PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esmael Alabdullah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alabdullah's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Price Tag. Ray Mercer has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Esmael Alabdullah's chin.

Alabdullah
vs
Mercer

190 cm
19
250 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

194 cm
18
249 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Esmael Alabdullah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Steve Montenegro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alabdullah is looking to clinch.

Mercer drives through with a takedown into guard.
Alabdullah looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mercer is one step ahead there.
Alabdullah wants to stand but Mercer is controlling the position.
Alabdullah is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Alabdullah looking for a guillotine here but Mercer defends easily.
Mercer content to stall in guard here.
Mercer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mercer is pushing down on Alabdullah's leg trying to pass to half guard. Alabdullah is fighting to maintain full guard but Mercer has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer not doing much here.
Mercer blocks the strikes from Alabdullah.
Mercer trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ray Mercer.
Mercer looks to land a combination but Alabdullah avoids it well.
Mercer connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mercer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alabdullah.
Alabdullah is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alabdullah tries for a takedown but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alabdullah takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Alabdullah on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Alabdullah shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mercer as he jumps to the side.
Alabdullah tries to clinch up but Mercer circles away and keeps his distance.
Mercer cracks Alabdullah with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mercer stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esmael Alabdullah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alabdullah is breathing heavily.

Mercer feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mercer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alabdullah swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mercer is stalling in the full guard.

Mercer stands up and waves to Alabdullah to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercer darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Alabdullah wants to control but Mercer is keeping busy.

Mercer decides to stand and escape the position.
Alabdullah takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mercer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Mercer misses with a series of wild punches.
Mercer with a nice cross.

Mercer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mercer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer looking to pass the guard.
Mercer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mercer tries to free his leg and advance position but Alabdullah is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ray Mercer hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mercer cracks Alabdullah with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Mercer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ray Mercer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercer's jab looks to have found its range, popping Alabdullah under the eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Mercer dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Alabdullah takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Mercer fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alabdullah sprawls well initially but Mercer persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Alabdullah has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mercer is working away from the top position though.
Mercer content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mercer passes to full mount!
Mercer sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Ray Mercer has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Donk. Mercer catches Alabdullah right on the button with a cross.
A left and a right from Mercer both land. Nice combination.
Mercer swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Alabdullah.
Mercer jabs Alabdullah to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Mercer lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Mercer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mercer content to control rather than advance.
Ray Mercer has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ray Mercer was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mercer misses with a series of wild punches.
Mercer lands a jab-cross combination.
Alabdullah slips a jab and a cross from Mercer.
Mercer scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Alabdullah dodges the punch combination from Mercer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer lands with a good body shot.
Mercer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mercer stuffs the takedown attempt from Alabdullah. Alabdullah gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Mercer.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mercer.
Jab by Mercer.
Alabdullah takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mercer scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Mercer jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Esmael Alabdullah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercer works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Mercer scores a takedown into full mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercer looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Mercer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Mercer lands with a right hand.
Alabdullah gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mercer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mercer throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Mercer changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alabdullah looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Alabdullah is letting Mercer control him for a moment.
Alabdullah struggling a bit here.
Alabdullah looks to move to half guard but instead Mercer has passed into mount! Damn!
Mercer looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alabdullah tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mercer looking to control and managing it successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Ray Mercer has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mercer throws a right hand that Alabdullah ducks under and follows up with a left that Alabdullah also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mercer jabs Alabdullah right on the nose. Alabdullah blinks but takes it well.
Mercer stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ray Mercer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mercer swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Alabdullah.
Mercer goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mercer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mercer throws a combination. Alabdullah tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mercer lands a jab-cross combination.
Mercer lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mercer stuffs the takedown.
Mercer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alabdullah has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mercer finds it's way round the side to connect with Alabdullah's head.
Mercer scores with a one two! Alabdullah had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mercer lands an overhand right.
Mercer clobbers Alabdullah with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Mercer throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Alabdullah stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alabdullah slips a jab and a cross from Mercer.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Alabdullah enables Mercer to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Alabdullah manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mercer controls from within his opponent's guard.

Mercer gets to his feet - Alabdullah follows without any prompting.
Mercer connects with a crisp jab.
Alabdullah avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alabdullah has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mercer misses with a low kick.
Mercer scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Mercer.
Mercer throws a combination. Alabdullah tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Mercer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alabdullah's guard.
Alabdullah trying to keep a closed guard but Mercer is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercer passes Alabdullah's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mercer slows the pace down in half guard.
Alabdullah is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mercer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mercer's back!
Esmael Alabdullah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ray Mercer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alabdullah is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Mercer defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Mercer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mercer 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 24:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 25:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Mercer!