PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Zeldenthuis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Mercurius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocky Mercurius has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zeldenthuis
vs
Mercurius

172 cm
22
180 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

181 cm
22
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

L.A. Elite Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dirk Zeldenthuis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocky Mercurius!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercurius lands with a shot to the body.
Mercurius throws the left hand but Zeldenthuis avoids the punch easily.
Mercurius swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mercurius moves away from the strike by Zeldenthuis.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zeldenthuis. Mercurius does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mercurius does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Mercurius closes the distance and clinches up with Zeldenthuis, looking for a takedown. Mercurius pushes Zeldenthuis against the cage but Zeldenthuis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zeldenthuis scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Mercurius checks the leg kick nicely there.
Zeldenthuis fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mercurius.
Mercurius takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Zeldenthuis lands a leg kick that knocks Mercurius off balance momentarily.
Mercurius swings for the body but Zeldenthuis moves out of range.
Mercurius throws a lazy body kick
and Zeldenthuis counters with a nice leg kick.
Mercurius avoids the head kick by Zeldenthuis.
Dirk Zeldenthuis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zeldenthuis lands a jab.
Zeldenthuis thumps Mercurius with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis throws a push kick but Mercurius slaps the foot to one side.
Zeldenthuis ducks under a wild hook from Mercurius.
Zeldenthuis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Zeldenthuis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zeldenthuis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Zeldenthuis forces his way into half guard.
Zeldenthuis controlling the action here.
Zeldenthuis passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mercurius is squirming around, avoiding Zeldenthuis's attempts to control the action.
Zeldenthuis controlling his opponent.
Zeldenthuis throws some wild stikes that Mercurius manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis tries to control but Mercurius wriggling away.
Zeldenthuis controlling from the full mount.

Mercurius defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zeldenthuis.
Zeldenthuis wants to control the pace but Mercurius is squirming around nicely.
Zeldenthuis lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

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.
BOOM! Zeldenthuis connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mercurius is trying to escape the mount.
Mercurius is squirming around, avoiding Zeldenthuis's attempts to control the action.
Zeldenthuis looking to finish with strikes here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercurius really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Zeldenthuis dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mercurius shoots in looking for a takedown but Zeldenthuis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mercurius's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mercurius on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zeldenthuis bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mercurius's head backwards.
Zeldenthuis throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mercurius on the side of the head.
Mercurius scores with a nice head shot.
Mercurius ducks under a wild hook from Zeldenthuis.
Zeldenthuis throws a low kick but Mercurius moves out of range easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Zeldenthuis.
Mercurius throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mercurius lands a jab to Zeldenthuis's midsection.
Zeldenthuis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zeldenthuis fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Mercurius tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zeldenthuis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zeldenthuis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mercurius fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mercurius needs to keep his hands up - Zeldenthuis had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis looks to land a left hand but Mercurius moved out of range nicely.
Zeldenthuis takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mercurius misses with a leg kick

and Zeldenthuis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mercurius's guard.
Zeldenthuis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mercurius swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Zeldenthuis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Mercurius trying to keep a closed guard but Zeldenthuis is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercurius is pulling down on Zeldenthuis's head to control his posture.
Zeldenthuis trying to control but Mercurius is working from the bottom.
Zeldenthuis is fighting to break Mercurius's control of his arms but Mercurius is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Zeldenthuis stopping the sweep attempt from Mercurius.
Mercurius keeping moving, preventing Zeldenthuis from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Dirk Zeldenthuis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mercurius fails to land with a series of punches.
The fighters circling - Mercurius throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zeldenthuis moves out of range of the strikes.
Mercurius looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zeldenthuis misses with a body shot.
Zeldenthuis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mercurius misses with a straight right.
Zeldenthuis fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Mercurius checks a low kick from Zeldenthuis.
Mercurius lands a leg kick that knocks Zeldenthuis off balance momentarily.
Zeldenthuis misses with a wild body shot.
Mercurius throws a hook to the side of Zeldenthuis's head but Zeldenthuis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Mercurius closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zeldenthuis quickly recovers to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis wants to control but Mercurius is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mercurius sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zeldenthuis defending well though.
Mercurius thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zeldenthuis's head.
Mercurius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zeldenthuis keeps working.
Mercurius throwing shots but Zeldenthuis is blocking nicely.
Mercurius wants to stand but Zeldenthuis has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Zeldenthuis gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Zeldenthuis dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zeldenthuis chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mercurius can pounce on him.
Mercurius doesn't manage to clinch there - Zeldenthuis circles away.
Zeldenthuis looks to land a combination but Mercurius avoids it well.
Mercurius shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zeldenthuis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zeldenthuis lands a nice shot to the body.
Zeldenthuis throws a head kick but Mercurius moves out of range.
Mercurius comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mercurius misses with an attempted mid kick.
Zeldenthuis misses with a body shot.
Zeldenthuis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zeldenthuis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mercurius counters with a straight right hand.
Mercurius cracks Zeldenthuis with an open hand slap.
Zeldenthuis throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Mercurius to counter with a crisp jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Mercurius blocks the leg kick.
Zeldenthuis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mercurius.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis is looking to land body kicks.
Zeldenthuis throws a front kick aimed at Mercurius's knee but Mercurius avoids it well.

Mercurius scores with a takedown into Zeldenthuis's guard.

Zeldenthuis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mercurius can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mercurius not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Zeldenthuis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zeldenthuis with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Zeldenthuis with a couple of short strikes.
Mercurius tries to hold on but Zeldenthuis pushes him away.
Zeldenthuis looking to control but Mercurius is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis is landing with some decent strikes but Mercurius is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Mercurius is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dirk Zeldenthuis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zeldenthuis looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zeldenthuis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zeldenthuis throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mercurius is trying desperately to improve position.
Zeldenthuis raining down shots from the mount!
Mercurius is trying to escape the mount.
Mercurius wants to hold on but Zeldenthuis pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Zeldenthuis clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zeldenthuis throws a head kick that misses.
Zeldenthuis connects with a solid leg kick.
Zeldenthuis throws a chopping leg kick but Mercurius manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zeldenthuis.

Zeldenthuis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mercurius is trying to control Zeldenthuis's posture but Zeldenthuis avoids it.
Zeldenthuis has knee on belly momentarily but Mercurius bucks him off and regains half guard.
Mercurius makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mercurius.
Zeldenthuis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Zeldenthuis passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zeldenthuis controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Mercurius's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mercurius is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Zeldenthuis off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercurius scores with strikes from the back.
Mercurius thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Zeldenthuis tries to escape but Mercurius has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mercurius is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
I really don't envy Zeldenthuis right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercurius biding his time, controlling Zeldenthuis.
Mercurius is trying to stick to Zeldenthuis's back but Zeldenthuis is turning into Mercurius. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Mercurius's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Zeldenthuis.
Zeldenthuis won't allow Mercurius to sweep him here.
Zeldenthuis wants to control from the top but Mercurius keeps moving.
Mercurius is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mercurius keeping moving, preventing Zeldenthuis from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zeldenthuis misses with the body kick

and Mercurius moves into the clinch.
Zeldenthuis stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short body shot lands from Zeldenthuis as the two fighters clinch.
Mercurius lands a left hand.
Mercurius's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Zeldenthuis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mercurius is keeping busy.
A short right from Zeldenthuis on the inside.

Zeldenthuis manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercurius trying to control the position from guard on top but Zeldenthuis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Zeldenthuis had his way with Rocky Mercurius in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mercurius.
A telegraphed right hand from Mercurius misses the target.
Zeldenthuis lunges at Mercurius with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mercurius's hand.
Mercurius looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Zeldenthuis misses with an uppercut.
Zeldenthuis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jab by Zeldenthuis.
Zeldenthuis dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mercurius. That did some damage!
A nice inside leg kick there by Zeldenthuis. That's going to slow Mercurius down.
Mercurius misses with a head kick.
Mercurius takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Mercurius is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Zeldenthuis throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Some bone on bone action there as Mercurius checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis lands with a nice body kick.
Zeldenthuis connects with an inside leg kick.
A left lands for Zeldenthuis.
Zeldenthuis throws a leg kick but Mercurius sees it coming and moves out of range.
Zeldenthuis buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zeldenthuis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mercurius counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zeldenthuis lands a nice looking body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Mercurius misses the target.
Zeldenthuis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zeldenthuis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mercurius.
Zeldenthuis throws a big shot that misses.
Zeldenthuis throws a low kick but Mercurius avoids it.
Mercurius avoids the body shot from Zeldenthuis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zeldenthuis. That's going to slow Mercurius down.
Zeldenthuis lands a body shot.
Zeldenthuis comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A head kick misses from Zeldenthuis.
Zeldenthuis looks to land a left hand but Mercurius moved out of range nicely.
Zeldenthuis cracks the inside of Mercurius's front leg.
Zeldenthuis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mercurius looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Dirk Zeldenthuis is winning the standup battle so far.
Mercurius moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zeldenthuis connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zeldenthuis misses with a body kick.
Zeldenthuis looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A shot to the liver by Zeldenthuis. Beautiful body shot.
Mercurius takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zeldenthuis fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mercurius.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis swings for the body but Mercurius moves out of range.
Mercurius takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Zeldenthuis lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mercurius will feel that in the morning.

Zeldenthuis closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mercurius quickly recovers to half guard.
Mercurius is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Mercurius trying to control here.
Zeldenthuis moves nicely into side control.
Zeldenthuis trying to control the position but Mercurius is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis controls the position.
Dirk Zeldenthuis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mercurius is not content to let Zeldenthuis control the position.
Mercurius is looking for a sweep.
Rocky Mercurius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zeldenthuis trying to control the position but Mercurius is working away.
Zeldenthuis is staying tight to Mercurius's torso, preventing him from escaping.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Zeldenthuis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zeldenthuis has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dirk Zeldenthuis!
Dirk Zeldenthuis retains his welterweight title!