PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sammie Shelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Merrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shelton
vs
Merrick

163 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sammie Shelton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Merrick!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Eddie Farnsworth and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Merrick moves into range and clinches up with Shelton.
Shelton is looking to control Merrick's arms but Merrick gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shelton has his back to the cage.
Merrick will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shelton up against the cage.

Merrick tightens his grip and picks Shelton up, before dumping him to the ground. Shelton manages to land in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Merrick makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Merrick controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Shelton looking for a sweep. Not yet Shelton, not yet.
Merrick controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Merrick tries to free his leg and advance position but Shelton is retaining full guard.

James Merrick has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Merrick clinches.
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!

Merrick pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merrick moves away.

Shelton gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shelton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merrick sitting in guard here, content to control.
Shelton is looking to sweep but instead, Merrick has passed into half guard.
Merrick is taking a breather. Shelton says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Let's hope that Merrick has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

James Merrick has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Shelton closes the distance but Merrick moves to the side
and Merrick makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Shelton shoots in for a takedown but Merrick shows good takedown defense.
Shelton tries to clinch
and Merrick counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Sammie Shelton has been cut.
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!
Merrick throws the kick towards the body but Shelton avoids it.

Merrick shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Merrick takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Shelton wants to get back to full guard.
Shelton is working hard here to advance position.
Shelton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merrick tries to stand and escape but Shelton is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merrick with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by James Merrick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Shelton enables Merrick to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Shelton manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Merrick is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Shelton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've been informed that Merrick has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Shelton is breathing heavily.
Merrick controlling from the top position.
Shelton really is a fat lump.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Merrick was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Shelton closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Merrick to the mat! Merrick manages to get full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merrick pulls Shelton in close to prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shelton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merrick is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Merrick dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sammie Shelton's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Merrick shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Merrick showed some decent athleticism there.
Shelton tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Merrick manages to move to mount!
Shelton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merrick tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Shelton defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Merrick.
Merrick lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merrick sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Shelton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merrick takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
James Merrick has got the better of the ground game so far.
Merrick raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelton is trying to escape the mount.
Merrick controlling his opponent.
Merrick landing shots from mount.

Shelton is rocked!

Sammie Shelton's cut is getting worse.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big strike lands for Merrick! That's really hurt Shelton and he's turned his back - Merrick keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Merrick jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Merrick!