PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Irgo Bulghakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Irgo Bulghakov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mercer
vs
Bulghakov

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Irgo Bulghakov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bulghakov is looking to clinch but Mercer is avoiding it.
Bulghakov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mercer's waist but Mercer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bulghakov off to one side.
Mercer wants to clinch.
Mercer slaps away a takedown attempt from Bulghakov, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Mercer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mercer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mercer throws an elbow that misses.

Bulghakov pulls guard.
Bulghakov keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
Mercer wants to get up but he can't break Bulghakov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Bulghakov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bulghakov is pulling down on Mercer's head. It's preventing any offense from Mercer, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer tries to stand but Bulghakov is controlling from the bottom.

Alex Mercer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Mercer throws a hook to the side of Bulghakov's head but Bulghakov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Mercer clinches.
Bulghakov is trying to break the clinch but Mercer has him pressed against the cage.
Mercer stops a takedown attempt from Bulghakov.
Alex Mercer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Irgo Bulghakov.
Mercer misses with a knee strike.
Mercer tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mercer pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bulghakov stalling in the clinch but Mercer improves position.

Mercer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bulghakov closes the distance and clinches.
Mercer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bulghakov blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulghakov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mercer avoids it.
Bulghakov is trying to pull guard but Mercer has him pressed against the cage.

Mercer breaks the clinch.
Mercer throws a head kick that Bulghakov semi-blocks.
Bulghakov tries for a takedown but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mercer tries to keep at a distance but Bulghakov has taken the fight into the clinch.

Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bulghakov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mercer tries to avoid it but Bulghakov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mercer to the ground. Mercer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mercer fails to land the takedown.
Mercer moves in looking to clinch but Bulghakov pushes him off.
Bulghakov shoots in for a takedown but Mercer shows good takedown defense.
Bulghakov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mercer's waist but Mercer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bulghakov off to one side.
Bulghakov looks winded!
Mercer fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulghakov shoots for a double leg takedown but Mercer sprawls well. He's pushed Bulghakov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bulghakov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mercer blocks a head kick by Bulghakov.
Bulghakov shoots for a takedown but Mercer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mercer throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bulghakov's head.
Mercer doesn't manage to clinch there - Bulghakov circles away.

Mercer forces Bulghakov back against the cage and clinches.

Mercer pulls guard.

Mercer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mercer lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bulghakov!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mercer is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Bulghakov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bulghakov is looking to improve his position but Mercer isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mercer has control of Bulghakov's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Bulghakov regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Mercer is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Mercer dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mercer clinches up against the cage.

Mercer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mercer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bulghakov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mercer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bulghakov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bulghakov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bulghakov as he avoids it easily.

Bulghakov clinches.
Mercer tries to land a knee to the head but Bulghakov blocks with his arms.
Mercer is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bulghakov takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mercer being controlled against the cage.
Bulghakov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bulghakov wants to take the fight to the mat but Mercer manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bulghakov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Bulghakov tries to pull guard but Mercer holds him up against the cage and eventually Bulghakov drops back down to his feet.
Alex Mercer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Irgo Bulghakov.
Mercer connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bulghakov's face.

Mercer manages to break the clinch.
Mercer tries to clinch up but Bulghakov circles away and keeps his distance.
Bulghakov cracks a nice hook into Mercer's ribs.
Bulghakov swats away the attempt to clinch by Mercer.
Alex Mercer is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bulghakov tries to keep at a distance but Mercer has taken the fight into the clinch.

Mercer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercer looks to clinch
and Bulghakov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mercer thinking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bulghakov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bulghakov gets a clinch.
Mercer looking to throw knees to the head but Bulghakov is blocking nicely.
Mercer lands an elbow that stopped Bulghakov in his tracks for a moment.
Bulghakov wants a takedown.
Bulghakov has Mercer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mercer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mercer stalling in the clinch but Bulghakov improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bulghakov jumps guard.

Mercer stands and steps away. Bulghakov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mercer thows a body kick. Bulghakov tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Bulghakov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mercer avoids it really well and circles away.
Mercer lands a head kick!
Bulghakov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bulghakov.
Mercer fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer shoots in but Bulghakov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bulghakov shoots in looking for a takedown. Mercer tries to sprawl out of it but Bulghakov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mercer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Alex Mercer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercer shoots in looking for a takedown but Bulghakov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mercer's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bulghakov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mercer but Mercer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch but Bulghakov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercer wants to clinch.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bulghakov sprawls well. Bulghakov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mercer gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Mercer 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!

Bulghakov clinches with his opponent.
Mercer tries to land knees in the clinch but Bulghakov avoids the damage to the body.
Mercer misses with a knee to the head.
Bulghakov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mercer smiles and moves away.
Bulghakov avoids the head kick by Mercer.
Mercer misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bulghakov shoots in looking for a takedown but Mercer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bulghakov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mercer tries to clinch but Bulghakov moves out of range.

Mercer drives through and clinches with Bulghakov against the cage.
Mercer gets underhooks to prevent Bulghakov's takedown attempt.
Alex Mercer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Irgo Bulghakov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bulghakov wants a takedown.
Bulghakov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mercer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bulghakov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bulghakov is working for takedown but Mercer is calmly controlling the position for now.
A knee to the head by Mercer.
Bulghakov effectively controlling the action here.

Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercer tries to clinch but Bulghakov moves out of range.

Mercer moves into range and clinches up with Bulghakov.
Bulghakov takes a knee to the side of the body.
Mercer lands a good knee to the midsection. Bulghakov won't want to take too many of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bulghakov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mercer walks away with a smile on his face. Bulghakov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bulghakov as he jumps to the side.
Mercer on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mercer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mercer wants it to stay on the feet.
Mercer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bulghakov pinned against the cage. Bulghakov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch but Bulghakov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bulghakov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mercer throws a right hand that Bulghakov ducks under and follows up with a left that Bulghakov also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulghakov shoots in and drives through. Mercer sprawls well.
Mercer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mercer has a takedown stuffed.

Bulghakov has closed the distance and engaged Mercer in a clinch.
Alex Mercer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mercer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bulghakov avoids it.
Mercer with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bulghakov wants a takedown but no success here.
Mercer misses with a knee to the head.
Mercer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bulghakov is defending well for now.
Mercer prevents Bulghakov from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bulghakov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bulghakov prevents a body shot from Mercer.
Mercer missing with knees to the body.
Bulghakov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Mercer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bulghakov shoots in for a takedown but Mercer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mercer wants to clinch.
Mercer shoots in but Bulghakov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Irgo Bulghakov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Mercer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bulghakov moves into the clinch successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Mercer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mercer 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Mercer!
After the fight, Alex Mercer was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.