PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bill Mertof (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mertof
vs
Hammer

150 cm
19
150 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Advantage XXX nutrition
Advantage XXX nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bill Mertof!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maximus Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mertof changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hammer tries to avoid it but Mertof manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hammer to the ground. Hammer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mertof throws a head kick but Hammer moves out of range.
Mertof tries to close the distance and clinch but Hammer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mertof misses with a few strikes there.

Hammer drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mertof is looking for a sweep.
Hammer trying to control the position but Mertof is working away.
Mertof is trying to buck Hammer off.
Mertof could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hammer landing strikes.
Mertof tries to escape but Hammer is in control.
Mertof tries to bench press Hammer off him but Hammer keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer lands a few punches from side control.

Mertof is rocked!
Hammer cracks Mertof with a big right hand but Mertof just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Oh Mertof is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mertof is trying to get back to half guard.
Mertof takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hammer working the body and head with strikes.
Mertof is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hammer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mertof keeps working.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hammer wants to pass the guard but Mertof is defending well.
Mertof seems to have got his legs back now.
Mertof wants to control but Hammer is keeping busy.
Mertof is looking for a sweep. Hammer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mertof is breathing heavily.
Hammer lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mertof wants to control but Hammer is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mertof fails with the takedown

and Hammer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hammer.
Mertof is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mertof looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mertof is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammer scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammer wants to control from the top but Mertof keeps moving.
Hammer works over Mertof with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hammer chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammer is working Mertof over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mertof can't keep his opponent in guard - Hammer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hammer landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hammer tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mertof knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hammer working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hammer prevents Mertof from improving his position.
Hammer landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mertof is pressing down on Hammer's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hammer preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mertof is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mertof might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A head kick misses from Mertof.
Some wild striking there from Mertof.
Hammer checks a low kick from Mertof.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Hammer dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hammer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hammer fails to land the takedown.
A jab from Mertof misses.
Mertof throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hammer.
Hammer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bill Mertof has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Hammer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mertof tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mertof throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mertof throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hammer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mertof keeping full guard, as Hammer tries to pass.
Mertof throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mertof throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mertof looking for a sweep. Not yet Mertof, not yet.
Mertof is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammer trying to control but Mertof is working from the bottom.
Hammer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mertof's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mertof is on top in guard.
Hammer trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Mertof trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mertof's guard.
Hammeris looking to pass into half guard but Mertof pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Mertof is in guard.
Mertof would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hammer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hammer throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Hammer keeping full guard, as Mertof tries to pass.
Hammer keeping moving, preventing Mertof from controlling successfully.
Mertof controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hammer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mertof is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fighters circling - Mertof throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hammer slips under a jab.
Hammer has a takedown stuffed.
Mertof moves in looking to clinch but Hammer pushes him off.

Hammer gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer is thwarting Mertof's attempts to control the position.
Hammer takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hammer is looking to advance position but Mertof won't allow it.
Hammer looks to land a strike but Mertof avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hammer looking to pass the guard.
Mertof is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mertof throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mertof keeping moving, preventing Hammer from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hammer checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Hammer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mertof with a poor takedown

and Hammer counters with a shoot takedown. Mertof fights it but they end up in guard.
Hammer prevents Mertof from getting back to his feet.
Hammer working some strikes from top position.
Maximus Hammer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mertof is trying to control the position but Hammer postures up.
Hammer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mertof throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mertof holds on and takes a little breather.
Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Mertof is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammer works over Mertof with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammer lands a couple of digs.
Hammer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammer preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mertof has momentary wrist control but Hammer slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mertof wants to sweep here but Hammer controlling him for the moment.
Hammer cracks Mertof with a solid left hand.
Hammer content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mertof keeping full guard, as Hammer tries to pass.
Hammer stopping the sweep attempt from Mertof.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mertof holds on and takes a little breather.
Mertof manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hammer manages to get himself to full guard.
Mertof trying to control the position from guard on top but Hammer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammer keeping full guard, as Mertof tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hammer wants to sweep but no luck.
Hammer keeping moving, preventing Mertof from controlling successfully.
Hammer 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.
Mertof trying to control the position from guard on top but Hammer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammer trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mertof has his takedown stuffed

and Hammer counters with a single leg into guard. Mertof didn't expect that.
Mertof manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer taking shots to the head.
Hammer tries to lock up and control but Mertof gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mertof lands a big shot there that rocks Hammer but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mertof can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hammer is looking to escape.
A nice elbow there by Mertof.
Mertof looking to control but Hammer is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hammer is trying to escape the mount.

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.
Mertof looking to control but Hammer is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hammer is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mertof lands a big elbow.
Hammer tries to reverse the position but Mertof maintains control.
Mertof controlling from mount.
Bill Mertof has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hammer manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mertof is keen to just control but Hammer is a slippery customer.
Mertof working Hammer over with strikes.
Hammer is looking for a sweep. Mertof is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maximus Hammer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hammer 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximus Hammer!