PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Merola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Lanier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lanier has chosen Sage Francis-Sea Lion as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Merola
vs
Lanier

200 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vitor Merola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrew Lanier!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merola fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Merola fails with an attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Merola.

Lanier scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lanier moves into full mount!
Lanier controlling his opponent.
Lanier's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Merola is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lanier lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Merola knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lanier on the ground.
Merola is working to get back to half guard.
Lanier controlling from mount.
Merola on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Merola tries to get out of the position.
Merola throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Lanier wants to finish this one by submission but Merola is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Lanier.

Lanier wants to finish this one by submission but Merola is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Lanier.
Lanier controlling his opponent.
Merola tries to reverse the position but Lanier maintains control.
Lanier wants to control the pace but Merola is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lanier tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Merola really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lanier tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Andrew Lanier just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Merola shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lanier counters with a nice double leg into side control. Merola won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Merola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merola is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lanier tries to advance to mount but can't.
The referee asks Lanier politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Lanier prefers to stall for the moment though.
Merola tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lanier wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lanier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merola keeps working.
Lanier staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Lanier dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Merola misses with a takedown attempt

and Lanier decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Merola's guard.
Merola looking to control.
Merola will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lanier slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Let's hope that Lanier 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.
Merola is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lanier stopping the sweep attempt from Merola.
Lanier showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Andrew Lanier just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lanier looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Merola tries to get to full guard but Lanier has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lanier uses his free foot to push down on Merola's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Merola.
Lanier content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lanier has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Merola is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Andrew Lanier!