PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edogawa Conan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Conan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Detective Conan Theme. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Conan
vs
Mercer

179 cm
29
175 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

184 cm
28
182 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Hellbent

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Edogawa Conan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Conan misses with the combination.
Conan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A punch combination from Conan misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Mercer misses.
Mercer thumps Conan with a low kick.

Conan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Conan showed some decent athleticism there.
Conan working over Mercer with some ground and pound. Mercer looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Conan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mercer is looking to improve his position.
Mercer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Conan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mercer is positioning himself well to prevent Conan advancing to mount.
Conan tries to pass to full mount but Mercer defends it.
Conan is trying to control the action in half guard but Mercer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mercer wants to improve his position but Conan is controlling well.

Conan is looking for a kimura here.
Mercer tries to roll over but Conan keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mercer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Conan.

Conan is working for a submission of some sort.
Mercer makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mercer.
Conan looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mercer throws a lazy right hand but Conan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mercer slips under a jab from Conan.

Mercer gets caught flat footed, as Conan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mercer is pulling down on Conan's head to control his posture.
Mercer keeping full guard, as Conan tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Conan stopping the sweep attempt from Mercer.
Conan trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Conan is working Mercer over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Conan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mercer keeping moving, preventing Conan from controlling successfully.
Conan working some strikes from top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Conan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edogawa Conan 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 tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mercer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mercer misses with a body shot.
Mercer shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Mercer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mercer! But no joy.
Mercer lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Conan misses with a straight left.

Conan gets the takedown into side control.
Conan lands a nice forearm strike.
Conan wants to take a breather but Mercer manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Conan.
Mercer is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Conan trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Conan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mercer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Conan is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Conan trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Conan looking to pass the guard.
Conan trying to control but Mercer is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Conan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mercer is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Conan misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Mercer counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throws an overhand right that lands on Conan's shoulder, as Conan tries to avoid the shot.
Conan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Conan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mercer has time to react.
Conan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mercer follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Conan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mercer can do to turn this around?
Mercer throws a head kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Conan.
Conan scores with a one two! Mercer had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Conan scores with a jab to the head.
Conan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mercer takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Conan lunges at Mercer with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mercer's hand.
Mercer checks a low kick from Conan.
Mercer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Conan throws a one two combo.
Conan tries a head kick but it misses.
Conan misses with a two punch combination.
A nice combination there by Conan.
Conan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Mercer counter with a right hand.
Good exchange - Conan coming out on top.
A head kick misses from Mercer.
Conan misses with a wild combination.
Mercer feints a counter leg kick.
Conan lands a nice hook to Mercer's body. Mercer takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Conan throws a combination that misses
and Mercer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edogawa Conan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Conan scores with a jab to the jaw.

Conan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mercer quickly recovers to half guard.
Conan working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Mercer's thigh. Mercer counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Conan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mercer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mercer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Conan 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer is trying to control the position but Conan postures up.
Conan trying to control but Mercer is working from the bottom.
Conan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Edogawa Conan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Mercer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mercer preventing the sweep.

Conan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mercer defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Conan trying to control the position.
Mercer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Conan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mercer is aware though and is defending well.
Mercer slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Conan is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conan is trying to control Mercer's posture but Mercer avoids it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Conan is not content to let Mercer control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Conan.
Conan fails with the takedown
and Mercer counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mercer throws a body punch but Conan moves out of range.
Mercer has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Conan finds it's way round the side to connect with Mercer's head.
Conan misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conan cracks Mercer with a good jab.
Conan lands with a right hand.
Conan swings for the body but Mercer moves out of range.
Mercer raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Conan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Conan throws a shot to the body.
Conan misses the shot to the body.
Mercer follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Mercer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mercer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It looked like Conan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A big left from Conan misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Conan throws an off balance right hand
and Mercer counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Conan shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Conan throws a hook but Mercer avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edogawa Conan clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Conan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Conan misses with a body shot.
Conan misses with an uppercut. Mercer saw that one coming.
Conan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Mercer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mercer misses with a head kick.
Conan throws an off balance right hand
and Mercer counters with a slapping leg kick.
Conan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mercer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mercer wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conan misses with an uppercut.
Conan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Mercer walks into a jab.
Conan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mercer counters with a stiff right hand.
Alex Mercer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Conan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mercer avoids it really well and circles away.
Conan scores with the left hand. Mercer knows he should have avoided that one.
Mercer walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mercer misses with a leg kick
and Mercer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Conan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Conan throws an overhand right that lands on Mercer's shoulder, as Mercer tries to avoid the shot.

Conan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mercer's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Conan throws a big elbow that misses.
Conan throws a big right hand that misses.
Conan with a nice head shot there.
Conan won't allow Mercer to sweep him here.
Conan lands a couple of digs.
Mercer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Conan's guard.

Conan trying to control the position.
Mercer wants to pass the guard but Conan is keeping the position.
Conan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Conan has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mercer is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Conan.
Conan is trying to improve his position.
Conan is working hard here to advance position.
Conan manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Conan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Conan trying to control but Mercer postures up.
Conan wants to sweep but Mercer has passed to side control!
Conan is trying to escape the position but Mercer is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Conan tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edogawa Conan had his way with Alex Mercer in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mercer is looking to score with low kicks.

Conan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Conan trying to work for an americana but Mercer has managed to regain full guard.
Conan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conan landing with the ground and pound.
Conan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Conan passes Mercer's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conan thows a huge punch but Mercer dodges it nicely.
Mercer felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Conan trying to mount his opponent but Mercer defends it.
Mercer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Conan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Conan's back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Mercer trying to control.
Alex Mercer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer controlling well, preventing Conan from escaping the position.
Mercer is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Mercer keeps control of the position as Conan tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conan breaks Mercer's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mercer has momentary wrist control but Conan slips an elbow through the middle.
Conan 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 showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Conan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Edogawa Conan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is stalling in the full guard.
Conan keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
Conan wants to control the position but Mercer says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Conan wants to control but Mercer is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Conan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Conan is trying to maintain the position but Mercer is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Edogawa Conan.
Well Conan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 50:45
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 50:45
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edogawa Conan!
Edogawa Conan retains his welterweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Edogawa Conan thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.