PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Merridew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick O Malley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Merridew
vs
O Malley

195 cm
25
215 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
212 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ace of Spades Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jack Merridew!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Patrick O Malley!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merridew blocks a jab.
O Malley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merridew.
Merridew definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Merridew cracks O Malley with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
O Malley tries to clinch but Merridew is having none of it.
A jab lands there for Merridew.
Merridew takes a swing at O Malley's ribcage but misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Merridew darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Merridew throws the left hand but O Malley avoids the punch easily.
Merridew thows a body shot but no joy.
Merridew showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from O Malley.
Merridew avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Merridew connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
O Malley keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Merridew.
Merridew jabs O Malley right on the nose. O Malley blinks but takes it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Merridew stuns O Malley with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
O Malley looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Merridew swings for the body but O Malley moves out of range.
Jack Merridew seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merridew throws an off balance right hand
and Merridew takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Merridew jabs O Malley to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Jab from Merridew.
A punch lands to the side of Merridew 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Merridew connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
O Malley ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merridew moves away.
Merridew is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Merridew swings and misses with a hook to the body.
O Malley ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Merridew scores with a jab to the head.
Jab, jab by Merridew - just one landing.
A cross from Merridew lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merridew lands a really nice looking cross but O Malley seems unphased.
O Malley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merridew.
Merridew misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Merridew misses the target.
Merridew checks a low kick from O Malley.
Merridew takes a swing at O Malley's ribcage but misses.
Merridew takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Merridew takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Good shot there by Merridew.
O Malley misses with a wild combination.
Merridew misses with a body shot.
Merridew lands a jab to the head.
O Malley will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
O Malley drops his hands momentarily and Merridew takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
O Malley takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
O Malley goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merridew throws a hook to the side of O Malley's head but O Malley sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Merridew connects with a body shot that sends O Malley's belly button to the back.
Merridew misses the shot to the body.
Good shot there by Merridew.
O Malley throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Merridew swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Merridew throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Merridew scores with a body shot.
O Malley throws a series of punches but Merridew avoids them all with ease.
Merridew smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
O Malley slips a straight right by Merridew.
Merridew stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Merridew works the jab nicely.
Merridew takes a swing at O Malley's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merridew with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Merridew lands a really nice looking cross but O Malley seems unphased.
O Malley has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Merridew throws a hook to the side of O Malley's head but O Malley sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
O Malley keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Merridew.
O Malley on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Merridew changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
O Malley lands a slapping body shot.
O Malley takes a jab right on the kisser.
O Malley uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Merridew.
Merridew scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Merridew looks to land a right hand but O Malley moved out of range.
Merridew misses with a telegraphed body shot
and O Malley counters with a one-two to the body.
Merridew tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Malley was well out of range. Poor timing from Merridew.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Merridew dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Merridew misses the jab.
Merridew fakes high and swings low for a body shot but O Malley manages to avoid it.
O Malley moves in looking to clinch but Merridew pushes him off.
O Malley takes a body punch but keeps moving.
O Malley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
O Malley tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
O Malley takes a body punch but keeps moving.
O Malley throws a right hand that Merridew ducks under and follows up with a left that Merridew also avoids with ease.
Merridew ducks down and throws a hook to the body but O Malley moves away.
Patrick O Malley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Merridew swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A lazy left from Merridew finds it's target.
Merridew connects with a single shot there.
Jack Merridew is winning the standup battle so far.
Merridew catches O Malley with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Merridew showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from O Malley.
The fight stays on the outside here - O Malley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merridew throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Merridew throws an ugly left hook that misses

and O Malley holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by O Malley.
Merridew blocks a body shot from O Malley.
O Malley blocks a body shot from Merridew.
Merridew tried to land a shot to the body but connects with O Malley's elbow.
Merridew blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
O Malley lands with a short shot to the head.
O Malley misses with a shot to the kidneys.
O Malley swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merridew misses with a hook to the ribs.

Merridew breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
O Malley moves away from the strike by Merridew.
Merridew scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Merridew lands a nice shot to the body.
O Malley avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Merridew lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
O Malley steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Merridew.
Merridew misses with a body shot.
Merridew misses with an uppercut
and O Malley connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

O Malley clinches.
O Malley lands a shot to the body.
O Malley missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as O Malley takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Merridew can't find room to land a body shot as O Malley controls the action.
O Malley tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Merridew swings away with an uppercut that misses.
O Malley lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Merridew or not.
O Malley throws an elbow that misses.
O Malley struggles to land a body shot inside as Merridew controls his hands.
O Malley scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Merridew swings wildly with an uppercut but O Malley uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
O Malley swings wildly with an uppercut but Merridew uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Malley tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
O Malley throws a head punch that misses.
O Malley swings wildly with an uppercut but Merridew uses good head movement to avoid it.
O Malley tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Merridew avoids it.
O Malley throws a head punch that misses.
Merridew cracks O Malley with a nice body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
O Malley goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Merridew.
Merridew throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jack Merridew will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

O Malley misses with a straight left.
A shot to the liver by Merridew. Beautiful body shot.
Merridew missing with a left hand there. O Malley was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Merridew throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
O Malley lands a nice looking body shot.
O Malley scores with a jab to the head.
Merridew ducks down and throws a hook to the body but O Malley moves away.
Merridew dodges the punch combination from O Malley.
Merridew is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Merridew tests O Malley's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Merridew misses with a straight right.
Merridew swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
O Malley uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Merridew.

O Malley fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Merridew, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Malley will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Merridew up against the cage.
O Malley working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for O Malley.

Merridew breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A slow jab from Merridew misses its intended target.
Merridew throws a lazy right hand but O Malley sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
O Malley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Merridew throws out the jab.
Merridew throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Merridew throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Merridew walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by O Malley.
Nice defenses there by O Malley.
O Malley is looking to clinch but Merridew is avoiding it.
The crowd cheers as Merridew lands an impressive looking overhand right. O Malley doesn't seem phased though.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merridew. O Malley does a little dance to reset his feet.
O Malley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
O Malley moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Merridew swings for the body but O Malley moves out of range.
O Malley drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
O Malley takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Merridew throws an overhand right that lands on O Malley's shoulder, as O Malley tries to avoid the shot.
O Malley ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
O Malley throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Malley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Merridew misses with a punch on the inside.
O Malley misses with an elbow strike.
O Malley misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from O Malley.
O Malley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
O Malley lands a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, O Malley creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
O Malley missing with knees to the body.
O Malley tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Merridew's elbow.
O Malley misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from O Malley on the inside.
O Malley keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Merridew's efforts to push away.
O Malley is struggling to control the position.
O Malley can't find room to land a body shot as Merridew controls the action.
Nice body punch from Merridew.
O Malley tries a knee to the head but Merridew blocks it.
With the fighters up against the cage, O Malley throws an elbow but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merridew lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
O Malley misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Patrick O Malley just about did enough to take it.
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.

O Malley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Merridew pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Merridew swings for the body but O Malley moves out of range.
O Malley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Merridew looks to land a left hand but O Malley moved out of range nicely.
A lazy left from O Malley finds it's target.
Merridew throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

O Malley closes the distance and clinches.
Merridew tries to work over O Malley's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Merridew working aggressively here.
O Malley lands on the inside with an uppercut.
O Malley controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Malley with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Patrick O Malley seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
O Malley struggles to land a body shot inside as Merridew controls his hands.
O Malley has a couple of punches blocked by Merridew.
The referee is keeping an eye on O Malley - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Merridew misses with a body punch.
O Malley softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
O Malley content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merridew misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from O Malley.
O Malley throws a punch but it's blocked by Merridew.
Merridew can't find room to land a body shot as O Malley controls the action.

Merridew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
O Malley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A jab from Merridew does it's job there.
Merridew works the jab nicely.
Merridew missing with a left hand there. O Malley was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Merridew misses with a lunging right hand

and O Malley counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
O Malley misses with a hook to the ribs.
O Malley struggles to land a body shot inside as Merridew controls his hands.
O Malley misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Malley throws a head punch that misses.
Merridew misses with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
O Malley has a couple of punches blocked by Merridew.
Merridew leaning against his opponent.
Merridew makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Merridew looking to slow down the pace here.
Merridew misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Malley swings wildly with an uppercut but Merridew uses good head movement to avoid it.
Merridew being controlled against the cage.
O Malley lands a hook that snaps the head of Merridew backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from O Malley.
O Malley stalling in the clinch but Merridew improves position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Malley misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Merridew.
O Malley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
O Malley tries to work over Merridew's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick O Malley dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Merridew lands a jab.

O Malley clinches up against the cage.
O Malley swings away with an uppercut that misses.
O Malley using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Merridew has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Merridew working hard to break the clinch.
O Malley scores with a shot to the side of Merridew's head.
O Malley has Merridew pressed against the cage.
O Malley throws a punch but it's blocked by Merridew.
Merridew has a couple of punches blocked by O Malley.
O Malley misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merridew missing with knees to the body.
Merridew struggles to land a body shot inside as O Malley controls his hands.
O Malley throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Merridew blocks it with crossed arms.
Merridew swings away with an uppercut that misses.
O Malley tries to land knees in the clinch but Merridew avoids the damage to the body.
O Malley swings away with an uppercut that misses.
O Malley misses with a punch on the inside.
O Malley misses with a short punch on the inside.
Merridew goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
O Malley tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
O Malley tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Malley tries a body shot but Merridew blocks it.
O Malley is trying to stall.
Merridew scores with a hook to the body.
O Malley presses Merridew against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
O Malley fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
O Malley tries to work over Merridew's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
O Malley tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Merridew tries a body shot but O Malley blocks it.

Merridew breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merridew tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Malley was well out of range. Poor timing from Merridew.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merridew ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Merridew lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Merridew thuds a left hand into O Malley's body.
O Malley is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
O Malley walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
O Malley is looking to clinch but Merridew is avoiding it.
Merridew throws a body punch but O Malley moves out of range.
Merridew scores with the left hand. O Malley knows he should have avoided that one.
Merridew misses with a wild body shot.
O Malley misses with an uppercut. Merridew saw that one coming.
No joy there for O Malley, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
O Malley has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from O Malley there as he acknowledges the shot.
O Malley is looking to clinch but Merridew is avoiding it.
Merridew misses with an uppercut. O Malley saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Malley takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
O Malley slips a straight right by Merridew.
Merridew lands a right hook to the body.
Merridew throws an uppercut from half a mile away. O Malley sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice jab there from Merridew.
O Malley ducks under a wild hook from Merridew.
Merridew throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck O Malley on the side of the head.
Merridew tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Malley was well out of range. Poor timing from Merridew.
Merridew connects with a right hand. O Malley shakes it off.
O Malley takes a jab right on the kisser.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merridew misses with a lunging right hand
and O Malley counters with a three punch combo that has Merridew backing up. Merridew nods at O Malley to acknowledge the strikes.
Nice body punch from Merridew.
Merridew thows a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Merridew showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Merridew 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 48:47
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 48:47
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Merridew!
Jack Merridew is the new light heavyweight champion!