PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Holden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reynald Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Holden
vs
Mercier

190 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

197 cm
22
247 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Holden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Reynald Mercier!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Holden.
Mercier sneaks back into half guard.
Holden knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mercier on the ground.
Mercier throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Mercier keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Holden not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Holden passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mercier!
Mercier is desperately trying to improve his position but Holden has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier tries to lock up and control but Holden gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mercier can't escape the position.
Holden controlling his opponent.
Mercier can't escape the position.
Mercier is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Mercier slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

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.
Holden seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercier does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mercier moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Holden trying to control but Mercier is working from the bottom.
Holden with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mercier keeping moving, preventing Holden from controlling successfully.

Mercier looking for a guillotine here but Holden defends easily.
Holden stopping the sweep attempt from Mercier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Holden!

Mercier goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Holden is on top in guard.
Holden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mercier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Holden wants to stand but Mercier is controlling his posture from full guard.
Holden won't allow Mercier to sweep him here.
Holden has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Mercier is working an open guard so Holden takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Holden wants to clinch up but Mercier keeps it at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holden doesn't manage to clinch there - Mercier circles away.

Holden shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mercier manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mercier looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holden is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Holden dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mercier keeps the fight on the outside.
Holden shoots in but no luck this time.
Holden shoots in but Mercier avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Holden closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mercier to the mat! Mercier manages to get full guard.
Holden trying to control but Mercier is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Holden gets to his feet - Mercier follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Holden fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alex Holden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier fails with the takedown

and Holden counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Holden.
Mercier manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mercier cracks Holden with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Holden defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Mercier.
Holden sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Holden wants to improve his position but Mercier is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mercier is working for a submission of some sort.

Mercier seems to be working for a kimura but Holden defends the submission attempt.

Mercier is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Holden is looking to control Mercier's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Holden avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier wants to take a breather but Holden is having none of it.
Holden wants to control but Mercier is keeping busy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Holden doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mercier counters with a single leg into guard. Holden didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Holden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercier wants to pass the guard but Holden is keeping the position.
Mercier trying to control the position from guard on top but Holden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holden trying to keep a closed guard but Mercier is proving a slippery customer.
Holden wants to stand and escape but Mercier is having none of it.
Mercier stopping the sweep attempt from Holden.
Mercier passes Holden's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mercier wants to pass the guard but Holden is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Reynald Mercier will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Holden's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Holden shoots for a double leg takedown but Mercier sprawls well. He's pushed Holden's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Holden shoots and misses

and Mercier counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mercier.

Mercier thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Holden not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mercier trying to control but Holden is working from the bottom.
Mercier tries to free his leg and advance position but Holden is retaining full guard.
Holden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mercier looking to sit in guard and control but Holden gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holden is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mercier is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mercier has escaped and now he's on top!
Mercier is in close to Holden's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Mercier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mercier controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mercier is pushing down on Holden's leg trying to pass to half guard. Holden is fighting to maintain full guard but Mercier has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mercier working over Holden with some ground and pound. Holden looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Mercier is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Holden defends it well.

Mercier is working for a kimura but Holden is defending it quite comfortably.
Mercier seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercier is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mercier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holden keeps working.
Holden trying to control from the bottom.

Holden is defending against the submission attempts here by Mercier.
Holden wants to control but Mercier is keeping busy.

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.
Holden tries to get to full guard but Mercier has control of the leg.
Mercier is keen to just control but Holden is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holden lands a slapping body shot.
Holden tries for a takedown but Mercier circles away easily

and Mercier counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Holden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercier forces his way into half guard.
Holden is controlling Mercier's position as best he can from this difficult position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reynald Mercier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mercier has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!