PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stu Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clint Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercer's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Dirty deeds done dirt cheap AC/DC. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Clint Hardy enters the cage!

Mercer
vs
Hardy

190 cm
24
252 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

200 cm
30
265 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Conquer

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Stu Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clint Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mercer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hardy looks to score with a jab to the body but Mercer is just out of range.
Hardy tries to land a leg kick but Mercer saw it coming and moves away.
Hardy sizes up Mercer with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

It looks like Stu Mercer has been cut.
Mercer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mercer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mercer misses with a hook. Hardy ducked under it nicely.
Hardy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mercer.
Mercer tries to clinch but Hardy moves out of range.
Mercer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hardy.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Mercer darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hardy has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Lion's Den. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Mercer trying to pass the guard but Hardy defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mercer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy tries to get to full guard but Mercer has control of the leg.
Hardy gets back to full guard.
Hardy pulls Mercer in to control the position.
Hardy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mercer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mercer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hardy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hardy is pulling down on Mercer's head. It's preventing any offense from Mercer, at least for the moment.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Clint Hardy hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A jab from Mercer does it's job there.

It looks like Clint Hardy has been cut.
Mercer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardy.
Mercer thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Hardy if he has to take too many more of those.
Hardy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mercer.
Mercer tries to clinch but Hardy moves out of range.
Mercer looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd cheers as Mercer lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hardy doesn't seem phased though.
Mercer's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hardy under the eye.
Hardy tried to score with a low kick but Mercer checks it.
Mercer jabs Hardy right on the nose. Hardy blinks but takes it well.
Hardy slips a jab from Mercer.
Hardy lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Mercer works Hardy's body with a nice hook.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hardy lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mercer has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mercer and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hardy moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Mercer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A slow jab from Hardy misses its intended target.

Mercer shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hardy napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Mercer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hardy is trying to control Mercer's posture but Mercer avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercer is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hardy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hardy is trying to control Mercer's posture but Mercer avoids it.

Mercer decides to stand back up. Mercer steps back and let's Hardy get back to his feet.

Mercer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mercer misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Mercer slows the pace down.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hardy can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hardy dodges the ground and pound from Mercer.
Hardy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mercer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mercer tries to advance to mount but can't.
Mercer cracks Hardy with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercer is really struggling to control Hardy but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mercer looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hardy is avoiding damage well.
Mercer misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Mercer works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
A lull in the action here as Mercer stalls from top position.

Mercer is trying to get an arm triangle but Hardy is defending well.
Hardy is looking for a sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sloppy strikes there by Mercer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stu Mercer dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mercer tries to clinch up.
Hardy throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hardy lands a nice shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Hardy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hardy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hardy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Mercer checks a leg kick.
Hardy takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hardy misses with a leg kick.
Mercer fails with the takedown.
Hardy lands with a thumping leg kick.
Stu Mercer is winning the standup battle so far.
Mercer on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hardy. Hardy obviously looking to wear him down.
Hardy leaves Mercer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hardy misses the shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercer misses with an uppercut. Hardy saw that one coming.
Hardy takes a swing at Mercer's ribcage but misses.
Mercer misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer sizes up Hardy with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mercer checks a leg kick.
Mercer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hardy.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hardy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hardy misses with a body shot.
Mercer fails in his attempt to clinch.
A nice combination there by Mercer.
Mercer connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hardy's hands.
A big right from Mercer misses.

Mercer shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hardy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mercer trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Mercer throwing strikes but missing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardy controlling the position.
Mercer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Clint Hardy has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hardy scores with a jab.
Stu Mercer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hardy misses with a wild body shot.
Hardy missing with a left hand there. Mercer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mercer lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mercer misses with a body kick.
Hardy misses the shot to the body.
Hardy misses the shot to the body.
Mercer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hardy.
Hardy moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A head kick misses from Mercer.
Hardy fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mercer paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer misses with a few strikes there.
Mercer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hardy circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stu Mercer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hardy looks to land a left hand but Mercer moved out of range nicely.
Hardy looks to score with a jab to the body but Mercer is just out of range.
Hardy lands with a straight right. Mercer didn't see that one coming.
Hardy jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Mercer closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hardy's guard.
Mercer throwing strikes but missing.

Hardy is working an open guard so Mercer takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Mercer moves into range and clinches up with Hardy.
Hardy is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hardy trying to stall but Mercer improves his position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hardy just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy tries to stall but Mercer uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mercer tries to pull guard but Hardy holds him up against the cage and eventually Mercer drops back down to his feet.
Hardy stalls.

Mercer ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mercer no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hardy postures up.
Mercer keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Hardy slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hardy has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mercer is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mercer has control of Hardy's left arm, preventing Hardy from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Clint Hardy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mercer moves into the clinch.
Mercer tries a knee to the head but Hardy blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mercer as Hardy tries to tie him up.

Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercer tries for a takedown but Hardy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mercer moves in looking to clinch but Hardy pushes him off.
Hardy throws a big shot that misses.
Mercer throws a series of punches but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy leaves Mercer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hardy digs a good body shot into Mercer's ribs.
Hardy looks to land a right hand but Mercer moved out of range.
Hardy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circling - Hardy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hardy lands with a shot to the body.
Hardy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mercer's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy lunges at Mercer with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mercer's hand.
Mercer takes one on the button.

Stu Mercer's cut is getting worse.
Mercer fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stu Mercer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy slaps away a takedown attempt from Mercer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mercer throws out a loose jab but Hardy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hardy misses with a straight right.
Mercer on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Mercer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hardy.
Hardy tries to land a leg kick but Mercer saw it coming and moves away.
Hardy lands a really nice looking cross but Mercer seems unphased.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hardy misses with a series of wild punches.
Hardy throws a body shot but no joy.
Hardy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mercer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Mercer.
The crowd cheers as Hardy lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mercer doesn't seem phased though.

Stu Mercer's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Mercer decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hardy is refusing to be controlled, as Mercer sits in half guard.
Hardy is trying to stand.
Hardy trying to control but Mercer postures up.
Mercer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mercer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hardy is trying to control but can't.
Stu Mercer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mercer controlling the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hardy looks like he's trying to stand up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hardy getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mercer slips a jab and a cross from Hardy.
Mercer closes the distance and clinches up with Hardy, looking for a takedown. Mercer pushes Hardy against the cage but Hardy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hardy wants to slow Mercer down by chopping away at his legs.
A big right from Hardy misses.
Hardy misses with a body shot.
Hardy misses with a low kick.
Mercer misses with a takedown attempt - Hardy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hardy dips to his left and cracks Mercer with an uppercut!
Hardy takes a swing at Mercer's ribcage but misses.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hardy gets tackled into the cage by Mercer. Mercer maintains the clinch.
Hardy takes a shot to the head.
Hardy looking to slow down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer has Hardy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hardy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mercer tries for a takedown but Hardy manages to get underhooks.
Hardy stalling in the clinch but Mercer improves position.

Mercer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardy lands a nice looking body shot.
Hardy just misses with a punch to the body.
Mercer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Mercer gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Hardy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Mercer has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Hardy throws a hook to the side of Mercer's head but Mercer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hardy throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mercer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hardy misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clint Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hardy has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Clint Hardy!
In defeat, Stu Mercer stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'll smack this fool'.