PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shelby Merryman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King Mo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). King Mo has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Shelby Merryman's chin.

Merryman
vs
Mo

197 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
191 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shelby Merryman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, King Mo!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merryman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Merryman is looking to clinch but Mo is avoiding it.
Mo throws a combination that misses
and Merryman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Merryman tries to clinch up but Mo circles away and keeps his distance.
Merryman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Merryman is looking to clinch but Mo is avoiding it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mo breaks the clinch.
Merryman throws a left and a right that both miss

and Mo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Merryman won't be happy with that.

Mo swings around for an armbar but Merryman sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mo's guard.
Mo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Merryman!
Merryman looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Merryman tries to lock up and control but Mo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merryman is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mo jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Merryman manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Merryman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Merryman tries to get out of the position.
Merryman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Merryman is trying to get back to full guard.
Merryman gets full guard.
Mo postures up.

Merryman has his foot on Mo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mo works his way back into a safe position though.

Mo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Merryman is breathing heavily.
Mo circles away from the clinch attempt
and Mo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merryman clinches but Mo breaks the clinch
and Mo counters with a nice leg kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mo.

It looks like Shelby Merryman has been cut.
Shelby Merryman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mo takes the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mo throws a combination that misses
and Merryman counters with a stiff right hand.
Mo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Merryman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Merryman has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Merryman misses with a hook to the body

and Mo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Merryman won't be happy with that.

Mo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Merryman has escaped the position, nice work there.

Mo tries for a kimura but Merryman is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Merryman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mo working the ground and pound but Merryman is defending the strikes.

Mo decides to stand back up. Mo steps back and let's Merryman get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Merryman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A low kick from Merryman is predictable there
and Mo counters with a series of strikes. Merryman will be more careful next time no doubt.
A right-left combo lands from Merryman.

Mo moves into the clinch.
Merryman tries to break free but Mo pushes him back against the cage.

Mo breaks from the clinch.
Merryman jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Merryman misses with a double jab
and Mo counters with a one-two to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merryman closes the distance but Mo moves to the side
and Mo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Merryman's knee momentarily.
Merryman wants to clinch
and Mo counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Mo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shelby Merryman's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mo slips under a jab from Merryman.
Merryman looks for the body kick but Mo saw that one coming.
Mo lands with an uppercut that bounces Merryman off the cage and back into rage.
Shelby Merryman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Merryman tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Merryman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Merryman darts in trying to clinch

and Mo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Merryman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Merryman tries to throw a body punch but Mo avoids it by throwing Merryman back against the cage.

Mo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Mo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mo throws a right hand that Merryman ducks under and follows up with a left that Merryman also avoids with ease.
Mo throws a right and a left that Merryman avoids nicely.
Mo works over Merryman's head and body with a nice combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Mo scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merryman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Mo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Merryman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Mo breaks from the clinch.
Mo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Merryman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mo somewhat.
Merryman closes the distance but Mo moves to the side

and Mo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Merryman's guard now.
Merryman wants to sweep here but Mo controlling him for the moment.
Mo wants to stand but Merryman has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Merryman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mo forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merryman is positioning himself well to prevent Mo advancing to mount.

Mo looking for a submission but Merryman manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Mo is fighting to break Merryman's control of his arms but Merryman is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Mo thows a big elbow that misses.
Mo slips nicely into half guard.
Mo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Merryman is looking for a sweep. Mo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Mo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Mo is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Merryman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Merryman is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Merryman is looking to control Mo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Merryman avoid being mounted?
Mo prevents Merryman from improving his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mo throws a right hand that Merryman ducks under and follows up with a left that Merryman also avoids with ease.
Mo throws a series of punches but Merryman moves out of range.
Merryman wants to clinch.
Merryman tries to clinch
and Mo counters with a two punch combo.
Merryman closes the distance but Mo moves to the side
and Mo counters with a left and a right that stings Merryman.
Mo is working the combinations to good effect here.
Mo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Mo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shelby Merryman's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Merryman closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Merryman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Merryman pulls his leg out and moves away.
Merryman tries to clinch

and Mo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Merryman gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mo lands a nice shot to the body.

Mo manages to break the clinch.
Merryman tries to clinch

and Mo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Merryman!
Merryman is in all sorts of trouble here.
Merryman looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mo is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Merryman has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mo is throwing shots to the body but Merryman manages to wriggle free. Mo pounces on him again and ends up in Merryman's guard.
Mo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Merryman has Mo pulled in close to control his posture.

Mo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Mo stands and steps away. Merryman gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Merryman looks to clinch

and Mo counters by moving into the clinch.
Merryman looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Merryman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Merryman prevents it.
Shelby Merryman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of King Mo.

Mo is trying to trip Merryman. He has hold of a leg but Merryman is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mo persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Mo stands up from Merryman's guard - Mo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Merryman clinches but Mo breaks the clinch
and Mo counters with a three punch combo that has Merryman backing up. Merryman nods at Mo to acknowledge the strikes.
Mo closes the distance and clinches up with Merryman, looking for a takedown. Mo pushes Merryman against the cage but Merryman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Merryman tries to clinch but Mo moves away

and Mo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Merryman's guard.

Mo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merryman controlling Mo's posture.

Mo gets to his feet - Merryman follows without any prompting.
Merryman falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Merryman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Merryman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mo is working away from the top position though.
Mo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merryman tries to get to full guard but Mo has control of the leg.
Mo is thwarting Merryman's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merryman tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Mo has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Shelby Merryman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
King Mo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mo gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

And that's the end of the fight!
King Mo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mo 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... King Mo!