PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Merel (ranked 351 p4p, 637 weight class) and Lars Kay (ranked 35 p4p, 57 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Merel
vs
Kay

171 cm
32
152
21 - 14 - 0

177 cm
26
150
11 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Urban Fighter

Critical Mass Q159 $75
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Merel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lars Kay!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Ron Honeybunn and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merel throws a hook but Kay blocks it.
Kay darts in looking for a takedown but Merel gets double underhooks and turns Kay into the cage.
Merel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Merel throws a poor cross that misses
and Kay counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kay staying out of range there.
A big right from Kay misses.
Merel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kay moves out of range as Merel strikes.
Merel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kay.
Merel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kay throws out the jab.
Kay staying out of range there.
Kay bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merel throws an overhand right that lands on Kay's shoulder, as Kay tries to avoid the shot.
Merel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lars Kay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merel sizes up Kay with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A slow jab from Kay misses its intended target.
Merel takes a swing at Kay's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel looks to land a left hand but Kay moved out of range nicely.
A jab from Kay does it's job there.
Kay missing with a left hand there. Merel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A little feinted left hand from Merel on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kay takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kay uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Merel.
Merel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Merel misses with a hook.
Merel misses with a straight right.
Merel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kay throws a sloppy body shot
letting Merel counter with a right hand.
Merel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Merel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kay.
Merel just misses with a punch to the body.
Kay with the counter takedown but Merel avoids it easily.
Merel misses with a body shot.
Kay throws a jab but it's blocked by Merel.
Kay throws a lazy uppercut
and Merel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kay throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Merel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A shot to the liver by Kay. Beautiful body shot.
Merel with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Merel ducks under a wild hook from Kay.
Merel swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kay counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Merel looks to land a left hand but Kay moved out of range nicely.
A slow jab from Merel misses its intended target.
Merel lands with a good body shot.
Merel thuds a left hand into Kay's body.
Merel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kay with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Merel counter with a right hand.
Kay swings widly with a right hand
and Merel counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kay thinking.
Kay with a poor takedown
and Merel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Anthony Merel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lars Kay.
Merel staying out of range there.
A little feinted left hand from Merel on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Merel moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kay throws a hook but Merel blocks it.
Kay looks to land a right hand but Merel moved out of range.
Merel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kay.
Merel swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Merel misses with a straight left.
Merel throws a hook but Kay avoids it easily.
Merel swings for the body but Kay moves out of range.
Merel slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Merel throws a big shot that misses.
Merel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kay moves away.
Kay avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big left from Merel misses.
Kay cracks Merel with a right hand to the side of the head.
Merel scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kay doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kay is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merel.
Kay tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Merel was well out of range. Poor timing from Kay.
Merel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kay misses with a wild body shot.
Merel swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Merel misses with a straight left.
Kay feints the counter takedown.
Kay ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Merel moves away.
Merel throws a shot from downtown. Kay moves away and avoids it.
Merel misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Merel moves away from the strike by Kay.
Merel walks into a left hand.
A shot to the body from Kay misses
letting Merel counter with a right hand.
Kay lands a nice shot that snaps Merel's head back.
Merel swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kay counters with a nice body shot.
A jab from Merel misses.
Merel moves away from the strike by Kay.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Merel dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kay keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Merel.
A countering left hand to the body from Kay misses.
Kay misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Merel.
Merel misses with a straight right.
Kay misses with a shot to the body
and Merel counters with a stiff right hand.
Kay connects with a right hand. Merel shakes it off.
Merel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Merel takes one to the side of the head.
Kay lands with a shot to the body.
Merel slips a jab from Kay.
Merel slips a straight right by Kay.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kay lands with a straight right. Merel didn't see that one coming.
Kay misses with a hook.
Merel moves out of range as Kay strikes.
Kay throws an off balance right hand
and Merel counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kay ducks under a wild hook from Merel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel misses with a straight left.
Kay lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Merel at a distance.
Kay waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Merel.

Kay shoots in and bounces Merel off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merel wants to sweep here but Kay controlling him for the moment.
Merel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kay manages to get himself to full guard.

Kay not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merel wants to control from the top but Kay keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kay working for a triangle but Merel defends it easily.
Merel postures up.
Kay looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kay throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Merel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kay is keeping the position for now.
Kay looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kay escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Merel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kay has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Kay is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Merel works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kay is in trouble now - Merel has advanced to mount!
Merel breaks from Kay's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kay tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kay is bucking up trying to escape but Merel cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kay felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Kay is looking to improve his position but Merel isn't that keen on the idea.
Merel cracks Kay with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kay is in a horrible position here. Merel smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Merel avoids the attempt from Kay to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Merel dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Donk. Merel catches Kay right on the button with a cross.
Merel defending well as Kay loads up on a big left hand.
Merel misses with a lunging right hand
and Kay connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Merel moves out of range of the strikes.
Kay avoids the body shot from Merel.
Kay feints the counter takedown.
Kay misses with a left hand
and Kay takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Merel slips under a jab from Kay.
Merel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Merel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Merel moves away from the strike by Kay.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kay.
Kay slips a jab from Merel.
A swing and a miss from Kay.
Merel misses the jab.
Anthony Merel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel throws a hook to the side of Kay's head but Kay sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Merel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Merel avoids the body shot from Kay.
Merel throwing a counter right hand but Kay manages to avoid it.

Kay shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Merel's guard.
Kay distracts Merel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kay working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Merel's head.
Kay preventing the sweep.
Kay looking to sit in guard and control but Merel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kay escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Merel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Merel wants to control from the top but Kay keeps moving.
Lars Kay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kay is trying to keep Merel in close.
Kay keeping moving, preventing Merel from controlling successfully.

Kay is looking for a triangle but Merel pushes his legs off easily.

Merel postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kay is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Merel, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Merel takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Merel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kay wants to get back to full guard.
Merel working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kay wants to get back to full guard.

Merel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kay is just riding it out for now. Merel eventually gives up the hold.
Kay keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kay is looking to improve his position.
Anthony Merel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Merel blocks the strikes from Kay.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lars Kay.
Well Merel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Merel!
A victorious Anthony Merel thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.