PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clay Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurokawa Kenji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Kid CuDi - Wylin Cuz I'm Young. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mercer
vs
Kenji

189 cm
30
219 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

175 cm
34
203 lbs
37 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clay Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Kurokawa Kenji!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenji scores with a head kick. Mercer tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kenji throws a hook but Mercer blocks it.
Mercer doesn't manage to clinch there - Kenji circles away.
Kenji throws out a leg kick but Mercer moves out of range and Kenji only half commits.
Kenji fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mercer digs a good body shot into Kenji's ribs.
Kenji pivots, looking for a leg kick but Mercer is out of range and Kenji settles back down.
Nice shot lands for Kenji.
Sloppy strikes from Mercer. Those never looked like landing.
Kenji scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kenji takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Kurokawa Kenji has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mercer gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kenji thuds his right hand into Mercer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Mercer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kenji.
Kenji connects with a leg kick. Mercer looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A lazy left from Kenji finds it's target.
Kenji misses with a hook.
Kurokawa Kenji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kenji looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kenji throws an overhand right that lands on Mercer's shoulder, as Mercer tries to avoid the shot.
Mercer throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mercer throws a lazy right hand but Kenji sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kenji checks a leg kick nicely.
Mercer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kenji.
Mercer lands with a slapping head kick.
Kenji takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kenji throws the kick towards the body but Mercer avoids it.
Kenji missing with a left hand there. Mercer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kenji avoids the body shot from Mercer.
Kenji smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kenji throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mercer is looking to land body kicks.
Kenji swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kenji swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch but Kenji swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mercer moves forwards but Kenji connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mercer staying out of range there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mercer.
Mercer throws a sloppy head kick and Kenji moves out of range easily.
Kenji tries to work over Mercer's front leg with a kick but Mercer checks it.
Kenji moves away from the strike by Mercer.
Mercer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kenji manages to avoid it.
Kenji scores with a shot to the body.
Mercer bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kenji's head.
Kenji misses with a body shot.
Kenji fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kenji misses with a low kick.
Mercer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mercer fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kenji is out of range.
Kenji takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kenji takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenji misses the jab.
Kenji's corner calls for a 1-2. Kenji obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kenji walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mercer checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kenji pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kenji on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kenji swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mercer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mercer connects with a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kenji.
Kenji avoids the head kick by Mercer.
Mercer just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kenji. Mercer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kenji connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kenji throws a low kick but Mercer moves out of range easily.
Kenji misses with an uppercut.
Kenji misses with a hook
and Mercer counters with a nice leg kick.
Kenji lands the left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenji misses with a wild body shot.
That kick from Mercer tenderised Kenji's leg. Kenji is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mercer throws a body punch but Kenji moves out of range.
Kenji buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mercer throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mercer checks a low kick from Kenji.
Kenji swings widly with a right hand
letting Mercer counter with a right hand.
Mercer lands a head kick. Kenji smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kenji fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kenji checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kenji lands a nice looking body shot.
Kenji feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mercer's calf.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kenji moves out of range of the body kick from Mercer.
Kenji goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mercer is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kenji looks to land a right hand but Mercer moved out of range.
Mercer is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kenji misses with a lunging right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kurokawa Kenji will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kurokawa Kenji's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mercer misses with a looping right.
Kenji misses with a looping left.
Kenji looks to throw the jab but Mercer is out of range.
Kenji stuns Mercer with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mercer needs to keep his hands up - Kenji had a free shot at his head there.
Kenji slips a straight right by Mercer.
Kenji lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Clay Mercer has been cut.
Kenji checks a low kick from Mercer.
Mercer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mercer takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kenji misses with the combination.
Kenji misses with a looping left.
A jab from Kenji finds it's way through Mercer's defenses.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercer on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kenji. Kenji obviously looking to wear him down.
Kenji scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer throws a looping overhand right but Kenji ducks down to avoid it.
Kenji pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kenji keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mercer works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That has opened up Kurokawa Kenji's cut even more.
Mercer feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kenjis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Mercer throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kenji counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kenji steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mercer.
Mercer takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kenji throws out a leg kick but Mercer moves out of range and Kenji only half commits.
Mercer throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kenji.
Mercer misses with a straight right.
Mercer jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kurokawa Kenji seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Mercer closes the distance and clinches.
Kenji lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mercer backwards.
Mercer wants to break free but Kenji has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer wants to stall.
Still in the clinch, Kenji scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mercer crunches a lovely knee into Kenji's ribcage.
Mercer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kenji blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mercer looking to slow down the pace here.
Kenji working aggressively here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mercer looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mercer misses with the head strike.

Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kenji throws a sloppy head kick and Mercer moves out of range easily.
Kenji moves out of range of the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kenji takes a swing at Mercer's ribcage but misses.
Mercer lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kenji throws a leg kick that misses.
Kenji fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mercer.
Kenji throws a leg kick but Mercer moved away.
Mercer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A solid body kick from Mercer.
Kenji misses with a low kick.
Mercer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kenji.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice uppercut lands for Mercer. That snapped Kenji's head back.
Kenji throws a sloppy head kick
and Mercer counters with a slapping leg kick.
Good leg kick by Kenji there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Mercer slips a straight right by Kenji.
Mercer throws an overhand right that lands on Kenji's shoulder, as Kenji tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenji lands a leg kick that knocks Mercer off balance momentarily.
Kenji connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kenji missing with a left hand there. Mercer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kenji's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mercer connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kenji scrambles back to his feet.
Kenji looks to score with a jab to the body but Mercer is just out of range.
Kenji shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kenji throws a leg kick
and Mercer counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mercer thuds a left hand into Kenji's body.
Kenji is breathing heavily.
Mercer cracks Kenji with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kenji uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mercer.
Mercer moves forwards but Kenji connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kenji fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters circling - Kenji throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice body punch from Kenji.
A bone on bone clash there as Mercer blocks the leg kick.
Kenji fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mercer looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kurokawa Kenji will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mercer misses with a body kick.
That kick from Kenji tenderised Mercer's leg. Mercer is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mercer checks the leg kick.
Kenji takes a swing at Mercer's ribcage but misses.
Kenji connects with a solid leg kick.
Kenji misses with a low kick.
Mercer throws the kick towards the body but Kenji avoids it.
Kenji scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kenji lands with a good body shot.
Kenji misses with a head kick.
Kenji missing with a left hand there. Mercer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mercer tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kenji lands with a good body shot.
Kenji looks to land a left hand but Mercer moved out of range nicely.
Kenji thuds his right hand into Mercer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kenji checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kenji.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kenji cracks Mercer with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kenji connects with a solid leg kick.
Kenji walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mercer checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kenji with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kenji throws a leg kick which misses Mercer's front leg but catches the back leg as Mercer tries to avoid it.
Kenji throws an off balance right hand
letting Mercer counter with a right hand.
Kenji connects with a solid leg kick.
Kenji tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mercer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kenji.
Mercer staying out of range there.
Kenji punishes Mercer's body with a nice straight punch.
Kenji throws a leg kick that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kenji misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mercer.
Kenji connects with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenji lands a nice shot that snaps Mercer's head back.
Kenji misses with a jab to the body
enabling Mercer to counter with a crisp jab.
Mercer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kenji cracks the inside of Mercer's front leg.
Mercer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kenji listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Mercer looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kenji misses with a shot to the body
and Mercer counters with a big head kick but Kenji shrugs it off.
The fighters circling - Kenji throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kenji ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Clay Mercer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mercer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kenji waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mercer.
Mercer tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kenji ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercer moves away.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenji throws a leg kick
and Mercer counters with a left to the body.
Mercer throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kenji throws a head kick that misses.
Kenji misses the shot to the body.
An inside leg kick from Mercer misses.
Mercer lands a jab to the head.

The cut above Kurokawa Kenji's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Kenji fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mercer manages to avoid it.
Kenji blocks a jab.
Kenji lunges at Mercer with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mercer's hand.
Mercer misses with a wild body shot.
Mercer tries to clinch there but Kenji circles away.
Kenji throws a hook but Mercer blocks it.
A head kick by Kenji misses
and Mercer counters with a leg kick.
Jab, jab by Mercer - just one landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kenji moves out of range as Mercer strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenji throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mercer blocks a head kick by Kenji.
That kick from Kenji tenderised Mercer's leg. Mercer is trying to keep his angry face on.
A swing and a miss from Mercer.
Kenji smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mercer throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kenji looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mercer throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kenji fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
That kick from Kenji tenderised Mercer's leg. Mercer is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kenji shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kenji takes a swing at Mercer's ribcage but misses.
Mercer misses with a body shot.
Kenji scores with a spinning back kick!
Kenji buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurokawa Kenji comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kenji winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurokawa Kenji!
A relieved looking Kurokawa Kenji thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.