PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gennady Golovkin (ranked 928 p4p, 111 weight class) and Xavier Merlin (ranked 840 p4p, 97 weight class). Gennady Golovkin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Golovkin
vs
Merlin

179 cm
28
169 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

170 cm
21
162 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gennady Golovkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Golovkin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Merlin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merlin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Golovkin appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Golovkin cracks a nice hook into Merlin's ribs.
Merlin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Merlin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Merlin shoots in but no luck this time.
Merlin swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Golovkin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Golovkin misses with a hook. Merlin ducked under it nicely.

Golovkin gets caught flat footed, as Merlin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Merlin trying to control but Golovkin is working from the bottom.
Golovkin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Golovkin tries to get out of the position.
Golovkin controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Golovkin wants to stand and escape but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin advances position into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Golovkin can't do much from the bottom here.
Golovkin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Merlin's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovkin wants to get back to his feet.

Merlin is trying to work for a kimura but Golovkin is defending well.
Merlin is controlling the pace.

Merlin in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Golovkin tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Merlin!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Xavier Merlin!
During a confident post fight interview, Xavier Merlin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.