PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francis Brizuela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix Merquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merquez has chosen Mind Da Gap feat. Valete - Não Pára as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Brizuela
vs
Merquez

199 cm
32
290 lbs
18 - 12 - 1

177 cm
26
193 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Francis Brizuela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Felix Merquez!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Merquez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Brizuela's half guard.
Brizuela looks like he's trying to stand up.
Brizuela wants to get back to full guard.

Brizuela actively working from the bottom here.
Brizuela wants to control but Merquez is keeping busy.
Merquez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Merquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brizuela keeps working.
Merquez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Brizuela wants to get back to full guard.
Brizuela is trying to maintain the position but Merquez is very close to passing his half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Felix Merquez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Brizuela lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Felix Merquez has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merquez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Merquez is defended easily by Brizuela.
Brizuela ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merquez moves away.
Merquez closes the distance but Brizuela moves to the side
and Brizuela counters with a right hand to the body.
Merquez misses with a wild combination.
Brizuela fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merquez tries to clinch up
enabling Brizuela to counter with a crisp jab.

Brizuela closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brizuela pushes Merquez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Brizuela connects with a knee to the head.
Brizuela with a knee to the head.

Merquez pulls guard successfully.
Our spies down at at Steel Penn/Heavy Hands Gym inform us that Merquez has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Brizuela sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Merquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merquez has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Brizuela has passed into side control.
Merquez is trying to work for a sweep but Brizuela has mounted him!
Merquez can't escape the position.
Brizuela controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merquez wants to hold on but Brizuela pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brizuela controlling the pace for now.
Brizuela seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Merquez for as long as he can get away with.
Merquez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Merquez tries to hold on but Brizuela pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merquez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Brizuela sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Brizuela dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Felix Merquez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Brizuela fails with the takedown
and Merquez counters with a nice uppercut.
Francis Brizuela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Merquez gets tackled into the cage by Brizuela. Brizuela maintains the clinch.

Brizuela breaks from the clinch.
Merquez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Brizuela sprawls well. Brizuela wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Merquez gets slowly back to his feet.
Brizuela will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Brizuela shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Merquez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Merquez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Merquez has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Brizuela has passed into side control.
Merquez can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brizuela taking a breather here.
Merquez wants to control but Brizuela postures up.
Francis Brizuela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Merquez is looking to regain half guard here but Brizuela keeps moving and retains side control.
Merquez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Brizuela's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merquez is trying to maintain the position but Brizuela is very close to passing his half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Brizuela keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Merquez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Brizuela controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merquez tries to roll over but Brizuela keeps him under control.
Merquez is in trouble now - Brizuela has advanced to mount!
Brizuela controlling his opponent.
Merquez wants to hold on but Brizuela pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brizuela controlling from mount.
Merquez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Brizuela decides to return to a standing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Brizuela dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Felix Merquez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Brizuela tries to score a power double leg takedown but Merquez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Brizuela somewhat.
Merquez throws a leg kick that is checked
and Brizuela counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fighters circling - Brizuela throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Brizuela gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Merquez counters with a left and a right that stings Brizuela.
Horrible takedown by Merquez or perhaps it was just good defense by Brizuela which made him look bad.
A lazy body kick from Brizuela

so Merquez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Brizuela looking for a sweep. Not yet Brizuela, not yet.
Brizuela will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Brizuela looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Brizuela tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Brizuela is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brizuela is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Merquez is aware though and is defending well.
Merquez preventing the sweep.
Merquez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Brizuela keeping moving, preventing Merquez from controlling successfully.
Merquez pushing down on Brizuela's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Merquez trying to control the action but Brizuela is working from the bottom.
Brizuela is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Merquez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Merquez's back!
Merquez turns into Brizuela and is now in his guard.

Brizuela has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Merquez has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Merquez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Brizuela to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brizuela's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Brizuela instigates a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merquez has a couple of punches blocked by Brizuela.
Brizuela is leaning against Merquez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Merquez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Brizuela pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Francis Brizuela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Merquez.
Brizuela holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Brizuela lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Brizuela with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Merquez has picked Brizuela up - he's going for a ride! Merquez dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Brizuela is pressing down on Merquez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Brizuela wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Merquez is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brizuela tries to roll over but Merquez keeps him under control.
Brizuela is staying active underneath Merquez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Brizuela is looking for a sweep. Merquez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merquez stops Brizuela from getting back to his feet.
Brizuela is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Brizuela is in trouble now - Merquez has advanced to mount!
Merquez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Brizuela's face.
Felix Merquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brizuela is desperately trying to improve his position but Merquez has a good base and remains in mount.
Merquez lands a big shot there that rocks Brizuela but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brizuela bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
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 looking to control but Brizuela passes into half guard.
Merquez flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Merquez tries to get to full guard but Brizuela has control of the leg.
Francis Brizuela is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Felix Merquez.
I think Brizuela 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis Brizuela!
After winning the bout, Francis Brizuela thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.