PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reynald Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willabee Raggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mercier
vs
Raggs

197 cm
31
247 lbs
13 - 13 - 2

191 cm
30
255 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 13 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reynald Mercier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Willabee Raggs !
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raggs blocks the body kick.

Raggs closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mercier did well to prevent Raggs getting side control.
Raggs stalling.
Mercier is not content to let Raggs control the position.
Mercier keeping control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Raggs closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mercier quickly recovers to half guard.

Mercier looking for submissions off his back.

Raggs seems to be working for a kimura but Mercier defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier trying to control here.
Raggs with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Raggs wants to take a breather but Mercier is having none of it.
Mercier wants to get back to full guard.

Raggs is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mercier sees it coming and defends easily.
Mercier is looking to improve his position.
Mercier wants to control but Raggs is keeping busy.
Raggs is trying to control the action in half guard but Mercier is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Raggs working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Mercier's thigh. Mercier counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Raggs throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raggs tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercier is retaining full guard.
Mercier is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Raggs wants to control from the top but Mercier keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Raggs content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Willabee Raggs was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Raggs fails to land with a series of punches.
Raggs wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raggs wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier throws a body punch but Raggs moves out of range.
Raggs looks to land a combination but Mercier avoids it well.
Raggs stuns Mercier with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Raggs manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mercier on his heels. He'll look to pass Mercier's guard now, I'm sure.
Raggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raggs passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Raggs connects with a nice short shot to Mercier's temple.
Raggs missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mercier wants to control but Raggs is keeping busy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raggs is keen to just control but Mercier is a slippery customer.
Raggs might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mercier kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercier actively working from the bottom here.
Mercier wants to improve his position but Raggs is controlling well.
Mercier is trying to maintain the position but Raggs is very close to passing his half guard.

Raggs is working for a kimura but Mercier is defending it quite comfortably.
Raggs winds up and cracks Mercier with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Mercier looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Raggs wants to take a breather but Mercier is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raggs wants to pass to mount but Mercier is defending the position.
Raggs trying to control from half guard but Mercier is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willabee Raggs dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Raggs rushes Mercier and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Raggs lands with a short shot to the head.
Raggs is trying to force a seperation but Mercier has the dominant position.

Raggs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercier moves forwards but Raggs connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mercier misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Raggs tries to clinch but Mercier is having none of it.
Jab from Raggs .

Raggs dives in and gets a big takedown. He lands in full mount and immediately unloads a series of heavy strikes! Mercier has had enough and taps out.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Willabee Raggs !