PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grant Merrill (ranked 24375 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bronson Conlon (ranked 4642 p4p, 0 weight class). Conlon has chosen Can't be touched - Roy Jones as his entrance music. Bronson Conlon has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Grant Merrill's chin.

Merrill
vs
Conlon

183 cm
20
193 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grant Merrill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bronson Conlon!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merrill has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Merrill there as he acknowledges the shot.

It looks like Grant Merrill has been cut.

Conlon closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Merrill kicks off Conlon and gets to his feet.
Conlon misses with a takedown
and Merrill counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Conlon throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Conlon looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Merrill is fending him off so far but Conlon persists. Nope, Merrill circles away and we're back to standing.
Merrill seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Conlon misses with a leg kick

and Merrill counters by moving into the clinch.
Merrill gets underhooks to prevent Conlon's takedown attempt.
Grant Merrill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bronson Conlon.
Merrill prevents the takedown attempt.
Merrill gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Conlon.

Conlon has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Merrill clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Merrill is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conlon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Merrill counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Conlon thinking.
Conlon looks winded!
Conlon dives in for a single leg takedown but Merrill sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Conlon falls off balance throwing a combination

and Merrill counters by moving into the clinch.

Merrill breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Conlon throws a right and a left that Merrill avoids nicely.
Merrill slips a jab and a cross from Conlon.
Conlon throws a leg kick

and Merrill counters with a shoot takedown. Conlon fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Merrill loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merrill trying to stand up but can't free himself from Conlon's guard.
Merrill postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Merrill missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Merrill postures up in Conlon's guard and throws a big left but Conlon blocks it.
Conlon looking to control.
Merrill has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Conlon is proving hard to escape from.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Conlon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Conlon shoots in looking for a takedown but Merrill manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Conlon's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Merrill gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Conlon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Merrill had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Conlon defends it easily.
Merrill knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Conlon on the ground.
Merrill controls Conlon momentarily but Conlon frees himself.

Merrill looking for a guillotine here but Conlon defends easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Conlon throws an elbow that misses. Merrill uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Conlon's guard. Nice move by Merrill!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conlon has Merrill pulled in close to control his posture.
Conlon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merrill postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Conlon is controlling Merrill's posture.

Conlon pushes Merrill off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Merrill dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Grant Merrill's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No luck for Merrill with that takedown attempt.
Merrill fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Conlon.

Conlon throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Merrill tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Conlon is in Merrill's guard.
Conlon wants to control from the top but Merrill keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conlon lands a couple of elbows.
Conlon is looking to work some ground and pound but Merrill has wrist control.
Conlon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conlon throws a big right hand that misses.
Merrill working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Conlon.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Merrill is working an open guard so Conlon takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Conlon misses with a takedown
and Merrill counters with a stiff right hand.

Conlon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Merrill is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Conlon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Merrill smiles and moves away.
Conlon misses with a double jab
and Merrill counters with a good low kick that Conlon was not able to check.
Horrible takedown attempt by Conlon or perhaps it was just good defense by Merrill, which made it look bad.
Grant Merrill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bronson Conlon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conlon goes for a double leg but Merrill avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Merrill continues to drive forward.
Merrill dodges the punch combination from Conlon.
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!
Merrill tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Conlon defends well and Merrill ends up having to push Conlon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Merrill stuffs the takedown.
Merrill fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Conlon.
Merrill is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Conlon.

Merrill has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conlon has had enough of the clinch but Merrill keeps him there for the moment.
Merrill wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Conlon has him pressed against the cage.

Merrill breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Conlon shoots and misses
and Merrill counters with a nice leg kick.
Conlon looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Merrill is fending him off so far but Conlon persists. Nope, Merrill circles away and we're back to standing.

Conlon gets tackled into the cage by Merrill. Merrill maintains the clinch.
Conlon is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Merrill pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Merrill has Conlon pressed against the cage.

Merrill breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conlon goes for a double leg but Merrill avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Merrill continues to drive forward.

Merrill drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Conlon is looking for a sweep.
Conlon parries the strikes from Merrill easily there. Merrill is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Conlon to escape.

Merrill thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Conlon is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Merrill dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Grant Merrill's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Merrill tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Conlon swinging wildly here.
Nice sprawl there from Merrill as Conlon shoots in.
A clash of legs there as Merrill blocks the low kick.
Conlon throws a body shot but no joy.
Merrill is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Conlon can do to turn this around?
Horrible takedown attempt by Conlon or perhaps it was just good defense by Merrill, which made it look bad.
Bronson Conlon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Conlon with a poor takedown

and Merrill counters by clinching up.
Grant Merrill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bronson Conlon.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Merrill jumps into guard, dragging Conlon to the mat.
Merrill looking to control.
Merrill avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Conlon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Conlon throws an elbow that misses. Merrill uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Conlon's guard. Nice move by Merrill!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merrill is looking to stand up but Conlon won't let him.
Merrill scoring with some ground and pound.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Conlon is trying to keep Merrill in close.
Merrill tries to stand but Conlon is controlling from the bottom.
Merrill throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Conlon wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Conlon has his feet on Merrill's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Conlon throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conlon looks to land a left hand but Merrill moved out of range nicely.
Conlon throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Conlon takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Conlon misses with a left hand
enabling Merrill to counter with a crisp jab.
Conlon throws a right and a left that Merrill avoids nicely.
Merrill tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Conlon defends well and Merrill ends up having to push Conlon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Merrill shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Conlon sprawls well. Conlon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Merrill gets slowly back to his feet.
Merrill wants to clinch up but Conlon keeps it at a distance.
Conlon throws a head kick that misses

and Merrill counters by moving into the clinch.
Conlon wants to take the fight to the mat but Merrill manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Conlon goes for a takedown attempt but Merrill pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merrill closes the distance and clinches up with Conlon, looking for a takedown. Merrill pushes Conlon against the cage but Conlon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Merrill throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Conlon's waist but Conlon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Merrill off to one side.
As Merrill backs off Conlon throws a huge counter combo but Merrill manages to avoid it all.
Nice takedown defense from Conlon. No joy for Merrill on that attempt.
Bronson Conlon seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Conlon fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Merrill to the ground. Conlon is now in Merrill's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Conlon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Conlon content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Merrill has locked up a guillotine! Merrill's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Conlon is holding on here and Merrill must be using up a lot of energy. Conlon has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Merrill gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Grant Merrill!
Bronson Conlon spoke after the fight, saying 'Next time...'.