PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Merchant (ranked 3949 p4p, 4046 weight class) and Petr Stukov (ranked 529 p4p, 540 weight class). Petr Stukov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Justin Merchant's chin.

Merchant
vs
Stukov

200 cm
25
220
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
222
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Justin Merchant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Petr Stukov!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stukov with the inside leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Stukov scores with a four punch combination!
Merchant definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Merchant looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Stukov throws a hook but Merchant blocks it.
Merchant is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stukov.
Merchant avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big left from Stukov misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Merchant misses its target.
Stukov misses with a straight left.
Stukov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merchant.
A little feinted left hand from Merchant on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Stukov misses with a double jab
and Merchant counters with a stiff right hand.
Stukov throws a leg kick that misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Merchant misses the target.
Stukov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merchant.
Stukov fails to land with a series of punches.
Merchant was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Stukov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merchant.
Merchant swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Decent striking displayed by Stukov there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Stukov misses.
A swing and a miss from Stukov.
Stukov with a nice calf kick.
Stukov tries a low kick but Merchant avoids it.
Stukov throws a head kick but Merchant moves out of range.
Merchant was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Merchant throws a series of strikes that have Stukov backpedaling.
Nice cross by Stukov.
Stukov throws an overhand right that lands on Merchant's shoulder, as Merchant tries to avoid the shot.
Stukov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Merchant.
Stukov throws an off balance right hand
and Merchant counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stukov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It looked like Merchant was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Merchant blocks a jab.
Stukov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stukov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merchant.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merchant throws a low kick but Stukov avoids it.
Stukov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stukov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Merchant is out of range and Stukov settles back down.
Merchant is looking to counter punch.
Stukov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merchant displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stukov throws out the jab.
A big left from Stukov misses.
It looked like Merchant was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Stukov.
Merchant misses with the combination.
Merchant throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stukov throws an overhand right that lands on Merchant's shoulder, as Merchant tries to avoid the shot.
Merchant stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stukov.
Stukov scores with a body shot.
Merchant throws a low kick but Stukov moves out of range easily.
Stukov throws a leg kick but Merchant sees it coming and moves out of range.
Merchant was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stukov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Merchant's sensitive parts.
Stukov throws a lazy right hand but Merchant sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Petr Stukov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merchant staying out of range there.
Merchant takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Stukov is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Stukov lands a jab to the nose.
Stukov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Merchant.
Stukov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merchant moves away.
Merchant attempts a counter takedown but Stukov avoids it well and moves away.
Stukov throws a jab when Merchant was well out of range.
Stukov tried to score with a low kick but Merchant checks it.
Stukov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Merchant takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Stukov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stukov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Merchant.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stukov looks to score with a jab to the body but Merchant is just out of range.
Stukov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Merchant's sensitive parts.
Stukov misses with a hook.
Merchant tried to score with a low kick but Stukov checks it.
Good work by Merchant as he checks the leg kick.
Merchant slips a straight right by Stukov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stukov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Stukov only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Stukov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stukov is really turning it up, unleashing another crisp combination which drops Merchant like a ton of bricks! The referee dives in to stop the fight, saving Merchant from another fist facial!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Petr Stukov!
Our winner, Petr Stukov, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.