PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reynald Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Adebisi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simon Adebisi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mercier
vs
Adebisi

197 cm
24
247 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

202 cm
27
273 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Reynald Mercier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Simon Adebisi!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mercier darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mercier thows a huge punch but Adebisi dodges it nicely.
Adebisi is staying active underneath Mercier, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mercier prevents Adebisi from standing back up.
Mercier thows a huge punch but Adebisi dodges it nicely.
Mercier trying to control the pace.
Mercier is just content to waste time from the top position. Adebisi takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercier looking to sit in guard and control but Adebisi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mercier looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mercier is pulling down on Adebisi's head. It's preventing any offense from Adebisi, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Reynald Mercier just wasn't active enough.
Adebisi throws a right and a left that Mercier avoids nicely.
Mercier dives in and grabs Adebisi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Adebisi pushes down on Mercier's head and hops out.
Adebisi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mercier counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mercier.
Mercier trying to control but Adebisi is working from the bottom.
Adebisi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercier throws and elbow that misses. Adebisi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mercier's guard. Nice move by Adebisi!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier is controlling Adebisi's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Reynald Mercier just wasn't active enough.
Adebisi misses with a jab to the body

and Mercier counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mercier.
Mercier is stalling in the full guard.
Mercier'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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Reynald Mercier.
A big left from Adebisi misses.

Mercier throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Adebisi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mercier is in Adebisi's guard.
Mercier trying to control the position from guard on top but Adebisi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reynald Mercier dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mercier avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Mercier looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Mercier here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Mercier is looking for a kimura here.

Mercier is looking for a kimura but Adebisi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mercier to get the leverage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier throws a strike but Adebisi avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Adebisi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mercier is working Adebisi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mercier is looking to work some ground and pound but Adebisi has wrist control.
Mercier trying to control but Adebisi is working from the bottom.
Reynald Mercier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mercier looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mercier slips nicely into half guard.
Mercier wants to control but Adebisi is keeping him busy.
Adebisi is trying to stand up here but Mercier is controlling him well.
Mercier throwing shots but Adebisi is blocking nicely.
Mercier looks to land a strike but Adebisi avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Mercier stands and throws Adebisi's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adebisi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Mercier connects with a decent elbow.
Mercier misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Adebisi being controlled for a moment.

Mercier goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Adebisi has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mercier but great work by Adebisi.

That's four 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.
Mercier tries to bench press Adebisi off him but Adebisi keeps the position.
Adebisi wants to stand but Mercier has his arm trapped.
Mercier tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reynald Mercier dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Mercier misses with a takedown attempt - Adebisi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Adebisi throws a series of punches but Mercier avoids them all with ease.
Adebisi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mercier dives in and grabs Adebisi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Adebisi pushes down on Mercier's head and hops out.
Jab, jab by Adebisi - just one landing.
Adebisi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mercier moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mercier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Adebisi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mercier counters with a series of strikes. Adebisi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mercier avoids the head kick by Adebisi.
Reynald Mercier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Adebisi tries to bum rush Mercier with a series of wild strikes but Mercier uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Adebisi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Adebisi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Mercier counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mercier.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercier throwing strikes but missing.
Mercier trying to control the position from guard on top but Adebisi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Adebisi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adebisi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mercier controls the pace.
Mercier trying to control but Adebisi is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Reynald Mercier just wasn't active enough.
Mercier is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Adebisi.
Mercier fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Adebisi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mercier explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Adebisi slaps away a takedown attempt from Mercier, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reynald Mercier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A bone on bone clash there as Adebisi blocks the leg kick.
Adebisi throws a lazy uppercut

and Mercier counters with a shoot takedown. Adebisi fights it but they end up in guard.
Adebisi being controlled here, momentarily.
Mercier wants to control from the top but Adebisi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Reynald Mercier.
Mercier fails to land the takedown.
Mercier fails with a takedown attempt.
Simon Adebisi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reynald Mercier is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mercier tries to move into range but Adebisi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mercier shoots in for a takedown but Adebisi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mercier avoids a punch combination nicely.
Adebisi throws a right and a left that Mercier avoids nicely.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Adebisi enables Mercier to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Adebisi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mercier wants to control from the top but Adebisi keeps moving.
Mercier is stalling in the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Adebisi keeping full guard, as Mercier tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reynald Mercier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mercier, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reynald Mercier!