PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taylor Jack (ranked 475 p4p, 775 weight class) and Anthony Merel (ranked 48 p4p, 83 weight class). Jack's entrance music is Lucid Dreams. A fine choice. Taylor Jack could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Anthony Merel's chin.

Jack
vs
Merel

175 cm
38
146
33 - 20 - 2

171 cm
31
152
18 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 20 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Taylor Jack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Merel!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jack misses the shot to the body.
Jack has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Canadian Combat Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Merel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jack moves away.
Jack half committed to a counter leg kick.
Merel dives in and grabs Jack's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jack pushes down on Merel's head and hops out.
A lazy body kick from Jack
and Merel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Merel ducks under a wild hook from Jack.
Jack moves out of range of the strikes.
Merel ducks under a wild hook from Jack.
Merel throws a body punch but Jack moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Merel closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Merel trying to control the position but Jack is working away.
Merel creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack tries to improve position but can't.
Jack is trying to control Merel's posture but Merel avoids it.
Merel moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merel throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Merel trying to control the position but Jack is working away.
Jack is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Jack can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Merel misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Merel cracks Jack with a big right hand but Jack just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Merel content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Merel in the domination position with Jack hanging on.
Merel misses with the ground and pound.
Merel working the ground and pound but Jack is defending the strikes.
The ground and pound from Merel seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Merel lands an elbow.
Jack regains half guard.
Merel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jack defending well though.
Merel tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jack knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Jack wants to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Merel.
Merel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jack trying to hold on to Merel's head to control him but Merel postures up.
Merel is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Merel content to control rather than advance.
Jack is controlling Merel's trapped leg to prevent Merel from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jack moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Merel won't allow Jack to get back to his feet.
Jack is trying to keep Merel in close.
Merel scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jack preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Merel postures up in Jack's guard and throws a big left but Jack blocks it.
Merel trying to control but Jack is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Merel dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Merel throws a body shot but no joy.
Jack uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merel.
Merel misses with a body shot
and Jack counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Jack. That snapped Merel's head back.
Jack bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Merel's head backwards.
Merel lands with a straight right. Jack didn't see that one coming.
Jack misses with a right hand
and Merel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jack misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Merel.
Merel with the counter takedown but Jack avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Merel throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jack slips a straight right by Merel.
Jack throws out a leg kick but Merel moves out of range and Jack only half commits.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jack lands a nice looking kick to the body. Merel takes a step back to recover.
Merel misses with a right hand
and Jack counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Jack moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Jack moves away from the strike by Merel.
Merel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jack uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merel.
Merel defending well as Jack loads up on a big left hand.
Merel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Merel takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Merel misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jack lands a right hook to the body.
Merel lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Jack misses the shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Merel.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jack gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Merel.
The crowd cheers as Merel lands an impressive looking overhand right. Jack doesn't seem phased though.
Merel slips under a jab from Jack.
Merel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jack.
Jack throws a jab when Merel was well out of range.
Jack scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Taylor Jack is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jack keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel stuns Jack with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A lazy left from Merel finds it's target.
Jack scores with a hook to the body. Merel takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Merel connects with a body shot.
Jack fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Merel manages to avoid it.
Merel misses with a jab to the body
and Jack counters with a nice kick to the body.
Jack misses with a body kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Merel misses.
Jack cracks Merel with an open hand slap.
Merel gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jack.
Merel lands a head shot.
Merel lands an overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merel throws a combination. Jack tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Merel feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jacks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Jack is rocked!
Jack slips a jab from Merel.
Oh Jack is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Merel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jack is looking to counter punch.
Jack seems to have got his legs back now.
Merel checks a leg kick.
Jack just misses with a punch to the body.
Merel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jack sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Merel somewhat.
Jack is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merel.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anthony Merel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Merel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jack uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Merel.
Jack looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Merel swings for the body but Jack moves out of range.
Merel throws a jab when Jack was well out of range.
Jack looks to score with a jab to the body but Merel is just out of range.
Jack swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Crunch! Jack slams his shin into Merel's torso.
Nice defenses there by Merel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jack swings for the body but Merel moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Merel on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Merel has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Merel there as he acknowledges the shot.
Jack scores with a crisp jab that stopped Merel in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A telegraphed right hand from Merel misses the target.
Merel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jack at a distance.
Jack throws a leg kick which misses Merel's front leg but catches the back leg as Merel tries to avoid it.
Jack misses the shot to the body.
Merel drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Jack defends it well.
Merel takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Jack lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Merel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jack was well out of range. Poor timing from Merel.
Merel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jack.
Jack misses with a low kick as Merel jumps back.
Merel misses with a right hand
and Jack counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Anthony Merel seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Merel misses with an uppercut.
Jack ducks under a wild hook from Merel.
A quick step to the side and Jack tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jack cracks Merel with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Jack will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Jack throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merel changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Jack throws out a powerful jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jack takes one to the chin there.
Jack ducks under a wild hook from Merel.
Merel misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel scores with a nice strike.
Merel cracks Jack with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Jack takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nice sprawl there from Jack as Merel shoots in.
An attempted straight right counter from Jack misses the target.
Merel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jack.
Taylor Jack has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Merel ducks under a wild hook from Jack.
And Merel tries to counter it with a takedown but Jack pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Merel misses with an uppercut
and Merel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Merel throws a hook but Jack avoids it easily.
Jack blocks a jab.
A big right from Jack misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merel misses with an uppercut. Jack saw that one coming.
Merel ducks under a wild hook from Jack.
Merel looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Merel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jack manages to avoid it.
Merel misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Jack connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merel. Jack does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big right from Merel misses.
Merel looks to score with a jab to the body but Jack is just out of range.
Merel lands with a hook. Jack tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A clash of legs there as Merel blocks the low kick.
Merel looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Merel moves out of range as Jack strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Taylor Jack.
Well Merel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Merel!
Anthony Merel decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.