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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Merdian (ranked 5632 p4p, 415 weight class) and Luss Rittle (ranked 24182 p4p, 527 weight class). Luss Rittle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 207 cm
23
255 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
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200 cm
25
245 lbs
2 - 5 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident |
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BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Tony Merdian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luss Rittle!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Merdian.
Merdian closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rittle is trying to pull guard but Merdian has him pressed against the cage.
Rittle dodges an elbow strike from Merdian.
Merdian escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Merdian lands a head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merdian throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rittle tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Merdian is in Rittle's guard.
Rittle lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Merdian controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rittle has control of Merdian's left arm, preventing Merdian from doing any damage.
Rittle can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Merdian controls the pace.
Merdian has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Merdian wants to control from the top but Rittle keeps moving.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Merdian misses with a body punch.
Merdian doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Merdian digs a right hand into Rittle's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rittle's gas tank.
Rittle blocking some punches.
Merdian tries to throw a body punch but Rittle avoids it by throwing Merdian back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rittle's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Merdian breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Merdian looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Merdian gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rittle drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merdian breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merdian wants to clinch
and Rittle counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Merdian thinking.
Rittle shoots for a double leg takedown but Merdian sprawls well. He's pushed Rittle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tony Merdian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luss Rittle.
Rittle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Merdian went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Merdian shoots in looking for a takedown but Rittle manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Merdian's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rittle gets caught flat footed, as Merdian shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Merdian has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Merdian trying to control the position from guard on top but Rittle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merdian is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rittle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merdian is one step ahead there.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merdian is stalling in the full guard.
Merdian seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rittle for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Tony Merdian dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Rittle stuffs the takedown attempt from Merdian. Merdian gets slowly back to his feet.
Merdian shoots for a double leg takedown but Rittle sprawls well. He's pushed Merdian's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tony Merdian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rittle moves in looking to clinch but Merdian pushes him off.
Merdian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Merdian moves in looking to clinch but Rittle pushes him off.
Merdian uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rittle.
Merdian is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Merdian shoots for a takedown but Rittle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Merdian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merdian darts in looking for a takedown but Rittle gets double underhooks and turns Merdian into the cage.
Merdian looks for a takedown but Rittle sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merdian avoids the head kick by Rittle.
A counter left hand to the body from Merdian misses its target.
Merdian moves into the clinch successfully.
Merdian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rittle can do to turn this around?
Rittle is struggling to control the position.
Rittle is trying to drag Merdian to the mat but Merdian just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merdian slowing the pace effectively.
Merdian manages to break the clinch.
Merdian slips a jab and a cross from Rittle.
As Rittle looks to move away, Merdian throws a big counter combo but Rittle just gets out of the way.
Rittle fails with the takedown
and Merdian connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Merdian shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merdian decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rittle, up you get!
Rittle has closed the distance and engaged Merdian in a clinch.
Rittle manages to break the clinch.
Merdian closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rittle quickly recovers to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merdian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rittle keeps working.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merdian stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Tony Merdian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merdian shoots in for a double leg but Rittle sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rittle feints a jab promting Merdian to slip. Rittle then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Merdian slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Merdian keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Merdian is looking to clinch.
Merdian fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rittle avoids it really well and circles away.
Merdian moves to clinch but Rittle breaks away
and Rittle counters with a nice kick to the body.
Rittle drives through and clinches with Merdian against the cage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merdian breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rittle shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Merdian napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Merdian bucks up and tries to throw Rittle off but instead Rittle has got his back!
I really don't envy Merdian right now.
Rittle has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Merdian's body.
Can Merdian hold on?! Rittle is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rittle working for the choke.
Rittle controlling from the back.
Rittle controlling well, preventing Merdian from escaping the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rittle wants to control the position but Merdian frees himself and scrambles - Rittle manages to regain control in side control.
Merdian is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Luss Rittle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Merdian's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Rittle darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Merdian tries to kick Rittle off in order to stand up. Rittle Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merdian sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rittle is thwarting Merdian's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Rittle is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merdian slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Merdian trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rittle's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rittle wants to control from the top but Merdian keeps moving.
Merdian looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rittle puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Merdian is looking for a sweep. Rittle is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rittle trying to control from half guard but Merdian is working away.
Merdian is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rittle controlling the action here.
Rittle is trying for a kimura here. Merdian looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Rittle wins by kimura!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Luss Rittle!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
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
45% |
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