PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Larson Merkuao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Degones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Merkuao
vs
Degones

189 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
25
225 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Larson Merkuao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, David Degones!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merkuao closes this distance looking for a takedown but Degones circles away.

Merkuao manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Degones on his heels. He'll look to pass Degones's guard now, I'm sure.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Merkuao trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Merkuao trying to control but Degones is working from the bottom.
Degones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merkuao advances to half guard.
Merkuao has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Merkuao is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Degones trying to control here.
Degones looks gassed!
Merkuao lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merkuao is trying to work for a kimura but Degones is defending well.
Merkuao lands with a punch from half guard.
Merkuao prevents Degones from improving his position.
Merkuao is looking to take a break and control but Degones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Merkuao seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Merkuao lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merkuao in particular looking to stall.

Merkuao is working for a submission of some sort.
Merkuao keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Degones wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Merkuao scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Merkuao perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkuao's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Degones looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Degones really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Merkuao. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Merkuao seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Merkuao lands strikes from half guard.
Merkuao drops an elbow to the side of Degones's head.
Merkuao tries to pass to full mount but Degones defends it.
Ground and pound from Merkuao.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Degones is trying to control but can't.
Merkuao keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ground and pound from Merkuao.

Merkuao looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Degones tries to kick Merkuao off in order to stand up. Merkuao Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larson Merkuao dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Merkuao misses the shot to the body.
Degones with a lazy takedown attempt

so Merkuao counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Merkuao pushes down on Degones's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nice strikes from Merkuao there.
Degones flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Merkuao uses his free foot to push down on Degones's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Degones.
Merkuao putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Merkuao controlling his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Merkuao working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Degones is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merkuao is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Degones to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Degones shrugs it off.
Merkuao working Degones over with strikes here.
Merkuao content just to control the position here.
Larson Merkuao overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Merkuao with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merkuao lands a heavy elbow.
Merkuao landing punches.
Degones can't escape the position.
Merkuao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Degones can do to turn this around?
Merkuao takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Merkuao trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Merkuao has control of Degones's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Degones regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Degones takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkuao scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Degones?
Degones is in a horrible position here. Merkuao smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Merkuao lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Merkuao with a couple of short strikes.

Merkuao is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Degones is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Degones flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Merkuao anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Degones and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Merkuao slips an arm under Degones chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Merkuao has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Merkuao is squeezing on Degones like an anaconda would it's prey. Degones fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Larson Merkuao!