PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Milton Merritt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Merritt
vs
Cage

156 cm
19
214 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Milton Merritt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Antonio Cage!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Merritt counters by clinching up.
Cage tries to score a body lock takedown but Merritt shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Merritt wants to get back to striking at distance but Cage won't allow it.
Merritt is trying to pull guard but Cage has him pressed against the cage.

Cage is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Merritt can't fight it off and eventually Cage manages to take the fight to the floor. Merritt looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cage throws an elbow that misses. Merritt uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cage's guard. Nice move by Merritt!
Merritt prevents Cage from getting back to his feet.
Cage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merritt preventing the sweep.
Cage has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Merritt has passed into side control.
Cage looking for a sweep but Merritt has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Merritt manages to capitalize on a mistake by Cage to take his back!
Cage trying to control the action but Merritt just sinks the hooks in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merritt struggling to keep hold of the position.
Cage breaks Merritt's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Merritt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Cage decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Merritt, up you get!
Cage shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Merritt pinned against the cage. Merritt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Milton Merritt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Cage.
Cage misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Merritt rushes Cage and presses him up against the cage.
Merritt could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Merritt is looking to break free of the clinch but Cage has double underhooks.
Cage keeps control of Merritt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cage stalls.
Cage has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Merritt avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Merritt's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Merritt successfully pulls guard.
Cage trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cage is working Merritt over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Merritt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cage working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Merritt's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merritt tries to strike from the bottom.
Merritt controlling Cage's posture.
Merritt is striking off his back. Cage thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Merritt is trying to control but can't.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merritt on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cage missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merritt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cage.
Cage trying to pass the guard but Merritt defending well.
Merritt might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merritt is looking for a sweep. Cage is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Cage dominated that 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.

Cage tries to clinch up but Merritt circles away and keeps his distance.
Merritt stuffs the takedown attempt from Cage. Cage gets slowly back to his feet.

Cage scores with a takedown into Merritt's guard.
Merritt pulls Cage in close to prevent any damage.
Cage loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cage trying to control but Merritt is working from the bottom.
Cage looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage wants to get up but he can't break Merritt's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cage stopping the sweep attempt from Merritt.
Merritt manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cage is desperately trying to improve his position but Merritt has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Merritt moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Cage has worked his arm free - good work by Cage!
Cage is looking for a sweep.
Cage sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Merritt is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cage sees it coming and defends easily.
Cage wants to control but Merritt is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Merritt passes into side control, despite Cage's attempt to control the position.
Cage is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Merritt looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Antonio Cage has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cage is looking for a sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cage can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cage tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

Merritt working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Cage tries to hold on but Merritt postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Cage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cage is trying hard to land a takedown here. Merritt sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Merritt defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cage.
Cage misses with a takedown attempt
and Merritt counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Milton Merritt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Cage.

Cage dives in and scores a takedown into Merritt's guard.
Cage trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cage in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cage prevents Merritt from getting back to his feet.
Cage is in close to Merritt's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cage passes Merritt's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cage is looking to take a break and control but Merritt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merritt keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Merritt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cage.
Cage wants to stand up but Merritt has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Cage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merritt won't allow Cage to pass to mount.
Merritt blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cage.
Cage throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Merritt to regain full guard.
Cage lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Merritt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merritt wants to stand and escape but Cage is having none of it.
Cage throwing strikes but missing.
Merritt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cage is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage throws an elbow that misses. Merritt uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cage's guard. Nice move by Merritt!
Cage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Merritt wants to control from the top but Cage keeps moving.

Milton Merritt has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Cage tries for a takedown but Merritt circles away easily
and Merritt counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage closes this distance looking for a takedown but Merritt circles away.

Cage shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cage wants to free his trapped foot but Merritt is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Merritt wants to control but Cage is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cage tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merritt knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cage trying to control from half guard but Merritt is working away.
Cage missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Merritt.
Merritt is doing well to control the position and prevent Cage from advancing to side control.
Merritt is trying to control but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Cage has closed the distance and engaged Merritt in a clinch.
Cage keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Merritt's efforts to push away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merritt tries to circle away but Cage has him pinned against the cage.
Cage goes for a takedown attempt but Merritt pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Milton Merritt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Antonio Cage is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cage bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Cage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cage winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Cage!