PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grant Merrill (ranked 24873 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axel Flores (ranked 4592 p4p, 0 weight class). Grant Merrill has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Merrill
vs
Flores

183 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grant Merrill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Axel Flores!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flores tries to clinch but Merrill is having none of it.
Flores fails in his attempt to clinch.
Merrill tries to counter by clinching up but Flores breaks away and moves out of range.
Flores lands a jab to the head.
Flores misses with a takedown attempt

and Merrill counters by moving into the clinch.
Flores tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Flores is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Merrill tries to pull guard but Flores won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flores tries to score a body lock takedown but Merrill shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Flores.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flores drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merrill working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Flores is trying to keep Merrill in close.
Flores trying to control the position here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Flores is on top in guard.

Merrill looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Merrill is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Flores defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flores postures up in Merrill's guard and throws a big left but Merrill blocks it.
Flores missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Merrill controls Flores momentarily but Flores frees himself.
Flores is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Merrill wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flores looking to sit in guard and control but Merrill gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Flores wants to get back to his feet but Merrill passes into half guard.

Flores is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Merrill has latched onto it... Big trouble! Merrill pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Flores is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Merrill!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Grant Merrill!