PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Panom Yeerum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Merker Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Yeerum
vs
Merker Junior

168 cm
24
170 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

178 cm
26
177 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good gas tank

STEEL PENN NUTRITION - STEEL RESERVE 158+ ONLY$89

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Panom Yeerum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Merker Junior!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yeerum throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Merker Junior was covering up waiting for the punch and Yeerum finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Yeerum drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yeerum jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Yeerum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Yeerum 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.

Merker Junior throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Yeerum loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Yeerum in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Merker Junior controls Yeerum momentarily but Yeerum frees himself.
Merker Junior wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yeerum throws and elbow that misses. Merker Junior uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Yeerum's guard. Nice move by Merker Junior!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merker Junior trying to control but Yeerum is working from the bottom.
Merker Junior wants to pass the guard but Yeerum is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Merker Junior steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yeerum.
Panom Yeerum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yeerum misses the jab.
Yeerum pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Yeerum is looking to clinch but Merker Junior is avoiding it.
Merker Junior ducks under a wild hook from Yeerum.
Yeerum scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Yeerum is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merker Junior.

Yeerum has managed to clinch.

Yeerum jumps into guard, dragging Merker Junior to the mat.

Merker Junior avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Merker Junior lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Yeerum escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Merker Junior gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior is pushing down on Yeerum's leg trying to pass to half guard. Yeerum is fighting to maintain full guard but Merker Junior has managed to sneak the leg through.

Merker Junior seems to be working for a kimura but Yeerum defends the submission attempt.
Yeerum is looking for a sweep. Merker Junior is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Yeerum actively working from the bottom here.

Yeerum is defending against the submission attempts here by Merker Junior.
Merker Junior passes to side control.
Yeerum tries to buck Merker Junior off but Merker Junior is having none of it.
Merker Junior lands an elbow.
Yeerum is trying to improve his position.
Merker Junior is looking to take a break and control but Yeerum is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yeerum is looking to regain half guard here but Merker Junior keeps moving and retains side control.
Merker Junior advances to full mount.
Yeerum regains half guard.

Merker Junior is working for a submission of some sort.

Merker Junior is working for a kimura but Yeerum is defending it quite comfortably.
Merker Junior slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yeerum actively working from the bottom here.

Yeerum looking for submissions off his back.

Yeerum actively working from the bottom here.
Merker Junior wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yeerum keeps working.
Yeerum is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yeerum manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Yeerum working for a triangle but Merker Junior defends it easily.

Merker Junior thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Merker Junior will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Yeerum throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Merker Junior throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick misses from Yeerum.
Merker Junior displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yeerum throws out the jab.
Yeerum tries to clinch but Merker Junior is having none of it.
Yeerum dives in and grabs Merker Junior's left leg, looking for a takedown. Merker Junior pushes down on Yeerum's head and hops out.

Merker Junior shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Merker Junior was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Yeerum regains half guard.
Merker Junior works his way into side control.
Yeerum tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Yeerum is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Merker Junior is trying to get an arm triangle but Yeerum is defending well.
Merker Junior works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yeerum tries to improve position but can't.
Yeerum regains half guard.

Merker Junior seems to be working for a kimura but Yeerum defends the submission attempt.
Yeerum punching from the bottom.

Yeerum is defending against the submission attempts here by Merker Junior.
Yeerum on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Yeerum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Merker Junior working the head and body with strikes.
Merker Junior scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Merker Junior wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yeerum keeps working.

Yeerum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Merker Junior seems content to control.
Merker Junior is trying to control the action in half guard but Yeerum is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yeerum won't allow Merker Junior to pass to mount.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Merker Junior is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Yeerum's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merker Junior is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Merker Junior is breathing heavily.
Yeerum really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yeerum is squirming around, avoiding Merker Junior's attempts to control the action.
Merker Junior unloading with bombs!
Merker Junior blocks Yeerum's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Yeerum swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Yeerum is squirming around, avoiding Merker Junior's attempts to control the action.
Merker Junior might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Yeerum kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Yeerum has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Yeerum can't escape the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Yeerum manages to reverse the position and now he's in Merker Junior's guard. Nice work there by Yeerum.
Merker Junior trying to control the position.
Merker Junior wants to sweep but no luck.
Merker Junior pulls Yeerum in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yeerum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Merker Junior works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Merker Junior bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yeerum's guard.

Merker Junior avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Yeerum keeping full guard, as Merker Junior tries to pass.
Yeerum keeping moving, preventing Merker Junior from controlling successfully.
Merker Junior wants to pass the guard but Yeerum is keeping the position.

Yeerum looking for a guillotine here but Merker Junior defends easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Merker Junior's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Merker Junior showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Yeerum gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Merker Junior decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Yeerum's guard.
Yeerum doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Merker Junior stands and throws Yeerum's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Merker Junior wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yeerum, who protects the arm well.
Merker Junior trying to control the position but Yeerum is working away.
Merker Junior in side control lands a decent elbow.

Merker Junior is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Yeerum is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Yeerum manages to work his way to half guard, despite Merker Junior's best efforts.

Yeerum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Merker Junior takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Yeerum is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merker Junior pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merker Junior is keen to just control but Yeerum is a slippery customer.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yeerum manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Merker Junior won't allow Yeerum to sweep him here.

Merker Junior 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.
Merker Junior distracts Yeerum with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Merker Junior wants to pass the guard but Yeerum is keeping the position.

Yeerum looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Merker Junior scoring with punches to the head and body.
Merker Junior is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Yeerum escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Merker Junior gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Merker Junior cracks Yeerum with a solid left hand.
Panom Yeerum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior is in close to Yeerum's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Merker Junior passes Yeerum's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Merker Junior passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Yeerum!
Yeerum slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Merker Junior is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Yeerum!
Yeerum tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merker Junior tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Yeerum really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yeerum is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior looking to control but Yeerum is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mark Merker Junior has got the better of the ground game so far.

Merker Junior working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Merker Junior prevents Yeerum from getting the reversal.
Merker Junior has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Yeerum's face.
Yeerum is looking to improve his position but Merker Junior isn't that keen on the idea.
Merker Junior scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Yeerum throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Merker Junior with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yeerum is squirming around, avoiding Merker Junior's attempts to control the action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Merker Junior cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Yeerum tries to reverse the position but Merker Junior maintains control.
Merker Junior with shots to the head and body - Yeerum looks very uncomfortable down there.
Yeerum working to try and regain half guard.
Merker Junior working the ground and pound effectively.
Yeerum is mounted but he's throwing punches.
Merker Junior unloading with bombs!
Merker Junior looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mark Merker Junior is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Merker Junior comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Merker Junior winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Merker Junior!