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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Verneri Ahma (ranked 615 p4p, 74 weight class) and Xavier Merlin (ranked 812 p4p, 89 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 172 cm
21
160 lbs
6 - 0 - 0 |
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170 cm
21
162 lbs
9 - 4 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Verneri Ahma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Damien Edna and Bruno Hogan.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Merlin - just one landing.
Ahma steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Merlin.
Merlin moves out of range as Ahma throws a body kick.
Ahma misses with a looping right.
Merlin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ahma moves away.
Merlin throws a body punch but Ahma moves out of range.
Ahma swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A jab from Ahma finds it's way through Merlin's defenses.
Merlin gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Merlin shoots in but Ahma avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ahma is looking to counter punch.
Ahma defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Merlin.
Merlin just misses with a punch to the body.
Ahma takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Merlin moves out of range of the body kick.
A big right from Ahma misses.
Xavier Merlin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A leg kick checked by Merlin.
Ahma lands a glancing blow to the side of Merlin's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merlin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Merlin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ahma counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Verneri Ahma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Merlin.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin throws a right hand that misses
and Ahma counters with a stiff right hand.
Merlin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Ahma!
Ahma bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Ahma misses with a looping right.
Ahma uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Merlin has time to react.
Ahma looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ahma throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ahma misses with a body shot.
Ahma misses with a hook. Merlin ducked under it nicely.
A solid body kick from Ahma.
Merlin 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.
Ahma keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
Ahma trying to keep a closed guard but Merlin is proving a slippery customer.
Ahma knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Merlin on the ground.
Merlin trying to control but Ahma is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ahma is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Merlin, into his guard.
Ahma postures up.
Ahma sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ahma got a little sloppy there for a moment and Merlin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ahma has managed to get both his arms back between Merlin's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ahma defends it easily.
Ahma showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ahma wanted to stand there but Merlin had control of the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ahma doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ahma manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Merlin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ahma wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Merlin is looking for a triangle but Ahma pushes his legs off easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ahma controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Merlin is looking for a triangle but Ahma pushes his legs off easily.
Merlin being controlled here, momentarily.
Merlin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ahma wanted to stand there but Merlin had control of the position.
Ahma is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ahma would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Our spies down at at Valhalla MMA inform us that Merlin has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Ahma content to stall in guard here.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Verneri Ahma dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Ahma uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merlin.
Merlin throws a looping overhand right but Ahma ducks down to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merlin. Ahma does a little dance to reset his feet.
Merlin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Merlin misses with a body punch
and Ahma counters with a stiff right hand.
Merlin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ahma keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ahma needs to keep his hands up - Merlin had a free shot at his head there.
Merlin darts in looking for a takedown but Ahma gets double underhooks and turns Merlin into the cage.
Ahma throws an overhand right that lands on Merlin's shoulder, as Merlin tries to avoid the shot.
Merlin misses with a wild body shot.
Verneri Ahma is winning the standup battle so far.
Ahma looks to land a left hand but Merlin moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Merlin loads up on a big right hand but Ahma slips the punch.
Merlin walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ahma.
Merlin ducks under a wild hook from Ahma.
Merlin with the counter takedown but Ahma avoids it easily.
Merlin missing with a left hand there. Ahma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Merlin throws an off balance right hand
and Ahma counters with a straight right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ahma moves out of range of the strikes.
Merlin blocks a jab.
Merlin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Merlin missing with a left hand there. Ahma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Merlin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ahma.
Merlin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ahma jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Merlin looks to score with a jab to the body but Ahma is just out of range.
Ahma lands a nice looking kick to the body. Merlin takes a step back to recover.
Ahma uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Merlin.
Ahma throwing a counter right hand but Merlin manages to avoid it.
Merlin misses with a straight right.
Ahma appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Verneri Ahma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merlin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ahma is looking to clinch.
Merlin shoots in and drives through. Ahma sprawls well.
Ahma throws a low kick but Merlin moves out of range easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Merlin! But no joy.
Ahma lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Merlin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ahma counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Merlin is rocked!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merlin misses with a takedown attempt
and Ahma counters with a big right hand! Oh Merlin is in trouble here! Ahma follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:09 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Verneri Ahma!
Our winner, Verneri Ahma, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
51% |
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