PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reynald Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Anthony (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Mercier
vs
Anthony

197 cm
28
247 lbs
8 - 10 - 1

196 cm
28
273 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
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 8 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Reynald Mercier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephen Anthony!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anthony shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mercier counters with a good, hard body kick but Anthony shrugs it off.
Mercier scores with a one two! Anthony had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Stephen Anthony has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anthony looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Anthony shoots in but no luck this time.
Mercier misses with a double jab.
Stephen Anthony seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Anthony shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mercier really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Anthony goes for an armbar but Mercier turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mercier.

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

Anthony is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mercier is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Anthony swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Mercier drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Anthony manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Mercier has Anthony in his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Anthony has gone for a leg lock! Mercier slips out almost immediately though and dives into Anthony's guard.
Mercier works over Anthony with some ground and pound from guard.

Anthony is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Anthony keeping moving, preventing Mercier from controlling successfully.

Anthony had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mercier defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mercier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Anthony keeping moving, preventing Mercier from controlling successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercier is in close to Anthony's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mercier trying to control the position from guard on top but Anthony is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anthony wants to hit a switch here but Mercier passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Anthony there!
Anthony is desperately trying to improve his position but Mercier has a good base and remains in mount.
BOOM! Mercier connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mercier with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony is in a horrible position here. Mercier smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercier lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Anthony is desperately trying to improve his position but Mercier has a good base and remains in mount.
Mercier connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Anthony is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mercier controlling his opponent.

Mercier goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Anthony is on top in guard.
Anthony would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Anthony advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mercier tries to improve position but can't.

Anthony tries for a kimura but Mercier is defending well.

Anthony stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Anthony uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mercier.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Anthony has his takedown stuffed
and Mercier counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reynald Mercier dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stephen Anthony'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.

Anthony is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mercier sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Anthony shoots for a takedown but Mercier saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Mercier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Mercier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice defenses there by Anthony.
Anthony has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anthony is looking to clinch but Mercier is avoiding it.

Mercier clinches.

Mercier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anthony tries for a takedown but Mercier circles away easily
and Mercier counters with a straight right hand.
Reynald Mercier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Anthony.
Mercier lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mercier is fending him off so far but Anthony persists. Nope, Mercier circles away and we're back to standing.
Mercier lands with a straight right. Anthony didn't see that one coming.
Anthony has his takedown stuffed
and Mercier counters with a right hand to the body.
Stephen Anthony is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anthony is breathing heavily.
Anthony loses concentration momentarily and Mercier pounces with a three punch combo! Right, left, right! Anthony crashes face first to the mat, out cold! Mercier finishes this one with a fantastically precise combo! Great stuff.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Reynald Mercier!