PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reynald Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Watt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Reynald Mercier has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Reynald Mercier seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Mercier
vs
Watt

197 cm
23
247 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

190 cm
20
250 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Reynald Mercier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, James Watt!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watt tries to clinch but Mercier moves out of range.
Watt tries to clinch up but Mercier circles away and keeps his distance.
Watt tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Watt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like James Watt has been cut.

Watt clinches with his opponent.
Mercier tries to score a body lock takedown but Watt shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mercier.
Watt misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watt misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mercier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mercier is trying to drag Watt to the mat but Watt just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mercier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watt lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right from Watt.
Mercier tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reynald Mercier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watt has Mercier pushed against the cage.
Mercier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mercier jumps guard but Watt stands there with Mercier around his waist. Mercier gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Watt lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mercier backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier fails to pull guard.
A head punch on the inside from Watt fails to land.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A head punch on the inside from Watt fails to land.
Mercier tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watt just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mercier drops down looking for an ankle pick but Watt pulls his leg out and moves away.
Watt throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mercier counters with a stiff right hand.
Watt leaves Mercier with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Watt moves into range and clinches up with Mercier.
A head punch on the inside from Watt fails to land.
Watt pushes Mercier back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mercier blocking some punches.
Mercier blocking some punches.
Watt misses with some punches.
Mercier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watt lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watt misses with a punch on the inside.
Mercier has Watt pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Watt manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mercier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watt doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Mercier jumps guard and drags Watt to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mercier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Watt wants to stand but Mercier is controlling his posture from full guard.

Mercier looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Watt would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Mercier is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Watt defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercier had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Watt defends it easily.
Watt wanted to stand there but Mercier had control of the position.

Watt decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mercier, up you get!

Watt closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Watt - that landed with a thud.
Watt throws a punch but it's blocked by Mercier.
Watt scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mercier tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Watt smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Watt darts in and clinches Mercier up against the cage.
Watt throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Merciers head.
Watt lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Watt tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watt swings wildly with an uppercut but Mercier uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercier tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Watt smiles and moves away.
Watt tries to clinch up but Mercier circles away and keeps his distance.
Mercier misses with a takedown

and Watt counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mercier blocks an uppercut.
Watt throws a head punch that misses.
Mercier is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Watt pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Watt misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Watt dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Watt's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Watt gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Watt lands a shoulder strike.
Watt misses with a punch on the inside.
Watt lands with a left to the head.

Mercier has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Watt uses from the top position.
Watt would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Watt postures up.
Watt wanted to stand there but Mercier had control of the position.

Mercier working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Watt doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Watt manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Watt gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watt drives through and clinches with Mercier against the cage.
Mercier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watt swings wildly with an uppercut but Mercier uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercier tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Watt trying to stall but Mercier improves his position.
Watt prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mercier blocking some punches.
Mercier blocks an uppercut.
Watt has a couple of punches blocked by Mercier.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watt.
Mercier drops down looking for an ankle pick but Watt pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reynald Mercier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercier shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watt lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mercier.
Watt swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watt.
Watt misses with some punches.
Mercier tries to pull guard but Watt holds him up against the cage and eventually Mercier drops back down to his feet.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watt.
Watt misses with a punch on the inside.
Mercier's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mercier is trying to force a seperation but Watt has the dominant position.
Mercier wants a takedown but no success here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watt.
Watt lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mercier backwards.
Watt lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mercier backwards.
Watt scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch on the inside from Watt fails to land.
Watt scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watt misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watt is breathing heavily.
Mercier tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Watt just stands there and leans against the cage.
Watt misses with a hook from the clinch.
Watt swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Watt working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Watt misses with the head strike.
Mercier fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Watt misses with a hook from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Watt scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mercier tries to pull guard but Watt holds him up against the cage and eventually Mercier drops back down to his feet.
Watt scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mercier tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Watt lands with a left to the head.
Watt lands with a light punch inside.
Watt lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mercier backwards.
Watt doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Mercier is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Watt can't fight it off and eventually Mercier manages to take the fight to the floor. Watt looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watt wants to stand but Mercier is controlling the position.
Watt keeping moving, preventing Mercier from controlling successfully.

Mercier postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Watt is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mercier, into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Watt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Watt's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mercier shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Watt defends it nicely.

Watt closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mercier tries to pull guard but Watt won't allow it.
Watt working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Watt misses with a hook from the clinch.
Watt lands a left hand.
Mercier blocking some punches.

Mercier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Watt wants to clinch up but Mercier keeps it at a distance.
Watt throws a right and a left that both miss.
Watt misses with a jab, cross combination.

Watt has closed the distance and engaged Mercier in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watt working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Watt misses with a hook from the clinch.
James Watt seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Watt lands a shoulder strike.
Watt misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watt.
Watt misses with a punch on the inside.
Watt fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A hook to the body from Watt.
Watt fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watt fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mercier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watt stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Watt misses with some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Mercier's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Watt lands with a short shot to the head.
Mercier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watt misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mercier blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watt doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Watt lands a right hand.
Watt misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watt misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Watt fails to land.
Watt lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Watt tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mercier blocking some punches.
Watt has a couple of punches blocked by Mercier.
Watt misses with some punches.
Watt misses with a hook from the clinch.
Watt misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mercier tries to pull guard but Watt holds him up against the cage and eventually Mercier drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reynald Mercier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercier working hard to break the clinch.
Mercier tries to pull guard but Watt won't allow it.
Watt swings wildly with an uppercut but Mercier uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercier tries to pull guard but Watt holds him up against the cage and eventually Mercier drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watt misses with a punch on the inside.

Mercier has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Watt is trying to keep an underhook but Mercier manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watt wants to get back to his feet.
James Watt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mercier trying to control from half guard but Watt is working away.
Mercier is really struggling to control Watt but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Mercier is trying to work for a kimura but Watt is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercier is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mercier stalling away here and it's allowed Watt to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Reynald Mercier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mercier throws a strike but Watt rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Watt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Watt winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Watt!