PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Samurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stu Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stu Mercer told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Samurai
vs
Mercer

190 cm
22
270 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

190 cm
21
252 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

KAISER

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Samurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Stu Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer sizes up Samurai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Samurai shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mercer's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Samurai showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mercer looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Samurai looking to sit in guard and control but Mercer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mercer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Samurai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mercer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mercer throws an elbow that misses. Samurai uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mercer's guard. Nice move by Samurai!
Samurai is stalling in the full guard.
Samurai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Samurai!
Mercer punching from mount but Samurai doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Mercer thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercer throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Samurai because Mercer loaded up on that one.
Mercer landing strikes from the mount and Samurai is in trouble!
Samurai on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Samurai tries to get out of the position.
Samurai wants to control but Mercer is having none of it.
Samurai is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mercer raining down hammerfists from mount.
Mercer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Samurai is looking to escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercer throwing strikes but Samurai uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Mercer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Mercer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Samurai has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mercer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mercer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Samurai is looking to control Mercer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Samurai avoid being mounted?
Mercer working Samurai over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throwing shots but Samurai is blocking nicely.
Samurai regains full guard. Nicely done.
Samurai keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
Mercer tries to free his leg and advance position but Samurai is retaining full guard.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Samurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Samurai keeping full guard, as Mercer tries to pass.
Mercer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mercer controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Samurai lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mercer!
Samurai thowing shots but they're missing.
Mercer is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercer wants to hold on but Samurai pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercer is looking to get to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Samurai there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stu 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.

Samurai bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mercer wants to control but Samurai postures up.
Stu Mercer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Samurai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercer keeps working.
Mercer can't do much from the bottom here.
Samurai wants to control for a moment but Mercer uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Mercer controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samurai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercer keeps working.
Samurai looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mercer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mercer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mercer is looking for a sweep. Samurai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Samurai not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mercer is controlling Samurai's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Samurai seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer wants to get back to full guard.
Mercer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Samurai.
Samurai seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Mercer looking for submissions off his back.
Samurai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercer keeps working.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mercer. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Samurai is pressing down on Mercer's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mercer is holding on for now.
Mercer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Samurai.
Mercer is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samurai throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mercer is pressing down on Samurai's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Samurai wants to control from the top but Mercer keeps moving.
Samurai looking to pass the guard.
Mercer is trying to keep Samurai in close.
Mercer controlling the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Stu Mercer hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Mercer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercer is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Samurai is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Samurai has escaped and now he's on top!

Mercer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Samurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Samurai throwing strikes but missing.
Samurai stands and throws Mercer's legs to the side, diving into side control.
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 Lucas Samurai will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mercer closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Samurai's guard.
Samurai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mercer.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Samurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Samurai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mercer is looking to work some ground and pound but Samurai has wrist control.
Mercer cracks Samurai with a solid left hand.
Mercer tries to free his leg and advance position but Samurai is retaining full guard.
Samurai can't keep his opponent in guard - Mercer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Mercer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Samurai has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samurai manages to get to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mercer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mercer slips nicely into half guard.
Mercer is keen to just control but Samurai is a slippery customer.
Mercer with the ground and pound but Samurai uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Mercer wants to control from the top but Samurai keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samurai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mercer.
Mercer is looking to work some ground and pound but Samurai has wrist control.
Samurai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mercer is one step ahead there.
Samurai keeping full guard, as Mercer tries to pass.
Samurai working a defensive guard here.
Mercer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Samurai swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer stopping the sweep attempt from Samurai.
Mercer works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mercer looks to land a strike but Samurai avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Mercer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Samurai keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
Mercer throwing strikes from guard but Samurai blocks nicely.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mercer's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mercer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Samurai looking to control but Mercer passes into half guard.
Mercer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mercer trying to mount his opponent but Samurai defends it.

Mercer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Samurai has managed to free his arm - good work.

Samurai is defending against the submission attempts here by Mercer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stu Mercer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mercer has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stu Mercer!
Stu Mercer was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.