PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Merle Pace (ranked 9031 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Levi (ranked 6224 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pace
vs
Levi

174 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

199 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Merle Pace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Brian Levi!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pace tries to close the distance and clinch up but Levi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Levi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Brian Levi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pace with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Levi throws a wild body kick that Pace sees coming a mile off.

Levi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Levi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pace is trying to get back to full guard.
Pace is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Levi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pace has his hands clasped together around Levi's back. He's all about the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levi wants to pass the guard but Pace is defending well.

Levi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Levi is taking a breather. Pace 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pace shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Levi as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Levi clinches up against the cage.

Levi pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Levi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Pace puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Pace thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Levi taking some punishment here, with Pace in his half guard.
Levi is looking for a sweep. Pace is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Levi keeping control of the position.
Levi is looking for a sweep. Pace is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pace throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Levi trying to control here.
Levi keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Pace is looking for a kimura here.
Levi wants to improve his position but Pace is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Levi looks like he's trying to stand up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Levi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Levi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A counter left hand to the body from Pace misses its target.

Levi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Levi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Levi moves into the clinch.

Levi breaks from the clinch.
Levi lands a jab.
Nice sprawl there from Levi as Pace shoots in.

Levi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Pace scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Levi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Horrible takedown attempt by Pace or perhaps it was just good defense by Levi, which made it look bad.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Levi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Pace!
Merle Pace overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pace is trying to get back to his feet.

Levi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Pace rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Levi's guard! Nice work there by Pace!
Levi is breathing heavily.

Levi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Pace got a little sloppy there for a moment and Levi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pace has managed to get both his arms back between Levi's legs - danger averted.
Pace wants to stand but Levi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Levi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pace. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pace is looking to work some ground and pound but Levi has wrist control.

Pace avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pace might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Pace gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Pace tries to close the distance and clinch up but Levi swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levi misses with a double jab.

Pace shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pace was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Levi tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Pace scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pace fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Pace has hold of Levi's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Levi manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Pace has control of Levi's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Levi regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pace is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Levi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Levi shrugs it off.
Levi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
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 Merle Pace will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Levi clinches.
Pace is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Pace gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Levi regains guard.
Pace wants to stand but Levi is controlling his posture from full guard.

Pace gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Levi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pace to the ground. Levi is now in Pace's guard.
Levi looking to sit in guard and control but Pace gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Levi pushes Pace off and scrambles back to his feet.

Levi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pace tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Levi is in Pace's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Levi 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.
Levi advances to half guard.
Levi trying to advance position but Pace counters by regaining guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pace looking to hit a scissor sweep but Levi is one step ahead there.

Pace pushes Levi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Pace fails with a takedown attempt.
Pace shoots in for a takedown but Levi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pace has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merle Pace. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Levi!
Levi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Levi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pace is trying to keep Levi in close.
Pace wants to get back to his feet but Levi passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Levi decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Pace tries to clinch but Levi moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Levi misses.

Levi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Levi controlling the action here.
Pace keeps control of the position for the meantime.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Levi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Levi 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Levi!