PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Merlin Curtis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lightning Jack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Curtis
vs
Jack

207 cm
18
140 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

160 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Merlin Curtis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lightning Jack!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Curtis slaps away a takedown attempt from Jack, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jack fails to land the takedown.
Curtis throws a series of punches but Jack moves out of range.
Curtis slaps away a takedown attempt from Jack, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Merlin Curtis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lightning Jack.
Jack shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Curtis pinned against the cage. Curtis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jack lands a nice leg kick that just misses Curtis's sensitive parts.

Curtis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jack jumps guard but Curtis stands there with Jack around his waist. Jack gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Curtis avoiding damage as Jack throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Curtis's efforts to push away.
Curtis wants to break the clinch but can't.

Curtis pulls guard effortlessly.
Jack won't allow Curtis to sweep him here.
Curtis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Jack wanted to stand there but Curtis had control of the position.
Curtis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jack manages to get himself to full guard.
Jack really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Curtis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jack wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curtis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jack looking for a sweep. Not yet Jack, not yet.
Curtis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jack is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Curtis advances position into side control!
A lull in the action here.

Curtis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Curtis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jack takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curtis wants to stand but Jack has his arm trapped.
Jack tries to improve position but can't.
Jack is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curtis controlling from side mount.
Curtis scoring with punches from side control.
Curtis controlling the position.

Curtis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jack knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jack is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Curtis is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merlin Curtis 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.

A combination from Curtis does no damage.
Jack gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Curtis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jack drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Curtis tries a knee to the head but Jack blocks it.
Jack stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Curtis manages to break the clinch.
Curtis is looking to clinch.
Jack dives in and grabs Curtis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Curtis pushes down on Jack's head and hops out.
Merlin Curtis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lightning Jack.
Jack tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curtis has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Jack.
Curtis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jack sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Curtis somewhat.
Jack misses with a takedown attempt - Curtis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Curtis tries a head kick but it misses.

Curtis rushes Jack and presses him up against the cage.
Jack goes for a takedown in the clinch but Curtis prevents it.
Jack fails to pull guard.
Jack is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Curtis to keep the fight standing.
Jack is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Curtis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Curtis shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jack manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Curtis trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jack's guard.
Curtis controlling from the top position.
Curtis seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jack for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Curtis passes Jack's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curtis looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Merlin Curtis.
Curtis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Curtis wants it to stay on the feet.
Jack avoids the head kick by Curtis.
Curtis tries to clinch up but Jack circles away and keeps his distance.
Jack misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jack throws a head kick that misses.

Jack gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Curtis to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curtis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jack's head.
Curtis works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Curtis looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jack with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Jack trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Curtis takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Curtis's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merlin Curtis dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Jack shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Curtis defends it nicely.

Curtis rushes Jack and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Curtis manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Curtis as Jack shoots in.
Jack misses with a series of wild punches.
Jack shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Curtis defends it nicely.
Merlin Curtis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lightning Jack.
Jack shoots in but Curtis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jack takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curtis pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Curtis darts in and clinches Jack up against the cage.

Curtis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jack tries for a takedown but Curtis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jack with a poor takedown

and Curtis counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Jack!
Jack taking punishment in the form of punches.
Curtis gets to mount! Jack was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Merlin Curtis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Curtis cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Curtis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curtis lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Jack wants to control but Curtis is having none of it.

Curtis is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Curtis extends the arm and Jack is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Merlin Curtis!