PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Walt Potter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Merde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Potter comes to the cage accompanied by Emalkay - When I Look At You. Merde is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Mötorhead's Burner. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Potter
vs
Merde

189 cm
25
219 lbs
7 - 0 - 1

175 cm
27
220 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Walt Potter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Merde!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Merde looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Potter!
Merde throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Potter is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Merde has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Merde misses with a head shot.
Potter is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Merde working Potter over with strikes here.
Potter is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Potter is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Merde thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Merde misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Potter tries to buck Merde off but he can't manage it.
Potter on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Potter tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merde postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Potter looks a forlorn figure.
A nice elbow there by Merde.
Merde is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Potter can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Merde landing strikes from the mount and Potter is in trouble!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
You get the feeling that Potter really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Merde looking to finish with strikes here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Potter avoids a strike by Merde and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Merde's guard! Fantastic escape!
Merde lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Potter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merde thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Merde sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Potter is trying to stand.
Merde sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Merde putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Merde connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potter blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merde punishing his opponent with strikes.
Merde unloads with some shots from mount but Potter bucks and avoids them well.
Merde lands a big elbow.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Potter wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Merde looking to ground and pound but Potter is blocking nicely.
Merde throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Merde thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Merde unloads with some shots from mount but Potter bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potter manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Potter, under a barage of strikes from Merde.
Potter blocking the ground and pound attempt from Merde.
Merde thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Potter's head.

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

Merde feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Merde throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Merde trying to control but Potter is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merde throws a strike but Potter rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Potter trying to control the position from guard on top but Merde is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerard Merde dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Merde is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Potter ducks under a wild hook from Merde.
Merde moves in looking to clinch but Potter pushes him off.
Potter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Potter swats away the attempt to clinch by Merde.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Potter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Merde.
Merde fails with the takedown
and Potter counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merde shoots and misses
and Potter counters with a stiff right hand.
Walt Potter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerard Merde.
Merde looks to land a right hand but Potter moved out of range.
Gerard Merde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Merde is defended easily by Potter.
Potter swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Merde looks to clinch
and Potter counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Merde tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Potter counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Merde thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merde throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Potter sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Merde with a lazy takedown attempt
and Potter counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Potter lands a slapping body shot.
Merde is breathing heavily.
Merde tries to clinch but Potter moves away
and Potter counters with a one-two to the body.
Merde takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Potter scores with a one two! Merde had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Merde wants to clinch but Potter slips to the side
and Potter connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Merde is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Potter gets caught flat footed, as Merde shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potter wants to stand up but Merde is controlling him.
Potter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Merde.
Potter is looking to stand up but Merde isn't so interested in that idea.

Potter has his feet on Merde's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Merde wants to clinch
and Potter counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Potter misses with a wild body shot.
Potter is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Merde gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Merde just leaning against Potter, taking a breather.
Potter tries for a takedown. No joy.
Merde lands a right hand that snaps the head of Potter backwards.
Merde changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Potter fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Merde wants to clinch
and Potter counters with a left and a right that stings Merde.
Merde shoots for a double leg takedown but Potter sprawls well. He's pushed Merde's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Merde with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Potter to counter with a crisp jab.
Merde doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Potter counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walt Potter dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Merde misses with a takedown attempt
and Potter counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Potter slips a straight right by Merde.
Potter digs a good body shot into Merde's ribs.
Merde throws a jab when Potter was well out of range.
Merde with a poor takedown
and Potter counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Merde thinking.
Merde doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Potter counters with a stiff right hand.
Walt Potter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerard Merde.
A shot to de liver by Potter. Beautiful body shot.
Merde misses with a takedown
and Merde takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Merde takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potter lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Potter swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Merde.
Potter throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Merde sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Merde misses with a takedown attempt
and Potter counters with a nice body shot.
Potter digs a good hook to Merde's body.
Potter lands a lovely overhand right.
Potter misses with the combination.
Potter misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Potter does no damage.
Nice shot lands for Potter.
Potter works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Merde darts in trying to clinch
and Potter counters with a left and a right that stings Merde.
Merde with a lazy takedown attempt
and Potter counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Walt Potter is winning the standup battle so far.
Potter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Merde manages to avoid it.
Merde with a lazy takedown attempt
and Potter counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potter with a hook.
Merde misses with a takedown attempt
and Potter counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Potter will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Merde has his takedown stuffed
and Potter connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Walt Potter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A left and a right from Potter both land. Nice combination.
Merde ducks right into an uppercut from Potter.
Merde throws a looping overhand right but Potter ducks down to avoid it.
Potter throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Potter throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Merde was covering up waiting for the punch and Potter finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Potter content to stall in guard here.
Merde keeping moving, preventing Potter from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Potter tries to free his leg and advance position but Merde is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walt Potter showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Potter 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walt Potter!