PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Felix Merquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ron Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Merquez
vs
Black

177 cm
19
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Whats that smell
New World Order Clothing

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 Los Angeles, Felix Merquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ron Black!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Merquez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Merquez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Merquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Merquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Merquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Black blocking the ground and pound attempt from Merquez.
Merquez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Merquez throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Black because Merquez loaded up on that one.
Merquez wants to control the action but instead Black gets a body lock and reverses into Merquez's guard! Nice work!
Merquez controlling Black's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Merquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black wants to pass the guard but Merquez is keeping the position.

Black drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Merquez dives on top into guard.
Black keeping moving, preventing Merquez from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merquez passes Black's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Merquez is just content to waste time from the top position. Black takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Merquez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Black manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Merquez has Black in his guard.
Black throwing strikes from guard but Merquez blocks nicely.
Merquez pulls Black in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Black working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Black tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Black has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Merquez is trying to control Black's posture but Black avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Merquez works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Merquez trying to control here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Black is working for a submission of some sort.
Black with the ground and pound but Merquez uses the opportunity to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Merquez dominated that round.
That's time! Merquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Merquez clinches.
Merquez keeps control of Black as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Black wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Merquez has him pressed against the cage.

Merquez pulls Black into guard.
Black throws a big right hand that misses.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Merquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black wants to pass the guard but Merquez is keeping the position.
Black wants to stand but Merquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Black throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Black wants to stand and escape but instead Merquez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Merquez trying to move into half guard but instead Black has managed to sweep!
Black throws a big right hand that misses.
Merquez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Black is looking to stand up but Merquez won't let him.
Merquez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Merquez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merquez is trying to control the action in half guard but Black is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Felix Merquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Merquez is stalling here. Black is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Merquez seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Black has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Merquez is looking to regain half guard here but Black keeps moving and retains side control.

Black wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Merquez, who protects the arm well.
Merquez manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merquez tries to roll over but Black keeps him under control.
Black trying to control the action but Merquez is working from the bottom.

Black is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Merquez is just riding it out for now. Black eventually gives up the hold.
Black is breathing heavily.
Merquez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Black is fighting to break Merquez's control of his arms but Merquez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merquez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Merquez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Black manages to get himself to full guard.
Merquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merquez throws a strike but Black rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merquez wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Merquez dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Black fails to land the takedown.
Black shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Merquez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Merquez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Black is trying to keep an underhook but Merquez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Merquez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Merquez is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Black to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Black is pulling down on Merquez's head. It's preventing any offense from Merquez, at least for the moment.
Merquez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merquez looking to pass the guard.
Merquez trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Felix Merquez.
Black tries for a takedown but Merquez circles away easily

and Merquez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Black's guard now.
Felix Merquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ron Black.
Black takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merquez is looking to work some ground and pound but Black has wrist control.
Merquez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Merquez throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merquez throws a big right hand that misses.
Felix Merquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Merquez stays in close to Black's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Felix Merquez.

Merquez closes the distance and clinches.

Merquez pulls guard.
Merquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merquez is pulling down on Black's head. It's preventing any offense from Black, at least for the moment.
Merquez 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.

Merquez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Black doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Black manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Black looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merquez managing to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Merquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Merquez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix Merquez!