PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Esta Merle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Dagenais (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merle's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, There's no sympathy for the dead part 2. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Merle
vs
Dagenais

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

173 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

King Clothing

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Esta Merle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Daniel Dagenais!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Eddie Farnsworth and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Merle closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dagenais to the mat! Dagenais manages to get full guard.
Dagenais striking off his back but it's not causing Merle any problems.
Merle throws a big right hand that misses.
Merle controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dagenais keeping moving, preventing Merle from controlling successfully.
Merle would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Dagenais is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Dagenais keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Merle makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Dagenais looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Merle is fending him off so far but Dagenais persists. Nope, Merle circles away and we're back to standing.

Dagenais drives through with a takedown into guard.
Merle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merle has a closed guard, preventing Dagenais from standing up.
Dagenais stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merle has control of Dagenais's left arm, preventing Dagenais from doing any damage.
Dagenais wants to control from the top but Merle keeps moving.
Dagenais tries to free his leg and advance position but Merle is retaining full guard.
Merle is trying to hold Dagenais in close to prevent damage but Dagenais has managed to pass into half guard.
Merle works his way to full guard. Good work.
Merle is breathing heavily.
Dagenais scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Merle wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Dagenais prevents Merle from getting back to his feet.
Merle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dagenais is one step ahead there.
Merle working a defensive guard here.
Dagenais wants to control from the top but Merle keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Merle tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Merle tries to keep at a distance but Dagenais has taken the fight into the clinch.
Merle prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dagenais gets underhooks to prevent Merle's takedown attempt.
Dagenais wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Merle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dagenais with a lazy takedown attempt

and Merle counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Esta Merle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Dagenais.
Merle advances to half guard.
Merle performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Merle trying to control the action but Dagenais is working from the bottom.
Merle with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Merle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Merle lands with a punch from half guard.
Merle is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dagenais won't allow Merle to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merle is taking a breather. Dagenais says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Merle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dagenais tries to roll over but Merle keeps him under control.
Merle not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Merle closes the distance and clinches up with Dagenais, looking for a takedown. Merle pushes Dagenais against the cage but Dagenais circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Merle looks for a takedown but Dagenais sprawls well.
Dagenais tries to clinch but Merle moves away

and Merle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dagenais should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Merle prevents Dagenais from improving his position.
Merle is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dagenais throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Merle counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dagenais won't be happy with that.
Merle trying to control the action but Dagenais is working from the bottom.
Merle scores with punches from side control.
Merle cracks Dagenais with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Merle trying to control the position but Dagenais is working away.

Merle decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Merle tries for a takedown but Dagenais circles away easily

and Dagenais counters with a shoot takedown. Merle fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dagenais preventing the sweep.
Merle is pulling down on Dagenais's head. It's preventing any offense from Dagenais, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dagenais preventing the sweep.
Dagenais is breathing heavily.
Merle is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Merle is on top in guard.
Merle trying to control the position from guard on top but Dagenais is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merle lands a couple of elbows.
Dagenais lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Merle!
Merle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The referee warns Merle that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merle is trying to escape the mount.
Merle gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merle is trying to control but can't.
Dagenais wants to stand but Merle has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Merle controlling the position for now.
Dagenais tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The fighters are battling for position here. Merle manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dagenais scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dagenais passes Merle's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dagenais prevents Merle from standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Merle tries to get to full guard but Dagenais has control of the leg.
Dagenais seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Merle does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Merle wants to control but Dagenais is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dagenais prevents Merle from improving his position.
Dagenais throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Merle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Dagenais with a lazy takedown attempt

and Merle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dagenais manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Merle wants to hold on but Dagenais pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merle sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Merle trying to hold on to Dagenais's head to control him but Dagenais postures up.
Merle controlling the position for now.
Merle works his way to full guard. Good work.
Merle is pulling down on Dagenais's head to control his posture.
Dagenais pushing down on Merle's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dagenais blocks the strikes from Merle.
Merle is trying to maintain the position but Dagenais is very close to passing his half guard.
Merle wants to control but Dagenais passes into side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dagenais tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Merle counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dagenais punching to the body, from the bottom.
Merle prevents Dagenais from getting back to his feet.
Merle trying to control the position from guard on top but Dagenais is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dagenais bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Merle's guard.
Merle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dagenais keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Merle's head.
Merle throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Dagenais is looking to work some ground and pound but Merle has wrist control.
Dagenais trying to control the position from guard on top but Merle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dagenais pushing down on Merle's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Dagenais is looking to take a break and control but Merle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Merle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Merle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dagenais is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Dagenais decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Dagenais misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dagenais wants to clinch but Merle slips to the side

and Merle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dagenais working a defensive guard here.
Merle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dagenais swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merle passes Dagenais's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dagenais tries to roll over but Merle keeps him under control.
Esta Merle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Merle wants to take a breather but Dagenais is having none of it.
Merle stalling away here and it's allowed Dagenais to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Dagenais has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Merle off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Dagenais misses with a head kick.
Dagenais fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Dagenais changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Merle looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Merle is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Dagenais's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
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!
Merle wants to improve his position but Dagenais is controlling well.
Merle is trying to maintain the position but Dagenais is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Merle is working hard here to advance position.

Dagenais is working for a submission of some sort.
Merle tries to roll over but Dagenais keeps him under control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Merle throws a push kick but Dagenais slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dagenais scores with a three punch combo!
Merle shoots in looking for a takedown. Dagenais tries to sprawl out of it but Merle keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dagenais manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Merle gets caught flat footed, as Dagenais shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dagenais makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Merle trying to control the position.
Merle is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merle lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dagenais is staying active underneath Merle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Esta Merle.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Merle, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esta Merle!