PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johny Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jones
vs
Mercier

185 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johny Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leon Mercier!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mercier circles away quickly and effectively.
Jones fails to land the takedown.
Jones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mercier tries to avoid it but Jones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mercier to the ground. Mercier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mercier swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones.
Mercier tries to land a front kick but Jones steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jones is defended easily by Mercier.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johny Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mercier has closed the distance and engaged Jones in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mercier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercier plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercier closes the distance and clinches.
Mercier presses Jones against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The referee calls for Mercier to work.
Jones wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mercier manages to break the clinch.
Jones tries to clinch

and Mercier counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mercier.
Mercier controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
I looks like Mercier might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercier preventing the sweep.
Mercier must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mercier slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
Mercier controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mercier wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Despite being in the dominant position, Leon Mercier just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jones wants to clinch

and Mercier holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jones wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jones is trying to break the clinch but Mercier has him pressed against the cage.
Mercier is leaning against Jones and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Mercier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mercier goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mercier dodges the punch combination from Jones.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mercier counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Mercier is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Mercier dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mercier drives through and clinches with Jones against the cage.

Mercier breaks from the clinch.
Mercier lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jones at a distance.

Mercier scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Mercier tries to advance to mount but can't.
Mercier controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones prevents Mercier from moving into mount.
Mercier taking a break here but Jones is having none of it and regains half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mercier passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Jones!

Mercier working for a guillotine from mount but Jones is in no mood to give up.
Mercier is breathing heavily.
Mercier sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jones is looking to escape.
Jones wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jones really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mercier takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Despite being in the dominant position, Leon Mercier just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jones tries to clinch but Mercier moves away

and Mercier counters with a shoot takedown. Jones fights it but they end up in guard.
Mercier controlling from the top position.
Mercier wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Mercier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mercier ducks right into an uppercut from Jones.
Jones darts in trying to clinch

and Mercier counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jones trying to control but Mercier postures up.
Mercier prevents Jones from improving his position.
Mercier keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier is thwarting Jones's attempts to control the position.
Mercier trying to mount his opponent but Jones defends it.
Mercier wants to take a breather but Jones is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jones manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Leon Mercier is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mercier seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Let's hope that Mercier has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Jones looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier 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.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mercier tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mercier's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jones is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mercier is stalling in the full guard.
Mercier wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leon Mercier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mercier 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Mercier!