PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Buddy Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Merfis (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.

Phillips
vs
Merfis

151 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Buddy Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, George Merfis!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merfis looks to land a combination but Phillips avoids it well.
Phillips throws a leg kick but Merfis moved away.
Merfis is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Phillips tries to bum rush Merfis with a series of wild strikes but Merfis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Merfis lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Buddy Phillips has been cut.
Merfis looks to land a body kick but Phillips moved away.
Phillips shoots in looking for a takedown but Merfis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Phillips's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Merfis is looking for the big counter here.
Phillips lands a leg kick that knocks Merfis off balance momentarily.
Merfis closes the distance and clinches up with Phillips, looking for a takedown. Merfis pushes Phillips against the cage but Phillips circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Merfis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Phillips misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merfis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Phillips misses with a two punch combination.
Merfis is trying to counter with his kicks.
Merfis fails with a takedown attempt.
Buddy Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Merfis.
Merfis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Merfis forces Phillips back against the cage and clinches.
Merfis tries a body shot but Phillips blocks it.
Merfis is trying to drag Phillips to the mat but Phillips just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Phillips displaying some good clinch control by pressing Merfis up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Phillips.

Phillips decides to pull guard.
Merfis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Phillips works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Phillips wants to sweep here but Merfis controlling him for the moment.
Merfis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phillips has his foot on Merfis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Merfis works his way back into a safe position though.
Merfis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Phillips is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Phillips wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Phillips really is a fat lump.

Merfis moves into range and clinches up with Phillips.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Phillips jumps guard but Merfis stands there with Phillips around his waist. Phillips gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Merfis taking a breather.
Merfis tries to pull guard but Phillips forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Merfis prevents Phillips from breaking the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phillips has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Merfis tries a knee to the head but Phillips blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Buddy Phillips will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Buddy Phillips's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Merfis scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Merfis closes the distance and clinches.
Merfis tries to pull guard but Phillips holds him up against the cage and eventually Merfis drops back down to his feet.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Merfis.

Phillips breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merfis shoots in and drives through. Phillips sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips has a takedown stuffed.
Merfis blocks a head kick by Phillips.
Phillips stalks Merfis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Merfis's face. Merfis staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phillips gets tackled into the cage by Merfis. Merfis maintains the clinch.

Phillips manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Merfis or perhaps it was just good defense by Phillips, which made it look bad.
Buddy Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Merfis.
Merfis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Buddy Phillips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Merfis rushes Phillips and presses him up against the cage.
Phillips prevents the takedown attempt.
A nice right hand lands inside from Merfis.
Phillips throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merfis is trying to push Phillips away but Phillips has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A nice left hand lands by Merfis.
Merfis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short left from Phillips.
Merfis wants to break free but Phillips has control.
Phillips putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Merfis in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Merfis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Phillips has Merfis pressed against the cage, preventing Merfis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Merfis manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Phillips scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Merfis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Phillips.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Phillips accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Phillips trying to control but Merfis is working from the bottom.
Phillips lands a couple of digs.
Phillips throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Phillips with a flurry of punches that miss.
Phillips looking to sit in guard and control but Merfis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Merfis stands and throws Phillips's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips is looking to regain half guard here but Merfis keeps moving and retains side control.
Phillips is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Merfis has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Merfis decides to stand back up.
Phillips shoots and misses
and Merfis counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Merfis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Phillips, pushing him back against the cage.
Merfis can't break the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Merfis - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Merfis ducks under a wild hook from Phillips.
Phillips tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Phillips misses with a series of wild punches.
Merfis ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Merfis clinches with his opponent.
Merfis is trying to force a seperation but Phillips has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Merfis pulls Phillips into guard.
Phillips throws an elbow that misses. Merfis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Phillips's guard. Nice move by Merfis!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merfis controlling from the top position.
Phillips looking for a sweep. Not yet Phillips, not yet.
Merfis advances position into side control!

Merfis is trying to get an arm triangle but Phillips is defending well.
A lull in the action here as Merfis stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Phillips is trying to get back to half guard.
Phillips might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merfis is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Phillips will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Merfis has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Phillips!

Merfis get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merfis shoots in and drives through. Phillips sprawls well.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Merfis as he jumps to the side.
Merfis is looking for the big counter here.
Merfis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Phillips as he jumps to the side.
Buddy Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Merfis.
Merfis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Merfis closes the distance and clinches.
Phillips wants to break the clinch but can't.
Merfis misses with a knee strike.
Merfis can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merfis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Merfis is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Phillips pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Merfis trying to stall but Phillips improves his position.
Phillips jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Merfis walks away with a smile on his face. Phillips gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Phillips throws a nice looking combination but Merfis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Merfis with the counter takedown but Phillips avoids it easily.
Merfis tries a head kick but it misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Phillips fails with an attempt to clinch.
Phillips looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Merfis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Merfis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Merfis!