrilin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. William is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Merrilin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Merrilin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. William gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
William won't allow Merrilin to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

William drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Merrilin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now William has Merrilin in his guard.
William trying to control the position.

William has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Merrilin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for William.
William is not content to let Merrilin control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Merrilin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. William knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Merrilin has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Merrilin trying to control but William is having none of it.
Merrilin is looking to take William's back but instead William gets back to half guard. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merrilin frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Merrilin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Merrilin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Merrilin stands and throws William's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on William's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Merrilin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
William is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Merrilin trying to control the position but William is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merrilin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
A control attempt from William but he's now mounted!
Merrilin trying to control but William is having none of it.
William stops Merrilin from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
William is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
William is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merrilin looking to control but William is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Merrilin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Merrilin trying to control but William is having none of it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

William defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Merrilin.
William can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
William is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Merrilin looking to control but William is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Merrilin has control of William's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and William regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Thom Merrilin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
William is controlling an arm, preventing Merrilin from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

Merrilin wants to finish this one by submission but William is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Merrilin.
William tries to lock up and control but Merrilin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Merrilin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as William is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
William throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
William keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
William tries to lock up and control but Merrilin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
William is breathing heavily.
Merrilin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Merrilin avoids the attempt from William to control.
Merrilin controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Merrilin has hold of William's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and William manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thom Merrilin dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Merrilin throws a body punch but William moves out of range.
William moves away from the strike by Merrilin.

Merrilin fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging William to the ground. Merrilin is now in William's guard.
Merrilin stands and throws William's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Merrilin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
William is trying to improve his position.
William struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merrilin wants to lay and pray for a moment but William keeps working.
William dodges the ground and pound from Merrilin.

Merrilin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. William knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Merrilin throws a strike aimed at the side of William's head but William avoids it well.
Merrilin wants to lay and pray for a moment but William keeps working.
William strikes from the bottom but Merrilin takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Merrilin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as William is looking to escape.
Sean William has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merrilin takes William's back.
Merrilin controlling well, preventing William from escaping the position.
Merrilin slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Merrilin has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, William has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
William manages to reverse the position and now he's in Merrilin's guard. Nice work there by William.
William takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merrilin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merrilin, not yet.

Merrilin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. William is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrilin trying to keep a closed guard but William is proving a slippery customer.

William postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Merrilin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of William, into his guard.
Merrilin trying to move into half guard but instead William has managed to sweep!
Merrilin wants to sweep but no luck.
Merrilin trying to keep a closed guard but William is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Merrilin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. William gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thom Merrilin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merrilin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Merrilin pulls William in close to his closed guard and prevents William from doing any damage or advancing position.

William postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Merrilin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of William, into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merrilin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thom Merrilin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Merrilin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thom Merrilin!