PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luciano Bizarria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Merchant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merchant has chosen Five Star - System Addict as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Bizarria
vs
Merchant

183 cm
21
211 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
218 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luciano Bizarria!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Merchant!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bizarria gets a clinch.
Bizarria pushes Merchant back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bizarria lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Merchant backwards.
Merchant is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bizarria to keep the fight standing.
Bizarria misses with a short punch on the inside.
Merchant's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bizarria tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bizarria lands with a short shot to the head.
Bizarria lands a body shot.
Merchant prevents a body shot from Bizarria.
Bizarria lands a hook that snaps the head of Merchant backwards.
Bizarria softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bizarria tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Merchant's elbow.
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!
Bizarria throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Bizarria scores with a nice short uppercut.
Merchant takes a shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bizarria.
Merchant's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bizarria lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Merchant has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bizarria is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A shot in the inside from Bizarria.
Merchant blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bizarria digs a right hand underneath Merchant's ribcage. Merchant let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Bizarria misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bizarria swings wildly with an uppercut but Merchant uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bizarria.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Bizarria fails to land.
Bizarria misses with the head strike.
Bizarria scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bizarria working aggressively here.
Bizarria throws a punch but it's blocked by Merchant.
Merchant jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bizarria walks away with a smile on his face. Merchant gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Luciano Bizarria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Merchant.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bizarria tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bizarria.
A shot in the inside from Bizarria.
Bizarria scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merchant blocking some punches.
Bizarria fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bizarria tries to work over Merchant's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bizarria softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bizarria lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Bizarria fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Merchant's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Merchant is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bizarria is keeping busy.
Bizarria lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A hook to the body from Bizarria.
Bizarria misses with a short punch on the inside.
Merchant blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Merchant lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bizarria is looking to improve his position.
Merchant trying to control the action but Bizarria is working from the bottom.
Bizarria is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Merchant seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bizarria does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luciano Bizarria dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Merchant tries to keep at a distance but Bizarria has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bizarria throws a head punch that misses.
Bizarria throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bizarria.
Bizarria lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Merchant backwards.
Merchant prevents a body shot from Bizarria.
Bizarria lands a body shot.
Bizarria softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

It looks like Darren Merchant has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merchant tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bizarria is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bizarria working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Merchant goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bizarria prevents it.
Luciano Bizarria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Merchant.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bizarria lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Merchant backwards.
Merchant goes for a takedown attempt but Bizarria pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Bizarria pushes Merchant up against the cage in a clinch.
Bizarria fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bizarria is working Merchant over against the cage.
Merchant is breathing heavily.
Bizarria throws a head punch that misses.
Luciano Bizarria has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bizarria lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bizarria misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merchant.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bizarria has a couple of punches blocked by Merchant.
Bizarria digs a right hand underneath Merchant's ribcage. Merchant let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Merchant goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bizarria prevents it.
Merchant is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bizarria doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good body shot from Bizarria.
Bizarria misses with a hook to the ribs.

Merchant is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bizarria is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Merchant to the mat. Merchant regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
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!
Merchant being controlled here, momentarily.
Bizarria might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bizarria wants to pass the guard but Merchant is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bizarria seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've been hearing that Bizarria has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Bizarria'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.
Bizarria pushing down on Merchant's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Still in half guard, Bizarria seems content to control.
Bizarria is nestled in close to Merchant, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Merchant is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bizarria scores with a couple of nice shots.
Merchant is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bizarria trying to control the pace.
Bizarria working over Merchant with some ground and pound. Merchant looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merchant wants to improve his position but Bizarria is controlling well.
Bizarria controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luciano Bizarria dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Darren Merchant's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bizarria forces Merchant back against the cage and clinches.
Merchant tries to pull guard but Bizarria won't allow it.
Bizarria tries a body shot but Merchant blocks it.

Merchant pulls guard successfully.
Bizarria sitting in guard here, content to control.

Merchant working for a triangle but Bizarria defends it easily.
Merchant is trying to keep Bizarria in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bizarria controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bizarria with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bizarria engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Merchant tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merchant not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bizarria has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Merchant is proving hard to escape from.
Bizarria lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Luciano Bizarria overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bizarria is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bizarria is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Merchant can do to turn this around?

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.
Merchant looking for a sweep. Not yet Merchant, not yet.
Bizarria is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Horrible takedown attempt by Merchant or perhaps it was just good defense by Bizarria, which made it look bad.

Bizarria moves into range and clinches up with Merchant.
Bizarria tries a body shot but Merchant blocks it.
Bizarria lands a left hand.
Bizarria pushes Merchant back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Bizarria lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bizarria lands a nice shot to the body.
Merchant takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bizarria tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bizarria scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Bizarria has Merchant pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bizarria pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Merchant tumbling to the mat - Bizarria dives into Merchant's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bizarria passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bizarria controlling the position.
Merchant felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Merchant is trying to get back to half guard.
Luciano Bizarria is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bizarria controlling the position.
Merchant can't do much from the bottom here.
Darren Merchant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bizarria taking a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luciano Bizarria showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bizarria has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luciano Bizarria!