PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reynald Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bertie Bassett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Bassett's choice of entrance music: ET. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mercier
vs
Bassett

197 cm
24
247 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

191 cm
28
272 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Reynald Mercier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Bertie Bassett!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bassett gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mercier counters with a two punch combo.

Bassett gets tackled into the cage by Mercier. Mercier maintains the clinch.
Mercier lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mercier displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bassett up against the cage.

Bassett pulls guard successfully.
Bassett preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bassett lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mercier!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercier wants to hold on but Bassett pushes him away.
Mercier really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bassett goes for an armbar but Mercier turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mercier.
Bassett keeping moving, preventing Mercier from controlling successfully.

Mercier drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bassett looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bassett looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bassett!
Bassett working the strikes but Mercier uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Bassett tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mercier knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercier tries to get to full guard but Bassett has control of the leg.
Bassett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercier keeps working.
Bassett wants to pass to mount but Mercier is defending the position.
Bassett seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercier does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mercier on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bassett is keen to just control but Mercier is a slippery customer.
Bassett looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mercier is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier is trying to maintain the position but Bassett is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mercier manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bassett trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Mercier manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Mercier has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bassett keeping moving, preventing Mercier from controlling successfully.

Mercier drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mercier jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mercier looking to sit in guard and control but Bassett gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mercier pulls Bassett in close to prevent any damage.
Bassett trying to control but Mercier is working from the bottom.

Bassett has gone for a leg lock! Mercier slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bassett's guard.
Mercier trying to control the position from guard on top but Bassett 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' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bassett misses with a low kick.
A combination from Mercier does no damage.
Bassett with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mercier moves into the clinch.
Bassett fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bassett is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mercier throws a punch but it's blocked by Bassett.
Mercier just leaning against Bassett, taking a breather.
Mercier lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bassett or not.
Mercier pushes Bassett back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Bassett decides to pull guard.

Mercier drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bassett looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bassett looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bassett!
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 not content to let Bassett control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bassett decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mercier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bassett swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bassett with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mercier holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Reynald Mercier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bertie Bassett.
Mercier just leaning against Bassett, taking a breather.
Bassett can't get the takedown.
Mercier misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercier is struggling to control the position.
Bassett is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mercier lands with a left to the head.

Mercier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bassett takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Bassett closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mercier's guard.
Bassett trying to move into half guard but instead Mercier has managed to sweep!
Bassett is breathing heavily.

Bassett has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mercier can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mercier looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
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 three minutes gone in the round.
Bassett wants to hit a switch here but Mercier passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bassett there!
Mercier sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bassett is desperately trying to improve his position but Mercier has a good base and remains in mount.
Mercier punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mercier lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercier controlling from mount.

Mercier is working for a guillotine from mount but Bassett frees his head quite easily.
Mercier lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bassett hang on?
Mercier looking to finish Bassett with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bassett!
Mercier raining down shots from the mount!
Mercier controlling from mount.
Reynald Mercier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bassett tries to lock up and control but Mercier gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice straight punches there by Mercier. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mercier.
Bassett shoots and misses

and Mercier counters by moving into the clinch.
Mercier has Bassett pressed against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Mercier.
Mercier is stalling here.
Bassett changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mercier fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bassett misses with a takedown

and Mercier holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Reynald Mercier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bertie Bassett.
Bassett has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mercier avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mercier takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Bassett takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A hook to the body from Mercier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mercier pressing his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Reynald Mercier.
No joy there for Mercier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mercier tries to clinch up.
Bassett with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mercier counters with a left and a right that stings Bassett.
Mercier misses with a few strikes there.
Bassett shoots and misses

and Mercier counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mercier.
Mercier holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mercier breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Mercier.
Bassett avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mercier takes a kick to the side of the head.
Bassett throws a sloppy head kick and Mercier moves out of range easily.
Bassett has his takedown stuffed
and Mercier counters with a left and a right that stings Bassett.
Mercier throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bassett gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mercier moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bassett has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mercier avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Mercier.
Mercier lands a body punch.

Mercier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Reynald Mercier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sloppy strikes from Mercier. Those never looked like landing.
Mercier scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Mercier rushes Bassett and presses him up against the cage.
Bertie Bassett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mercier stops a takedown attempt from Bassett.
Mercier blocks an uppercut.
Mercier gets through Bassett's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Mercier.
Bassett changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mercier fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Mercier has Bassett up against the cage in a clinch.
Reynald Mercier is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercier digs a right hand underneath Bassett's ribcage. Bassett let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Bassett jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mercier walks away with a smile on his face. Bassett gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mercier misses with a wild combination.

Bassett tries to keep at a distance but Mercier has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bassett wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bassett goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mercier prevents it.
Mercier controlling the action here for a moment.
Bassett misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reynald Mercier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mercier 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

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