PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Merde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mats Svensson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merde comes to the cage accompanied by Mötorhead's Burner. Svensson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Metallica - Hit The Lights!. Mats Svensson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Merde
vs
Svensson

175 cm
24
220 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

186 cm
24
217 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Random Name Supplements
Superior Ki Supplements

Superior Ki Supplements
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Merde!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mats Svensson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merde throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Merde fails with an attempt to clinch.
Merde with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Svensson to score with a decent uppercut.

It looks like Gerard Merde has been cut.
Merde moves in looking to clinch but Svensson pushes him off.
Svensson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Svensson throws out a loose jab but Merde uses good head movement to avoid it.
Svensson shoots in looking for a takedown. Merde tries to sprawl out of it but Svensson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Merde manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Svensson connects with a looping right hand.

Merde forces Svensson back against the cage and clinches.
Merde lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merde fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Svensson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Merde lands a left hand.

Svensson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Merde uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Svensson.
A jab from Svensson misses.

Merde closes the distance and clinches.
Svensson jumps guard but Merde stands there with Svensson around his waist. Svensson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Merde gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gerard Merde has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mats Svensson.
Svensson being controlled against the cage.

Merde has Svensson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Merde pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Svensson tumbling to the mat - Merde dives into Svensson's guard.
Merde trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merde has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Svensson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Svensson being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Svensson trying to control the position.
Merde controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Svensson is looking for a triangle but Merde pushes his legs off easily.
Merde looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Merde trying to control the position from guard on top but Svensson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merde passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Svensson tries to improve position but can't.
Svensson trying to remain calm as Merde controls from the top position.
Svensson is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svensson pushes Merde away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Merde gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Svensson looks gassed!
Svensson is trying to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jab from Svensson.
Merde throws a hook to the side of Svensson's head but Svensson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Merde clinches with his opponent.
Svensson is looking to break free of the clinch but Merde has double underhooks.
Merde working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Merde working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Svensson wants to get back to striking at distance but Merde won't allow it.
Merde keeps control of Svensson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Merde working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Svensson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Svensson tries to break the clinch but Merde is controlling the position.
Merde misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merde lands a right hand.
Merde lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Merde lands a body shot in the clinch.

Merde has clasped his hands together around Svensson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Merde stands up and beckons Svensson to his feet.
Nice straight punches there by Merde. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Merde.

Merde closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merde lands a right hand.

It looks like Mats Svensson has been cut.
Svensson is looking to control Merde's arms but Merde gets an underhook and turns him. Now Svensson has his back to the cage.
Merde misses with a short punch on the inside.
Merde lands a body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from Merde.
Merde goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merde digs a right hand underneath Svensson's ribcage. Svensson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Merde content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short right from Merde.
Merde lands a hook that snaps the head of Svensson backwards.
Merde stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Merde throws a punch but it's blocked by Svensson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerard Merde dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Merde closes the distance and clinches.
Merde lands a hook that snaps the head of Svensson backwards.
Merde lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Merde is trying to stall.
Svensson wants to get back to striking at distance but Merde won't allow it.
Merde has Svensson pushed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Merde fails to land.
Svensson blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Merde.
Merde pressing his opponent against the cage.
Svensson can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merde goes for a takedown in the clinch but Svensson prevents it.
Merde gets underhooks to prevent Svensson's takedown attempt.
Svensson is breathing heavily.
Merde scores with a shoulder strike.
Merde swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Svensson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Merde is struggling to control the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Merde.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson wants to get back to striking at distance but Merde won't allow it.
Merde prevents Svensson from breaking the clinch.

Svensson jumps guard.
Svensson looking for a sweep. Not yet Svensson, not yet.
Svensson trying to keep a closed guard but Merde is proving a slippery customer.
Merde slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Merde decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Svensson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mats Svensson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Svensson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Merde misses.
Merde is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merde moves out of range of the strikes.
Svensson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Merde sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Svensson misses with a looping right.
Merde tries to clinch there but Svensson circles away.
Merde displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Svensson throws out the jab.

Merde shoots in and bounces Svensson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Svensson wants to sweep here but Merde controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merde slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Merde seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Svensson for as long as he can get away with.
Merde passes into half guard.

Svensson looking for submissions off his back.
Merde frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Merde content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson can't escape the position.
Merde lands a big shot there that rocks Svensson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Merde controlling from mount.
Svensson is squirming around, avoiding Merde's attempts to control the action.
Svensson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Merde is thwarting Svensson's attempts to control the position.
Svensson is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerard Merde dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Svensson moves forwards but Merde connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Svensson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Merde.
A swing and a miss from Svensson.
Merde fails with an attempt to clinch.
Svensson loads up on a big right hand but Merde slips the punch.
Svensson throws a hook but Merde avoids it easily.

Merde darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Merde wants to pass the guard but Svensson is defending well.
Svensson is looking to improve his position.
Svensson has hold of Merde's hands but Merde slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Svensson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merde takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Merde lands a nice short elbow.
Svensson wants to get back to full guard.
Merde wants to pass the guard but Svensson is defending well.
Svensson is looking for a sweep. Merde is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Svensson is refusing to be controlled, as Merde sits in half guard.
Merde working Svensson over with strikes.
Svensson is trying to get back to full guard.
Merde controlling the action here.
Svensson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two 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.

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

Merde scores with a takedown into Svensson's guard.
Merde controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Merde preventing the sweep.
Merde trying to control the position from guard on top but Svensson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Svensson tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merde showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Merde cracks Svensson with a solid left hand.

Svensson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Merde can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Svensson controls Merde momentarily but Merde frees himself.
Merde is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Merde controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gerard Merde overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merde is one step ahead there.
Merde trying to control the position from guard on top but Svensson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Merde avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Merde wants to stand but Svensson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Svensson keeping moving, preventing Merde from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerard Merde clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

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

Svensson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Svensson moves into full guard.
Merde postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Merde wants to pass the guard but Svensson is keeping the position.
Merde landing some decent shots from guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Merde trying to control the position from guard on top but Svensson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Svensson working for a triangle but Merde defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merde postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Svensson working for a triangle but Merde defends it easily.
Svensson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Merde might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Svensson trying to strike off his back.
Merde lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Svensson keeping moving, preventing Merde from controlling successfully.
Merde lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Merde postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Merde's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Svensson looking for a sweep. Not yet Svensson, not yet.
Merde sitting in guard here, content to control.

Svensson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Merde escapes and throws Svensson's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Svensson trying to remain calm as Merde controls from the top position.
Merde working the ground and pound.
Merde slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Gerard Merde just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Merde tries to clinch there but Svensson circles away.

Merde has closed the distance and engaged Svensson in a clinch.
Svensson wants to break free but Merde has control.
Merde tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merde. Svensson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Merde is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Svensson scores with a jab. Merde acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Merde clinches up with Svensson and pushes him back against the cage.
Merde lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Svensson or not.
Merde keeps control of Svensson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Merde has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Svensson regains guard immediately.
Merde trying to control the position from guard on top but Svensson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Svensson wants to sweep but no luck.
Svensson keeping moving, preventing Merde from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson being controlled here, momentarily.
Svensson looking for a sweep. Not yet Svensson, not yet.

Merde decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Svensson, up you get!
Svensson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Merde slips a jab from Svensson.
Svensson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Merde.

Merde clinches up with Svensson and pushes him back against the cage.
Merde misses with the head strike.
Svensson is trying to break free.
Merde throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Svenssons head.
Merde lands a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Merde.

Svensson manages to break the clinch.
Merde throws a lazy right hand but Svensson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerard Merde had his way with Mats Svensson in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Svensson tries to keep at a distance but Merde has taken the fight into the clinch.
Merde lands a body shot in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Good body shot from Merde.
A short right from Merde.
Svensson is trying to break the clinch but Merde has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Merde.
Merde lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Svensson backwards.
Svensson is trying to break the clinch but Merde has him pressed against the cage.
Merde is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Merde presses Svensson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Merde.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Merde.
Merde swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Merde changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Svensson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merde is looking to clinch.
Svensson with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Merde to counter with a crisp jab.
Merde cracks Svensson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Merde misses with a looping right.
Merde wants to clinch up but Svensson keeps it at a distance.
Svensson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Merde moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Merde tries to clinch but Svensson is having none of it.
Merde slips a straight right by Svensson.

Merde forces Svensson back against the cage and clinches.
A hook to the body from Merde.
Merde working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Merde is working Svensson over against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merde pushes Svensson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Merde.
Merde lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Merde lands a left hand that snaps the head of Svensson backwards.

Merde works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Svensson is trying to control the position but Merde postures up.
Svensson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Svensson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Svensson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Svensson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Merde is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Svensson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Merde's back instead.
Svensson trying to control.
Merde trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Gerard Merde is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merde turns into Svensson and is now in his guard.
Merde not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Merde tries to clinch but Svensson is having none of it.
Svensson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Svensson throws out a loose jab but Merde uses good head movement to avoid it.
Merde looks to land a left hand but Svensson moved out of range nicely.
Mats Svensson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Svensson throws a jab when Merde was well out of range.
Svensson misses with an uppercut.

Merde clinches with his opponent.
Merde lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Svensson has had enough of the clinch but Merde keeps him there for the moment.
Svensson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Svensson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A short right from Merde.
Merde pushes Svensson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Merde lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Svensson.
Svensson wants to get back to striking at distance but Merde won't allow it.
Svensson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A nice right hand lands inside from Merde.
Svensson can't break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merde.
Merde keeps control of Svensson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Merde wants the takedown. Svensson is fighting it off but Merde persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Svensson's guard against the cage.
Merde pushing down on Svensson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Merde with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Svensson actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerard Merde showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Merde, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 50:45
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerard Merde!
Gerard Merde retains his light heavyweight title!