PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Edward Daniels (ranked 25270 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jakub Merunka (ranked 5816 p4p, 578 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Daniels
vs
Merunka

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Edward Daniels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jakub Merunka!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merunka misses with a takedown attempt - Daniels sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Merunka clinches up against the cage.
Merunka is pressed up against the cage. Daniels has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Merunka down to the mat. Merunka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Merunka tries to clinch up
and Daniels counters with a one-two to the body.
Daniels changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Merunka tries to avoid it but Daniels manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Merunka to the ground. Merunka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Merunka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Merunka changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Daniels fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Merunka darts in and clinches Daniels up against the cage.
Daniels tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels jumps guard but Merunka stands there with Daniels around his waist. Daniels gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edward Daniels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Daniels jumps guard but Merunka stands there with Daniels around his waist. Daniels gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merunka.
Daniels is looking to break free of the clinch but Merunka has double underhooks.
Merunka leaning against his opponent.
Merunka dodges an elbow strike from Daniels.
Daniels tries to break the clinch but Merunka is controlling the position.
Merunka keeps control of Daniels as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Daniels tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Merunka has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Daniels uses from the top position.
Daniels wanted to stand there but Merunka had control of the position.
Merunka is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels trying to control but Merunka is working from the bottom.
Daniels scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Daniels avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Daniels stands and steps away. Merunka gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Daniels shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Merunka but Merunka pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels fails with the takedown
and Merunka counters with a series of strikes. Daniels will be more careful next time no doubt.
Daniels keeps the fight on the outside.

Daniels scores with a takedown into Merunka's guard.
Merunka looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Daniels trying to control but Merunka is working from the bottom.

Merunka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Daniels defends it easily.
Daniels has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Merunka is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels wants to control from the top but Merunka keeps moving.
Merunka has his hands on Daniels's head, controlling the position.
Merunka wants to stand up but Daniels is controlling him.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merunka wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jakub Merunka will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Merunka clinches up against the cage.
Daniels is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Merunka to keep the fight standing.
Merunka cracks Daniels with a nice body shot.
With the fighters up against the cage, Daniels throws an elbow but misses.

Merunka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merunka defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Daniels.

Merunka has taken the fight to the clinch.
Daniels lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Daniels lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Merunka decides to pull guard.
Merunka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Daniels.
Daniels trying to control the position from guard on top but Merunka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merunka is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels is standing up over Merunka. Merunka looks to escape but Daniels dives into side control.
Merunka is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Merunka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Daniels in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Merunka defending against the ground and pound.
Merunka gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Daniels is trying to control. Merunka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merunka is trying to get back to full guard.
Merunka is refusing to be controlled, as Daniels sits in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Daniels connects with a nice short shot to Merunka's temple.
Daniels wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merunka keeps working.
Merunka is holding on to half guard well.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Daniels missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Merunka clinches up against the cage.
Merunka's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Merunka lands a body punch in the clinch.
Daniels is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edward Daniels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Daniels is trying to pull guard but Merunka has him pressed against the cage.
Daniels fails to pull guard.
Daniels jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Merunka walks away with a smile on his face. Daniels gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Merunka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Daniels jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Merunka walks away with a smile on his face. Daniels gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Merunka tries to clinch but Daniels is having none of it.
Daniels shoots for a takedown but Merunka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merunka doesn't manage to clinch there - Daniels circles away.
Merunka doesn't manage to clinch there - Daniels circles away.
Merunka tries to close the distance and clinch but Daniels swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Merunka tries for a takedown but Daniels sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Daniels is looking for a counter combo.
Edward Daniels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Daniels closes this distance looking for a takedown but Merunka circles away.
Merunka throws a big counter head kick but Daniels avoids it with no problem.
Merunka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merunka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Merunka.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Merunka has Daniels up against the cage in a clinch.

Merunka manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jakub Merunka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Merunka has managed to clinch.
Merunka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Merunka works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Daniels fails to pull guard.
Daniels tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Merunka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Merunka blocks an elbow strike.
Daniels stops a takedown attempt from Merunka.
Merunka holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Merunka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Daniels.
Merunka works on Daniels's body with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Merunka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Daniels tries to pull guard but Merunka holds him up against the cage and eventually Daniels drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edward Daniels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merunka is struggling to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels jumps guard but Merunka stands there with Daniels around his waist. Daniels gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Merunka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Daniels's efforts to push away.
Merunka scores with a shot to the side of Daniels's head.
Merunka lands a knee to the body.
Daniels is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Merunka is keeping busy.
Jakub Merunka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Daniels tries to pull guard but Merunka forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Daniels tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Merunka smiles and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Merunka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels looking for a takedown.
Knees in the clinch landing for Merunka.
Daniels tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Daniels is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Merunka to keep the fight standing.
Daniels is trying to break free.
Merunka throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Danielss head.
Merunka lands an uppercut.
Daniels misses with some punches.
Daniels tries to pull guard but Merunka won't allow it.
Merunka throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Danielss head.
Merunka scores with a shot to the side of Daniels's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Daniels takes an elbow to the temple.
Daniels wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels tries to pull guard but Merunka won't allow it.
Merunka tries for a takedown but Daniels manages to get underhooks.

Merunka manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Merunka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merunka is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Merunka wants to stand but Daniels is controlling the position.

Merunka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Daniels can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Merunka seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four 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.
Merunka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Daniels wants to control from the top but Merunka keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Merunka holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jakub Merunka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Daniels darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merunka manages to get to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jakub Merunka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Merunka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jakub Merunka!
In his post fight interview, Jakub Merunka started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.