PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Merker Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Mousaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mousaki has chosen souljacker as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Kenji Mousaki has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mark Merker Junior's chin.

Merker Junior
vs
Mousaki

178 cm
28
177 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

182 cm
23
177 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Merker Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kenji Mousaki!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mousaki throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Merker Junior tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mousaki is in Merker Junior's guard.
Merker Junior utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Merker Junior wants to sweep but no luck.
Mousaki is stalling in the full guard.
Mousaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Merker Junior lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mousaki!
Mousaki is in all sorts of trouble here.
Merker Junior landing strikes from the mount.
Mousaki working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merker Junior throws some wild stikes that Mousaki manages to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merker Junior throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merker Junior misses with some ground and pound and Mousaki recovers position to half guard.
Mousaki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Merker Junior.
Mousaki is staying active underneath Merker Junior, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mousaki keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Mousaki is trying to maintain the position but Merker Junior is very close to passing his half guard.
Mousaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Merker Junior decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mousaki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mousaki looks for a takedown but Merker Junior sprawls well.
Mousaki shoots in for a takedown but Merker Junior shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mark Merker Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenji Mousaki.
Merker Junior tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mousaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Merker Junior moves in looking to clinch but Mousaki pushes him off.
Mousaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mousaki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Merker Junior circles away.
Merker Junior tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mousaki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Merker Junior is fending him off so far but Mousaki persists. Nope, Merker Junior circles away and we're back to standing.
Mousaki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Merker Junior throws a head kick that misses.
Mousaki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mousaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mousaki fails to land the takedown.
Mark Merker Junior is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mousaki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mousaki shoots in and drives through. Merker Junior sprawls well.
Merker Junior throws a push kick but Mousaki slaps the foot to one side.
Merker Junior lands with a nice body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Merker Junior. No joy for Mousaki on that attempt.
Mousaki looks gassed!
Mousaki takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Merker Junior fails in his attempt to clinch.
Merker Junior pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mousaki works over Merker Junior's head and body with a nice combination.
Mousaki wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Merker Junior misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mousaki avoids the head kick by Merker Junior.
Merker Junior fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mousaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Merker Junior wants to clinch up but Mousaki keeps it at a distance.
Merker Junior throws a head kick that half lands.

Merker Junior has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mousaki tries to pull guard but Merker Junior holds him up against the cage and eventually Mousaki drops back down to his feet.
Merker Junior lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Merker Junior escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Merker Junior fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mousaki blocks a head kick by Merker Junior.
Mousaki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Merker Junior sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mousaki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Merker Junior is fending him off so far but Mousaki persists. Nope, Merker Junior circles away and we're back to standing.
Merker Junior throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mousaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Merker Junior.
Mousaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Merker Junior.
The fight stays on the outside here - Merker Junior looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mousaki circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mousaki tries to keep at a distance but Merker Junior has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Merker Junior dominated that round.
That's time! Merker Junior's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Merker Junior tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Merker Junior moves out of range of the leg kick from Mousaki.
Mousaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Merker Junior.
The fight stays on the outside here - Merker Junior looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Merker Junior moves in looking to clinch but Mousaki pushes him off.
Mark Merker Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merker Junior doesn't manage to clinch there - Mousaki circles away.
Mousaki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Mousaki scores a takedown into full mount!
Merker Junior wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mousaki with the ground and pound from mount.
Mousaki throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Mousaki throwing strikes here but Merker Junior is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merker Junior trying desperately to get to his feet.
Merker Junior is in all sorts of trouble here.
Merker Junior regains half guard.
Mousaki stops Merker Junior from getting back to his feet.
Mousaki is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Mousaki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Merker Junior defends it well.
Merker Junior is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mousaki throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mousaki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Merker Junior pushes Mousaki off looking to stand but Mousaki dives back in and keeps control.
Mousaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merker Junior keeps working.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Merker Junior is looking to escape.
Mousaki trying to control from Merker Junior's half guard. Merker Junior has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Mousaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mousaki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merker Junior is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mousaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Merker Junior is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mousaki 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 Mousaki 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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kenji Mousaki wasn't active enough on the ground.

Merker Junior closes the distance and pushes Mousaki back into the cage.
Mousaki takes an elbow to the forehead.
Merker Junior holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Mousaki keeps control of Merker Junior as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merker Junior throws a knee to the head but misses.
Merker Junior lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mousaki takes an elbow to the temple.

Merker Junior breaks the clinch.
Mousaki shoots in looking for a takedown. Merker Junior tries to sprawl out of it but Mousaki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Merker Junior manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Merker Junior lands a head kick!
Merker Junior scores with a spinning back kick!
Kenji Mousaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Merker Junior looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice sprawl there from Merker Junior as Mousaki shoots in.
Mark Merker Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenji Mousaki.
Merker Junior tries to clinch there but Mousaki circles away.
Merker Junior defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mousaki.

Mousaki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Mousaki 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! This is the final round!

Merker Junior moves into range and clinches up with Mousaki.
Mousaki fails to pull guard.
Mousaki fails to pull guard.

Merker Junior breaks the clinch.
Mousaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mousaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mark Merker Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenji Mousaki.

Merker Junior moves into the clinch successfully.
Merker Junior misses with an elbow strike.

Merker Junior breaks from the clinch.
Merker Junior is looking to clinch but Mousaki is avoiding it.

Merker Junior fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mousaki, pushing him back against the cage.
Mousaki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Merker Junior lands an elbow just above Mousaki 's eye.
Merker Junior softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mousaki blocks an elbow strike from Merker Junior.

Merker Junior breaks the clinch.
Merker Junior walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mousaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mousaki.
Merker Junior plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Merker Junior moves in looking to clinch but Mousaki pushes him off.

Mousaki looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mousaki wants to take a breather but Merker Junior is having none of it.
Merker Junior wants to get back to his feet.
Mousaki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Merker Junior is looking to escape.
Mousaki wants to control but Merker Junior is keeping him busy.
Merker Junior tries to roll over but Mousaki keeps him under control.
Mousaki wants to control but Merker Junior is keeping him busy.
Mousaki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Mousaki seems content to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mousaki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mousaki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merker Junior knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mousaki lands strikes from half guard.
Mousaki controlling the action here.
Merker Junior keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mousaki throwing shots but Merker Junior is blocking nicely.
Merker Junior is refusing to be controlled, as Mousaki sits in half guard.

Merker Junior has one foot on Mousaki's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mousaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mousaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merker Junior avoids a punch combination nicely.
Merker Junior rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mousaki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Merker Junior misses with a head kick.
A big left from Mousaki misses.
Mousaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Merker Junior swivels and escapes.
A combination from Mousaki does no damage.
A head kick misses from Merker Junior.
Merker Junior fails in his attempt to clinch.
Merker Junior throws a sloppy head kick and Mousaki moves out of range easily.
Mousaki misses with a takedown attempt - Merker Junior sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mousaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merker Junior fails in his attempt to clinch.

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.

Merker Junior gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Merker Junior is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mousaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mousaki prevents Merker Junior from getting back to his feet.
Merker Junior trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kenji Mousaki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mousaki trying to control but Merker Junior is working from the bottom.
Merker Junior wants to get back to his feet but Mousaki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mousaki trying to control but Merker Junior is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kenji Mousaki.
I think Mousaki 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Mousaki!