PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between aaron graf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Mero Mero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). graf comes to the cage accompanied by T.N,T,. This should be fireworks!

graf
vs
Mero Mero

200 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, aaron graf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, El Mero Mero!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

graf scores with a takedown into Mero Mero's guard.
Mero Mero looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

graf drops back looking for a leg! Mero Mero is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mero Mero manages to kick graf off! graf jumps back into Mero Mero's guard.
graf will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

graf is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

graf thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mero Mero is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mero Mero striking off his back but it's not causing graf any problems.

graf thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

graf drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and graf jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from graf.
Mero Mero fails with a takedown attempt.
graf shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mero Mero but Mero Mero pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Excellent takedown into side control there by graf.
Mero Mero striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

graf is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mero Mero knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mero Mero can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

graf is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mero Mero has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mero Mero tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but graf wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mero Mero can't do much from the bottom here.

graf wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mero Mero, who protects the arm well.
Mero Mero wants to get back to his feet but graf drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mero Mero has a takedown stuffed.
No luck for graf with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for aaron graf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Mero Mero as graf shoots in.
Mero Mero shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with graf but graf pushes him off and we're back to square one.
graf closes the distance and clinches up with Mero Mero, looking for a takedown. graf pushes Mero Mero against the cage but Mero Mero circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mero Mero has a takedown stuffed.
graf fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mero Mero throws a right and a left that both miss.

graf darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

graf is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mero Mero is just riding it out for now. graf eventually gives up the hold.
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.
graf moves nicely into side control.
Mero Mero is trying to improve his position.

graf is trying to get an arm triangle but Mero Mero is defending well.

graf tries for a kimura but Mero Mero is defending well.

graf tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no graf has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

aaron graf dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mero Mero keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mero Mero shoots for a takedown but graf saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
graf with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mero Mero counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
graf shoots in and drives through. Mero Mero sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for aaron graf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
graf fails to land the takedown.
Good shot there by Mero Mero.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Mero Mero as graf shoots in.
graf really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
graf shoots in but Mero Mero avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mero Mero stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice takedown defense from Mero Mero. No joy for graf on that attempt.
graf shoots in for a double leg but Mero Mero sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
graf throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mero Mero's waist but Mero Mero gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing graf off to one side.
Mero Mero looks to land a combination. graf sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
graf has a takedown stuffed.
Mero Mero is looking to clinch but graf is avoiding it.
graf fails with the takedown.
graf closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mero Mero circles away.
aaron graf is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
graf misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
graf closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mero Mero circles away.
graf shoots in looking for a takedown. Mero Mero tries to sprawl out of it but graf keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mero Mero manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
graf avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
graf shoots in for a double leg but Mero Mero sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mero Mero stuffs the takedown attempt from graf. graf gets slowly back to his feet.
graf shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mero Mero as he avoids it easily.
graf shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mero Mero but Mero Mero pushes him off and we're back to square one.
graf closes the distance and clinches up with Mero Mero, looking for a takedown. graf pushes Mero Mero against the cage but Mero Mero circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mero Mero stuffs the takedown attempt from graf. graf gets slowly back to his feet.
Mero Mero connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
graf shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mero Mero pinned against the cage. Mero Mero gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mero Mero lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nice sprawl there from graf as Mero Mero shoots in.
graf shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from graf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
graf takes a head kick and keeps coming.
graf throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mero Mero's waist but Mero Mero gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing graf off to one side.
graf shoots in looking for a takedown. Mero Mero tries to sprawl out of it but graf keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mero Mero manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd cheers as Mero Mero lands an impressive looking overhand right. graf doesn't seem phased though.
Mero Mero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around graf's waist but graf gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mero Mero off to one side.
graf fails to land the takedown.
Mero Mero throws a head kick but graf moves out of range.
Mero Mero keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

graf gets a takedown into half guard.

graf looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

graf is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Mero Mero has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mero Mero looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mero Mero is trying to control but can't.

graf is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mero Mero sees it coming and defends easily.
Mero Mero trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

El Mero Mero 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!

Mero Mero stuffs the takedown attempt from graf. graf gets slowly back to his feet.
Mero Mero goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mero Mero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by graf.
graf with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mero Mero counters with a nice low kick that buckles graf's knee momentarily.
No luck for graf with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for aaron graf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mero Mero keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck for graf with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mero Mero moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Mero Mero lands a high kick!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No luck for graf with that takedown attempt.
Mero Mero tries to clinch there but graf circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
graf looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mero Mero is fending him off so far but graf persists. Nope, Mero Mero circles away and we're back to standing.
Mero Mero throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
graf shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mero Mero pinned against the cage. Mero Mero gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Danga de danga de dang - Mero Mero scores with a four punch combination!
graf throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mero Mero's waist but Mero Mero gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing graf off to one side.
graf dodges the punch combination from Mero Mero.
Mero Mero misses with a takedown attempt - graf sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mero Mero scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
graf shoots in and drives through. Mero Mero sprawls well.
graf fails with the takedown.
graf fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Mero Mero.
graf has a takedown stuffed.
Mero Mero scoring well with a low kick there.
graf shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mero Mero as he jumps to the side.
Mero Mero changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. graf tries to avoid it but Mero Mero manages to keep hold of a leg and drag graf to the ground. graf escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mero Mero wants to clinch up but graf keeps it at a distance.
graf shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mero Mero as he avoids it easily.
Mero Mero tries to clinch up.
Nice takedown defense from Mero Mero. No joy for graf on that attempt.
Mero Mero shoots in and drives through. graf sprawls well.
Mero Mero lands a jab-cross combination.

graf shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

graf seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

graf is working for a submission of some sort.

graf is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

graf wants to work for an arm triangle but Mero Mero is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

graf is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

graf is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mero Mero really doesn't want to stay on the ground with graf. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mero Mero is trying to stand.

graf is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mero Mero throws a quick head kick that skims the top of graf's head.
graf tries for a takedown but Mero Mero sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
graf shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
aaron graf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
graf looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mero Mero fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. graf looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
graf fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
graf shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mero Mero but Mero Mero pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Mero Mero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mero Mero 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... El Mero Mero!