PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Merlin (ranked 1772 p4p, 199 weight class) and Marcelo Aurelio (ranked 3175 p4p, 326 weight class). Marcelo Aurelio has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Xavier Merlin's chin.

Merlin
vs
Aurelio

170 cm
28
162 lbs
16 - 18 - 0

180 cm
44
166 lbs
28 - 24 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xavier Merlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 24 - 1, fighting out of London, Marcelo Aurelio!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aurelio digs a good body shot into Merlin's ribs.
Merlin fails with a takedown attempt.
Merlin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Aurelio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Merlin.
Merlin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Aurelio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Merlin.
Merlin avoids the body shot from Aurelio.
Xavier Merlin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merlin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelio throws a low kick but it's checked well by Merlin.

Merlin shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merlin in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Merlin is controlling the pace.
Merlin is looking to advance position but Aurelio won't allow it.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Aurelio is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Merlin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Merlin has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Merlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aurelio lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Aurelio stuffs the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Merlin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Aurelio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Xavier Merlin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aurelio misses the shot to the body.

Merlin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Aurelio to the mat! Aurelio manages to get full guard.
Merlin throwing strikes from guard but Aurelio blocks nicely.
Merlin postures up in Aurelio's guard and throws a big left but Aurelio blocks it.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Aurelio is retaining full guard.
Merlin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Merlin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin passes Aurelio's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Merlin is looking for a kimura but Aurelio is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Merlin to get the leverage.
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.
Merlin tries to pass to full mount but Aurelio defends it.
Still in half guard, Merlin seems content to control.
Merlin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aurelio defending well though.
Merlin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aurelio can do to turn this around?
Merlin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Aurelio is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
A low kick from Aurelio is predictable there

and Merlin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Merlin.
Merlin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Aurelio seems keen to control Merlin's posture.
Merlin trying to control but Aurelio is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aurelio has Merlin pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Merlin dominated that second round.
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.

Merlin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aurelio throws out the jab.
Aurelio tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Merlin is defended easily by Aurelio.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Merlin shoots in for a double leg but Aurelio sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Merlin misses with a low kick.
Merlin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merlin seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Merlin dives in and grabs Aurelio's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aurelio pushes down on Merlin's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Merlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merlin shoots in but no luck this time.

Merlin feints and as Aurelio raises his hands in defense, Merlin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aurelio is looking to stand back up but Merlin counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Aurelio.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aurelio is defending against the submission attempts here by Merlin.
Merlin wants to pass to mount but Aurelio is defending the position.
Merlin moves nicely into side control.
Aurelio tries to buck Merlin off but Merlin is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the position but Aurelio is working away.
Merlin in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Merlin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Aurelio to see if he's OK.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aurelio keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Marcelo Aurelio just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Merlin.
Aurelio scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Aurelio stuffs the takedown attempt from Merlin. Merlin gets slowly back to his feet.
Merlin has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Merlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Marcelo Aurelio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick by Merlin misses
and Aurelio counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Merlin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin misses with a takedown
and Aurelio counters with a nice body shot.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Merlin shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown attempt by Merlin or perhaps it was just good defense by Aurelio, which made it look bad.
Aurelio lands with an uppercut that bounces Merlin off the cage and back into range.
Aurelio lands with a thumping leg kick.
Aurelio chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Aurelio lands a glancing blow to the side of Merlin's head.
Aurelio misses with a lunging right hand
and Merlin counters with a one-two to the body.
Merlin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aurelio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin darts in looking for a takedown but Aurelio gets double underhooks and turns Merlin into the cage.
Aurelio lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Merlin is rocked!
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!
Merlin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Oh Merlin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Merlin shoots in looking for a takedown. Aurelio tries to sprawl out of it but Merlin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aurelio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Merlin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Aurelio defends it nicely.
Aurelio ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Merlin tries for a takedown but Aurelio circles away easily
and Aurelio counters with a huge overhand right that connects right on the temple, sending him crumpling, face first to the floor! This one is all over! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Marcelo Aurelio!