PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ray Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JiaNuo Ding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ray Mercer has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mercer
vs
Ding

194 cm
18
249 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

215 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, JiaNuo Ding!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mercer cracks Ding with an uppercut from hell and Ding crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Mercer's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

It looks like JiaNuo Ding has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ding had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mercer defends it easily.

Ding is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mercer is aware though and is defending well.
Mercer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mercer has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ding is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mercer is controlling him.
Mercer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ding looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mercer puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ding wants to get back to full guard but Mercer has mounted him!
Mercer content just to control the position here.
Mercer's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ray Mercer just wasn't active enough.
Mercer lunges at Ding with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ding's hand.
Ding tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mercer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ding showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mercer.
Mercer falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ding counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Mercer lands a left and a right that sends Ding crashing to the canvas! Mercer dives into mount looking to finish!
Ding looks gassed!
Mercer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ding is looking to improve his position but Mercer isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mercer sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Ray Mercer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ding with a poor takedown
and Mercer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Ding gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ding is working an open guard so Mercer takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Mercer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on JiaNuo Ding's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mercer drops Ding with a left and a right! Oh, Ding is hurt - Mercer dives into side control looking to finish!
Mercer lands a decent elbow from side control.
Mercer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ding can do to turn this around?
Ding seems a little lost for a moment, as Mercer dominates the positioning.
Mercer working away.
Mercer tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ding's legs.
Mercer is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Ding is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Ray Mercer wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Mercer scores with a takedown into Ding's guard.
Mercer sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mercer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ding on the ground.
Mercer seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ding for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mercer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ding swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ray Mercer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

A jab-cross combination lands for Mercer and sends Ding crashing to the mat! Mercer follows him down to the mat - Ding regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Ding is rocked!

That has opened up JiaNuo Ding's cut even more.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mercer controlling the action here.
Ding is still in real trouble! Can Mercer finish him?
Mercer moves nicely into side control.
Ding seems to have recovered his senses.
Mercer has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Ding!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer controlling from the full mount.
Ding tries to hold on but Mercer pushes him away.
Mercer controlling his opponent.

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.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Ray Mercer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

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 engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercer stands and throws Ding's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Mercer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on JiaNuo Ding's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Oooh a lovely combination from Mercer sends Ding down but not out. Mercer dives into side control looking to finish.
Ding is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mercer is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Ding's shoulder. That is not cool.
Ding is looking for a sweep.
Mercer is staying tight to Ding's torso, preventing him from escaping.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ray Mercer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ding takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ray Mercer wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Mercer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Mercer decides to stand back up. Mercer steps back and let's Ding get back to his feet.
Mercer keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mercer is throwing a storm of strikes! Right hook, left hook and follows it up with a spinning back fist! Ding hits the canvas like a rag doll! And just like that, this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ray Mercer!