PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Gatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Gatti
vs
Mercer

176 cm
30
174 lbs
9 - 17 - 0

184 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arturo Gatti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer slips a jab and a cross from Gatti.
Nice defenses there by Gatti.
Gatti swinging wildly here.
Gatti moves out of range of the strikes.
Gatti throws a lazy right hand but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mercer looks to score with a jab to the body but Gatti is just out of range.
Mercer throws a jab but it's blocked by Gatti.

Mercer gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gatti is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Gatti decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mercer, up you get!
Gatti moves out of range of the leg kick from Mercer.
Mercer tries to score with a low kick but Gatti moves his leg out of the way.
Gatti fails to land with a series of punches.
Gatti throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mercer connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti ducks under a wild hook from Mercer.
Gatti misses with the combination.
Mercer throws a low kick but Gatti avoids it.
Gatti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A clash of legs there as Mercer blocks the low kick.
Gatti misses with a shot to the body
and Mercer counters with a body kick that stops Gatti in his tracks momentarily.
Mercer throws a hook but Gatti avoids it easily.
A combination from Mercer does no damage.
A punch combination from Mercer misses.
Mercer scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mercer connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Gatti shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mercer eats them both and turns towards Gatti to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Gatti checks a low kick from Mercer.
Mercer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gatti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatti defending well as Mercer loads up on a big left hand.
Mercer throws an overhand right that lands on Gatti's shoulder, as Gatti tries to avoid the shot.
Mercer throws a nice looking combination but Gatti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Gatti shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gatti showed some decent athleticism there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gatti is taking a breather. Mercer says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Gatti escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gatti looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mercer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gatti is controlling him.
Gatti sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Mercer is working an open guard so Gatti takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Gatti rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mercer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Gatti shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Gatti controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Mercer tries to hold on but Gatti postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gatti takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Arturo Gatti.
Gatti throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mercer checks a leg kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gatti throws a series of punches but Mercer avoids them all with ease.
Mercer throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Arturo Gatti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gatti checks the leg kick.
Mercer throws a right hand that Gatti ducks under and follows up with a left that Gatti also avoids with ease.
Gatti showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mercer.
Gatti misses with a wild body shot.
Gatti moves out of range as Mercer strikes.
Gatti throws a right hand that Mercer ducks under and follows up with a left that Mercer also avoids with ease.
Mercer with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gatti throws a nice looking combination but Mercer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gatti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mercer lands a head shot.

It looks like Arturo Gatti has been cut.
Alex Mercer seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mercer circles away.
Gatti looks to land a combination but Mercer avoids it well.
Mercer throws a shot from downtown. Gatti moves away and avoids it.
Mercer feints and then cracks Gatti's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gatti down.
Gatti rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mercer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gatti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gatti fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mercer avoids it really well and circles away.
Mercer throws a solid leg kick but Gatti takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mercer.
Mercer rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gatti counters with a series of strikes. Mercer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gatti displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Mercer loads up on a big right hand but Gatti slips the punch.
Mercer falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gatti counters with a left and a right that stings Mercer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gatti.
Alex Mercer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mercer attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gatti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mercer is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gatti.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gatti fails to land with a series of punches.
Gatti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mercer circles away quickly and effectively.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gatti.
Mercer misses with a hook. Gatti ducked under it nicely.
A big right from Mercer misses.
Gatti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gatti misses the shot to the body.
A swing and a miss from Mercer.
Gatti swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Gatti, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jab from Mercer.
Gatti takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Mercer takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mercer misses with a wild combination.
Sloppy strikes from Mercer. Those never looked like landing.
Mercer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gatti misses with a double jab.
Gatti misses with a wild combination.
Mercer lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gatti misses with the combination.
Gatti attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throws an overhand right that lands on Gatti's shoulder, as Gatti tries to avoid the shot.
Gatti lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gatti lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercer moves out of range of the strikes.
Mercer misses with a double jab.
A combination from Gatti does no damage.
Gatti throws a series of punches but Mercer moves out of range.
Mercer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gatti.
Gatti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mercer circles away quickly and effectively.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jab from Mercer.
Sloppy strikes from Gatti. Those never looked like landing.
Mercer swings widly with a right hand
and Gatti counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Arturo Gatti will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Arturo Gatti's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mercer throws a lazy right hand but Gatti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gatti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mercer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mercer lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gatti misses with the combination.
Gatti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gatti is looking to score with low kicks.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gatti.
Gatti fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mercer manages to avoid it.
Gatti lands with a nice combination. Mercer backs away looking to recover.
Mercer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A big right from Mercer misses.
Mercer swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer throws a good cross that connects.
Gatti throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gatti misses with a series of wild punches.
Gatti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mercer misses with a low kick.
Mercer misses with a double jab.
Gatti misses with a series of wild punches.
Mercer just misses with a punch to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mercer, right into the meat.
Gatti is looking to wear down Mercer with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gatti on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gatti fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatti fails to land with a series of punches.
Mercer scores with a punch to the head.
Gatti tries to bum rush Mercer with a series of wild strikes but Mercer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Gatti does no damage.
Mercer swings for the body but Gatti moves out of range.
Gatti misses with a few strikes there.
Mercer scores with a head kick.
Mercer tries to bum rush Gatti with a series of wild strikes but Gatti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mercer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gatti fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Mercer checks it well.
Gatti on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mercer misses with a low kick.
Gatti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mercer circles away quickly and effectively.
Gatti swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gatti rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mercer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer misses with a wild combination.
Good standup being displayed there by Mercer as he connects with a hook.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gatti checks a leg kick.
Gatti goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mercer bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gatti's head.
Gatti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A bone on bone clash there as Gatti blocks the leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Gatti.
Gatti pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mercer back to the ropes. Gatti follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Gatti slips under a jab.
Mercer tries to bum rush Gatti with a series of wild strikes but Gatti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Gatti does no damage.
Gatti displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Gatti throws a right and a left that Mercer avoids nicely.
The fighters circle momentarily. Mercer darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gatti scores with a jab.
Alex Mercer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mercer misses with a low kick as Gatti jumps back.
Gatti is working the combinations to good effect here.
Gatti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gatti misses with a wild combination.
Mercer cracks Gatti with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gatti walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Arturo Gatti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gatti throws a series of punches but Mercer moves out of range.
Mercer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alex Mercer.
I think Gatti has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arturo Gatti!
In his post fight interview, Arturo Gatti gave a big smile as he said 'you only has yourself to blame, if you decide to slug it out with me what else did you expect was gonna happen? huh go fuck yourself you motherfucking cocksucking asslicking piec of shit! when i look around in this building i just see a bunch of faggits just go home and jerk off or something '.