PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sazh Blaskey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jiraia Merchury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Blaskey
vs
Merchury

184 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
200 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sazh Blaskey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jiraia Merchury!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merchury keeps the fight on the outside.
Blaskey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Merchury is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Blaskey wants to clinch

and Merchury moves into the clinch.
Merchury fails to pull guard.
Merchury tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blaskey smiles and moves away.
Blaskey closes the distance but Merchury moves to the side

and Merchury moves into the clinch.
Merchury lands an elbow inside that Blaskey shrugs off.
Merchury tries to pull guard but Blaskey holds him up against the cage and eventually Merchury drops back down to his feet.
Sazh Blaskey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jiraia Merchury.
Blaskey avoiding damage as Merchury throws knees to the body.
Blaskey wants to break the clinch but can't.
Merchury fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Merchury tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Blaskey just stands there and leans against the cage.
Merchury with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blaskey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Blaskey misses with a punch to the body.
Merchury fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Merchury fails to pull guard.
Merchury misses with a knee to the head.
Merchury tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Blaskey just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merchury. Blaskey does a little dance to reset his feet.

Merchury moves into range and clinches up with Blaskey.

Merchury jumps guard.
Blaskey keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Merchury's head.
Blaskey preventing the sweep.
Blaskey stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merchury swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blaskey is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Merchury seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Merchury trying to keep a closed guard but Blaskey is proving a slippery customer.

Merchury working for a triangle but Blaskey defends it easily.

Merchury escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blaskey gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Merchury looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Merchury is proving hard to escape from.
Merchury keeping moving, preventing Blaskey from controlling successfully.
Blaskey trying to move into half guard but instead Merchury has managed to sweep!

Merchury is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Blaskey is looking to stand up but Merchury isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merchury trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blaskey managing to control the position.
Blaskey tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blaskey knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Merchury on the ground.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Blaskey tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Merchury holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Merchury prevents a body shot from Blaskey.

That's four 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.
Blaskey misses with a hook to the ribs.
Merchury is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Merchury tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Blaskey is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Blaskey's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Merchury trying to land knees to the body.
Merchury misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Merchury jumps guard but Blaskey stands there with Merchury around his waist. Merchury gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blaskey. Merchury does a little dance to reset his feet.
Merchury avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blaskey clinches but Merchury breaks the clinch

and Merchury counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Merchury.
Merchury keeps control of Blaskey as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Merchury tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Blaskey just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Merchury prevents Blaskey from breaking the clinch.
Blaskey tries to break the clinch but Merchury is controlling the position.
Merchury blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jiraia Merchury dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Merchury circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merchury fails with the takedown.
Blaskey closes the distance but Merchury moves to the side
and Merchury counters with a one-two to the body.
Blaskey tries to close the distance and clinch but Merchury swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Merchury keeps the fight on the outside.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Blaskey is looking to clinch but Merchury is avoiding it.
Blaskey moves in looking to clinch but Merchury pushes him off.
Merchury fails with the takedown.
Merchury fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sazh Blaskey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jiraia Merchury.
Blaskey tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Merchury counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Blaskey is looking to improve his position.
Blaskey keeping control of the position.
Merchury is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaskey is looking to improve his position.
Blaskey on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blaskey tries to get out of the position.
Blaskey regains full guard. Nicely done.
Blaskey seems keen to control Merchury's posture.
Blaskey wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Blaskey is looking to stand up but Merchury isn't so interested in that idea.
Merchury thows a big elbow that misses.
Blaskey keeping moving, preventing Merchury from controlling successfully.
Blaskey wants to sweep here but Merchury controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Blaskey wants to clinch.
Blaskey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Merchury paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blaskey scores with a takedown into Merchury's guard.
Blaskey trying to control but Merchury is working from the bottom.
Blaskey has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Blaskey wants to pass the guard but Merchury is keeping the position.

Merchury escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blaskey gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blaskey postures up and lands a big shot to Merchury's brow.
Merchury looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey is stalling in the full guard.
Blaskey tries to free his leg and advance position but Merchury is retaining full guard.
Blaskey working some strikes from top position.
Merchury keeping moving, preventing Blaskey from controlling successfully.
Merchury is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Merchury keeping moving, preventing Blaskey from controlling successfully.
Merchury keeping full guard, as Blaskey tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sazh Blaskey will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Merchury tries to score a power double leg takedown but Blaskey sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Merchury somewhat.
Merchury fails with the takedown

and Blaskey counters with a single leg into guard. Merchury didn't expect that.
Blaskey wants to control from the top but Merchury keeps moving.
Merchury wants to sweep but no luck.
Blaskey working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Merchury's head.
Merchury is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Blaskey is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blaskey scoring with punches to the head and body.
Blaskey landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blaskey is looking to stand up but Merchury won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blaskey avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Merchury looking for a sweep. Not yet Merchury, not yet.
Blaskey slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Blaskey content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Blaskey controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Blaskey pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merchury is keeping the position for now.
Blaskey trying to control but Merchury is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Merchury working for a triangle but Blaskey defends it easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Blaskey's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Blaskey trying to control the position from guard on top but Merchury is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blaskey sitting in guard here, content to control.
Merchury keeping moving, preventing Blaskey from controlling successfully.
Blaskey postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey chips away with some ground and pound.
Blaskey preventing the sweep.
Blaskey looking to pass the guard.
Blaskey distracts Merchury with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Blaskey content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Merchury is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Blaskey defends well.
Blaskey with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blaskey scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey trying to control but Merchury is working from the bottom.
Blaskey working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Merchury is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Blaskey chips away with some ground and pound.
Blaskey wants to stand but Merchury is controlling his posture from full guard.

Merchury is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blaskey is aware though and is defending well.
Sazh Blaskey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blaskey wants to control from the top but Merchury keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sazh Blaskey showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blaskey has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!