PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ikki De Fenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hagen Merak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Fenix kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Killing Inside. Hagen Merak has the eye of the tiger tonight.

De Fenix
vs
Merak

180 cm
19
175 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ikki De Fenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hagen Merak!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merak scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Merak slips under a jab from De Fenix.
Merak thows a left - swing and a miss!
De Fenix swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Merak counter with a right hand.
Merak throws a jab but it's blocked by De Fenix.
Merak scores with a jab to the jaw.
De Fenix takes one to the chin there.
De Fenix tests Merak's chin there with a solid looking shot.
De Fenix lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Merak circles away quickly and effectively.
We've been told by De Fenix's head coaches at Axia Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
De Fenix cracks Merak with a right hand to the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Merak throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merak stuns De Fenix with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Merak takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Merak takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Merak throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fenix swinging wildly here.
Merak swinging wildly here.
Merak scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Merak bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
De Fenix lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by De Fenix.
De Fenix connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Merak momentarily.
Merak thuds a left hand into De Fenix's body.
De Fenix will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sloppy strikes from De Fenix. Those never looked like landing.
Merak throws the left hand but De Fenix avoids the punch easily.
De Fenix ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merak moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
De Fenix digs a good body shot into Merak's ribs.
De Fenix ducks under a wild hook from Merak.
De Fenix lands with an overhand left.
A decent looking cross lands there for De Fenix.
A thudding body kick lands there by De Fenix!
A punch combination from Merak misses.
Merak takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Merak throws an uppercut from half a mile away. De Fenix sees it coming and avoids it easily.
De Fenix misses with an uppercut.
Merak ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Merak just misses with a punch to the body.
Merak feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits De Fenixs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
De Fenix slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merak throws a poor cross that misses
and De Fenix counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Merak looks to score with a jab to the body but De Fenix is just out of range.
De Fenix is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Merak lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as De Fenix backs up against the cage.

It looks like Ikki De Fenix has been cut.
De Fenix takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Merak throws a hook but De Fenix avoids it easily.
De Fenix works over Merak's head and body with a nice combination.
De Fenix moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
De Fenix avoids the body shot from Merak.
Merak slips under a jab.
De Fenix slips under a jab.
Merak scores with a nice strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good exchange - Merak coming out on top.
De Fenix misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merak misses with a body shot.
De Fenix bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Merak takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
De Fenix moves into range and connects with a jab.
Merak jabs De Fenix right on the nose. De Fenix blinks but takes it well.
De Fenix lands a jab to Merak's midsection.
Merak takes a swing at De Fenix's ribcage but misses.

De Fenix clinches.
De Fenix tries to throw a body punch but Merak avoids it by throwing De Fenix back against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
De Fenix makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
De Fenix lands a body punch in the clinch.
Merak blocks a body shot from De Fenix.
De Fenix goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hagen Merak will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ikki De Fenix's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Merak connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Merak misses with a wild body shot.
De Fenix keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
De Fenix takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Merak slips a jab and a cross from De Fenix.
A left lands for Merak.
De Fenix swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
De Fenix misses with a straight left.
Merak dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Merak swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
De Fenix moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nice uppercut there from Merak.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Merak lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merak gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Merak misses with a wild body shot.
Some wild striking there from Merak.
De Fenix connects with a good right hand that stumbles Merak. Merak circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Merak is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by De Fenix.
A big right from Merak misses.
De Fenix moves away from the strike by Merak.
De Fenix avoids the body shot from Merak.
De Fenix misses with a double jab.
Merak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Fenix scores with a decent looking hook.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Merak!
Ikki De Fenix is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Fenix keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Merak.
De Fenix tries to bum rush Merak with a series of wild strikes but Merak uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Merak gets tackled into the cage by De Fenix. De Fenix maintains the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Fenix pushes off an throws an elbow but Merak leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
De Fenix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Merak's elbow.
De Fenix scores with a nice hook to the head.
Merak is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
De Fenix is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
De Fenix softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
De Fenix struggles to land a body shot inside as Merak controls his hands.
De Fenix lands on the inside with an uppercut.
De Fenix lands an uppercut.
De Fenix slows down the pace here.
De Fenix cracks Merak with a nice body shot.
Merak is looking to control De Fenix's arms but De Fenix gets an underhook and turns him. Now Merak has his back to the cage.
De Fenix working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
De Fenix manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Merak misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merak looking to slow down the pace here.
De Fenix taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
De Fenix seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ikki De Fenix.
Merak's hands are dropping dangerously low here and De Fenix connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Merak scrambles back to his feet.
Hagen Merak seems to be getting the better of the standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A cross from Merak lands.
De Fenix misses with a looping right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ikki De Fenix will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ikki De Fenix's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from De Fenix. Those never looked like landing.
Merak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as De Fenix throws out the jab.
Merak lands a straight punch to the body, keeping De Fenix at a distance.
Merak throws the left hand but De Fenix avoids the punch easily.
Merak is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Merak swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Merak connects with the punch.
Good shot there by Merak.
Merak tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but De Fenix was well out of range. Poor timing from Merak.
De Fenix uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Merak.
De Fenix falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Merak to counter with a crisp jab.
De Fenix misses with a wild combination.
A punch combination from De Fenix misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merak lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
De Fenix uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Merak.
De Fenix looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Merak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
De Fenix misses with a wild combination.
Merak scores with a jab to the jaw.
A swing and a miss from Merak.
Merak misses with a looping left.
De Fenix misses with a jab, cross combination.
Merak avoids a punch combination nicely.
De Fenix displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merak getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Merak punishes De Fenix's body with a nice straight punch.
Merak takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Merak uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by De Fenix.
De Fenix looks to land a left hand but Merak moved out of range nicely.
Merak just misses with a punch to the body.
De Fenix just misses with a punch to the body.
De Fenix will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Merak throws the left hand but De Fenix avoids the punch easily.
Merak misses with an uppercut
and De Fenix counters with a left and a right that stings Merak.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Merak slips a straight right by De Fenix.
De Fenix throws a shot from downtown. Merak moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merak loads up on a big right hand but De Fenix slips the punch.
Danga de danga de dang - Merak scores with a four punch combination!
Merak swinging wildly here.
Merak bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Merak fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
De Fenix moves out of range of the strikes.
De Fenix misses with a series of wild punches.
De Fenix throws a lazy right hand but Merak sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A combination from De Fenix does no damage.
Good standup being displayed there by Merak as he connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merak walks into a jab.

De Fenix fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Merak, pushing him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Merak.
Merak tries to stall but De Fenix uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Merak takes a shot to the head.
De Fenix lands an elbow inside that Merak shrugs off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
De Fenix lands an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from De Fenix.
De Fenix lands a nice shot to the body.
De Fenix stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merak throws a punch but it's blocked by De Fenix.
De Fenix softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
De Fenix gets through Merak's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hagen Merak.
I think Merak has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Hagen Merak!
Ikki De Fenix spoke after the fight, saying 'Shun, não se preocupe, apenas Lembre-se, a Fenix renasce das Cinzas! '.