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Play by Play - Manager's Fight Commentary
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Event:
Quick Fight Championship
Date: Apr 25, 2025 |
#R1#
Ahalkalun moves forwards but Merlyn connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ahalkalun is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Merlyn shoots and misses
and Ahalkalun counters with a stiff right hand.
Merlyn throws out a token jab with nothing on it.#CL#
Merlyn clinches up against the cage.
Merlyn landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Merlyn misses with a body punch.
A hook to the body from Merlyn.
Ahalkalun swings wildly with an uppercut but Merlyn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Merlyn blocking some punches.
Ahalkalun misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ahalkalun creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Merlyn prevents a body shot from Ahalkalun.
Come on Merlyn - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Merlyn has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ahalkalun avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.#T1#
A short body shot lands from Merlyn as the two fighters clinch.
#TD#
Merlyn pulls guard effortlessly.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Merlyn bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ahalkalun's guard. #REVR#
Merlyn sitting in guard here, content to control.
Merlyn pushing down on Ahalkalun's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Merlyn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Merlyn controlling the action here.
Merlyn works his way into full mount!
Merlyn controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ahalkalun wants to control but Merlyn is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.#T2#
Merlyn controlling from mount.
Ahalkalun is wriggling around trying to escape.
Merlyn controlling the position easily from mount.
Ahalkalun looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Merlyn punches the canvas rather than the man. #SUB#
Ahalkalun is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Merlyn gets his way!
Ahalkalun really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Merlyn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merlyn is not going to allow Ahalkalun to sit and survive in this position. #T3##SUB#
Merlyn looking for the RNC. #SUB#
Ahalkalun defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Merlyn controlling the position well here. Ahalkalun rolled but Merlyn kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Ahalkalun wants to escape the position.
#T4#
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Merlyn misses with an elbow to the head.
Merlyn throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Merlyn has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.#SUB#
Ahalkalun preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Merlyn.
Ahalkalun just trying to survive but Merlyn is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Merlyn missing with strikes from the back.
Ahalkalun can't escape the position.
The referee is taking a good look at Ahalkalun as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Merlyn!
Ahalkalun grimaces as he takes a shot to the body. #SUB#
Merlyn looking to break Ahalkalun's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Ahalkalun remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Merlyn will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ahalkalun grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Merlyn controlling the position well here. Ahalkalun rolled but Merlyn kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Malcolm Merlyn dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!#R2#
Ahalkalun defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Merlyn.
Merlyn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A little jabbing left from Ahalkalun on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.#CL#
Merlyn clinches.
Merlyn is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ahalkalun is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Merlyn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merlyn blocking some punches.
#TD#
Merlyn tightens his grip and picks Ahalkalun up, before dumping him to the ground. Ahalkalun manages to land in guard.
Ahalkalun controls Merlyn momentarily but Merlyn frees himself. #SU#
Merlyn stands up from Ahalkalun's guard - Merlyn perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlyn gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Merlyn takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice takedown defense from Ahalkalun. No joy for Merlyn on that attempt. #T1##CL#
Merlyn clinches up against the cage.#TD#
Merlyn pulls Ahalkalun into guard.
Ahalkalun stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlyn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlyn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ahalkalun can do to turn this around?
Merlyn has Ahalkalun pulled in close to control his posture.
Ahalkalun pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlyn is keeping the position for now.
Merlyn seems keen to control Ahalkalun's posture.#ES#
Merlyn has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ahalkalun off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds. #T2##TD#
Merlyn gets a takedown into half guard.
Merlyn passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Ahalkalun!
Merlyn working Ahalkalun over with strikes here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merlyn breaks from Ahalkalun's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ahalkalun tries to lock up and control but Merlyn gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Merlyn controlling from mount.
Merlyn's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.#T3#
Merlyn throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Ahalkalun can't escape the position.
Merlyn breaks from Ahalkalun's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Merlyn cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Merlyn controlling his opponent. #SUB#
Merlyn working for a guillotine from mount but Ahalkalun is in no mood to give up.
Merlyn lands a big elbow.
Ahalkalun keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
#T4#
Merlyn takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Further stalling from Merlyn.
Merlyn breaks from Ahalkalun's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Merlyn controlling his opponent.
Malcolm Merlyn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.#SUB#
Ahalkalun defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Merlyn.
Merlyn pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Malcolm Merlyn dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!#R3#
Ahalkalun lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.#TD#
Merlyn shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ahalkalun's guard.
Merlyn might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merlyn makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Merlyn is looking to work some ground and pound but Ahalkalun has wrist control.#SU#
Merlyn decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ahalkalun defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Merlyn.
Ahalkalun throws out a counter right but Merlyn avoids it with no problem.
Merlyn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlyn looks for a takedown but Ahalkalun sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Merlyn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merlyn misses with a takedown attempt
and Ahalkalun counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.#T1#
Merlyn swinging wildly here.
Ahalkalun pivots, looking for a leg kick but Merlyn is out of range and Ahalkalun settles back down.
Merlyn connects with a body shot.
Ahalkalun tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ahalkalun wants to clinch up but Merlyn keeps it at a distance.
A little feinted left hand from Merlyn on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Merlyn throws a sloppy body shot
and Ahalkalun counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt. #CL#
Merlyn moves into range and clinches up with Ahalkalun.#TD#
Merlyn ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Merlyn no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ahalkalun must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ahalkalun pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlyn is keeping the position for now.
Zainat Ahalkalun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!#T2#
Ahalkalun wants to control from the top but Merlyn keeps moving.
Merlyn bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ahalkalun's guard. #REVR#
Ahalkalun looking to control.
Merlyn sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ahalkalun trying to keep a closed guard but Merlyn is proving a slippery customer.
#T3##SU#
Merlyn stands up from Ahalkalun's guard - Merlyn perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ahalkalun tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Merlyn misses with a takedown attempt
and Ahalkalun counters with a nice uppercut.
Zainat Ahalkalun seems to be getting the better of the standup.#CL#
Ahalkalun tries to keep at a distance but Merlyn has taken the fight into the clinch.
Merlyn tries a body shot but Ahalkalun blocks it.
#BC#
Merlyn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ahalkalun just misses with a punch to the body.
Merlyn appears to be looking for a big counter.#CL#
Merlyn moves into the clinch.
Ahalkalun misses with a short punch on the inside. #T4#
Ahalkalun misses with a punch on the inside.
Merlyn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ahalkalun throws a punch but it's blocked by Merlyn.
Ahalkalun throws a punch but it's blocked by Merlyn.
Ahalkalun throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.#BC#
Merlyn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Merlyn bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Malcolm Merlyn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.#CL#
Merlyn rushes Ahalkalun and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ahalkalun tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Merlyn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ahalkalun walks away with a smile on his face. Merlyn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ahalkalun finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Merlyn scoring well with a low kick there.
Malcolm Merlyn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ahalkalun stuffs the takedown.
And that's the end of the fight!
Malcolm Merlyn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Merlyn, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnem�ki scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malcolm Merlyn! |
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