PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jose Luciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stu Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jose Luciano has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Luciano
vs
Mercer

186 cm
20
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
252 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Luciano!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stu Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer needs to keep his hands up - Luciano had a free shot at his head there.
Luciano lands the left hand.
Mercer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Good work by Mercer as he checks the leg kick.
Luciano tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mercer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mercer moves out of range of the strikes.
A solid leg kick lands there for Luciano.
Luciano motions for Mercer to come forward. Luciano throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Luciano uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Luciano rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Mercer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mercer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Luciano is looking to improve his position.
Luciano wants to control but Mercer is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mercer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mercer is working away from the top position though.
Mercer trying to mount his opponent but Luciano defends it.
Luciano wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Luciano blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mercer.
Mercer trying to control the action but Luciano is working from the bottom.
Luciano has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Mercer controlling the action here.
Luciano avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mercer.
Luciano keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Luciano blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mercer.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mercer in particular looking to stall.
Mercer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Luciano defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Luciano is refusing to be controlled, as Mercer sits in half guard.
Luciano trying to hold on to Mercer's head to control him but Mercer postures up.
Luciano blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mercer.
Mercer wants to control but Luciano is keeping him busy.
Mercer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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!
Mercer looks to land a strike but Luciano avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Mercer trying to control but Luciano is working from the bottom.
Luciano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mercer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Luciano's head.
Luciano keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
Luciano is trying to keep Mercer in close.
Luciano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mercer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Luciano is looking to take a break and control but Mercer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mercer keeping control of the position.
Luciano wants to pass to mount but Mercer is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Mercer is looking for a sweep. Luciano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mercer preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A bone on bone clash there as Mercer blocks the leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mercer checks a low kick from Luciano.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stu Mercer dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mercer checks a leg kick.
Mercer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Luciano defends it nicely.
Luciano stuffs the takedown.
Mercer jabs Luciano right on the nose. Luciano blinks but takes it well.
Mercer has a takedown stuffed.
Jose Luciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stu Mercer.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Mercer checks a leg kick.
Luciano throws a lazy right hand but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Mercer dives in and scores a takedown into Luciano's guard.
Mercer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Luciano is keeping the position for now.
Mercer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano looking to control.
Mercer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Luciano managing to control the position.
Luciano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mercer.
Mercer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mercer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mercer trying to control but Luciano is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercer postures up in Luciano's guard and throws a big left but Luciano blocks it.
Mercer scoring with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mercer tries to free his leg and advance position but Luciano is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Luciano has control of Mercer's left arm, preventing Mercer from doing any damage.
Mercer sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Luciano's guard.
Luciano keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Luciano is looking to control Mercer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Luciano avoid being mounted?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mercer wants to pass to mount but Luciano is defending the position.
Mercer with the ground and pound but Luciano uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Mercer postures up and lands a big shot to Luciano's brow.
Stu Mercer has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mercer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mercer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Luciano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mercer is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mercer.
Luciano keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.

Luciano working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mercer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mercer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mercer being controlled here momentarily.
Luciano keeping full guard, as Mercer tries to pass.
Mercer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer trying to control but Luciano is working from the bottom.
Luciano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Luciano keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
Mercer stands and throws Luciano's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Luciano is not content to let Mercer control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercer scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Luciano to see if he's OK.
Luciano is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stu Mercer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mercer checks a leg kick nicely.
Luciano darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Mercer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Luciano.
Mercer throws a body kick that misses.
Mercer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice straight punches there by Luciano. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Luciano.
Jose Luciano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luciano throws an off balance right hand

and Mercer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mercer throws a big right hand that misses.
Luciano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mercer.
Mercer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mercer throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercer throwing strikes but missing.
Mercer landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano looking to control.
Mercer working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mercer trying to control but Luciano is working from the bottom.
Mercer slips nicely into half guard.
Mercer passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Luciano!
Luciano tries to lock up and control but Mercer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mercer breaks from Luciano's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mercer working the ground and pound effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercer controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano working to try and regain half guard.
Mercer landing strikes from the mount.
Mercer is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Luciano goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Mercer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Stu Mercer!
Stu Mercer is the new super heavyweight champion!
Stu Mercer decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.