PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Merle Highchurch (ranked 3207 p4p, 403 weight class) and Ibrahim Suleyman (ranked 1655 p4p, 216 weight class). Merle Highchurch could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ibrahim Suleyman's chin.

Highchurch
vs
Suleyman

150 cm
27
200 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
21
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Merle Highchurch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ibrahim Suleyman!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Phil Schofield and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Highchurch tries to clinch
and Suleyman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Highchurch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Suleyman let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Merle Highchurch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Highchurch wants to clinch but Suleyman slips to the side
and Suleyman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Highchurch takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Highchurch has taken the fight to the clinch.
Highchurch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Highchurch tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Suleyman.
Suleyman lands a nice uppercut.
Highchurch creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Suleyman stalling in the clinch.
Suleyman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Suleyman scores with a shoulder strike.
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!
A shot in the inside from Suleyman.
Suleyman misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Suleyman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highchurch blocking some punches.
Suleyman lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Suleyman manages to break the clinch.
Suleyman fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Highchurch tries to clinch up.
Highchurch darts in trying to clinch
and Suleyman counters with a nice body kick.
Highchurch looks to clinch
and Suleyman counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Highchurch walks forward, straight into a front kick from Suleyman.
Good standup being displayed there by Suleyman as he connects with a hook.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Suleyman. Highchurch shrugs it off though.
Suleyman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Suleyman fakes the leg kick and cracks Highchurch in the body.
Highchurch moves forwards but Suleyman connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Merle Highchurch has been cut.
We've been told by Highchurch's head coaches at Ionad Comhrac that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Suleyman lands a jab to the nose.
Highchurch takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Suleyman scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body kick from Suleyman.
Suleyman jabs Highchurch to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Suleyman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Suleyman lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Suleyman throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Highchurch closes the distance but Suleyman moves to the side
and Suleyman makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Suleyman catches Highchurch with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suleyman scores with a nice head shot.
Highchurch takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Suleyman fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Suleyman is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Highchurch rather than just go for the knockout.
Highchurch darts in trying to clinch
and Suleyman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Highchurch tries to clinch but Suleyman is having none of it.
Despite the aggression on Suleyman's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Highchurch is looking to clinch.
Suleyman connects with a nice looking jab.
Highchurch tries to clinch up.
Highchurch is looking to clinch but Suleyman is avoiding it.
Highchurch misses with an uppercut
and Suleyman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch closes the distance looking to clinch
and Suleyman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Highchurch rushes Suleyman and presses him up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice right hand lands inside from Suleyman.
Suleyman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Suleyman lands an uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Suleyman.
Suleyman digs a right hand into Highchurch's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Highchurch's gas tank.
Highchurch leaning against his opponent.
Highchurch blocks a body shot from Suleyman.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Suleyman pushes Highchurch back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibrahim Suleyman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Merle Highchurch's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Suleyman jabs at Highchurch's body.
Highchurch tries to clinch up.
Suleyman lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Highchurch tries to clinch up
and Suleyman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jab from Suleyman.
Highchurch throws an off balance right hand
and Suleyman counters with a stiff right hand.
Suleyman misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suleyman looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Highchurch takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Suleyman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Suleyman is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Highchurch wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highchurch moves to clinch but Suleyman breaks away
and Suleyman counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Highchurch tries to clinch up but Suleyman circles away and keeps his distance.
Highchurch takes one on the button.
Ibrahim Suleyman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Suleyman throws out a leg kick but Highchurch moves out of range and Suleyman only half commits.
Highchurch on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Highchurch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Highchurch tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Suleyman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Highchurch closes the distance but Suleyman moves to the side
and Suleyman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Suleyman.
Highchurch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Suleyman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Suleyman lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Highchurch tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Suleyman counters with a left to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Suleyman circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Suleyman to counter with a crisp jab.
Suleyman misses with a wild combination.
Highchurch throwing a counter right hand but Suleyman manages to avoid it.
Highchurch tries to clinch there but Suleyman circles away.
Highchurch doesn't manage to clinch there - Suleyman circles away.
Highchurch closes the distance but Suleyman moves to the side
and Suleyman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch wants to clinch but Suleyman slips to the side
and Suleyman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Suleyman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Highchurch tries to clinch up
and Suleyman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Highchurch tries to move into range but Suleyman moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Suleyman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Suleyman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A little jabbing left from Suleyman on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Highchurch looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Highchurch is looking to clinch.
A jab from Suleyman does it's job there.
Highchurch throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Suleyman counters with a nice uppercut.
Suleyman has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Highchurch wants to clinch but Suleyman slips to the side
and Suleyman counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Suleyman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Suleyman looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Suleyman misses with a wild body shot.
Highchurch darts in trying to clinch
and Suleyman counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Suleyman moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Highchurch tries to close the distance and clinch but Suleyman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Highchurch closes the distance looking to clinch
and Suleyman counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Suleyman catches Highchurch with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Highchurch wants to clinch
and Suleyman counters with a stiff right hand.

Highchurch is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibrahim Suleyman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Merle Highchurch's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Suleyman cracks a nice hook into Highchurch's ribs.
Highchurch moves to clinch but Suleyman breaks away
and Suleyman counters with a stiff right hand.
Oh Highchurch is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Highchurch closes the distance but Suleyman moves to the side
and Suleyman rattles Highchurch with a well-timed uppercut counter. - Highchurch tries to back away and recover but his hands are down low and he gets tagged again, sending him stumbling down to the canvas. Suleyman dives in after him and quickly finishes the job with a trio of brutal punches, leaving Highchurch stiff and motionless on the mat!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ibrahim Suleyman!
After the fight, Ibrahim Suleyman was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.