PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Olivier Aubin Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Tsanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aubin Mercier's entrance music is Classified - Oh Canada. A fine choice. This should be a great matchup!

Aubin Mercier
vs
Tsanaka

175 cm
28
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Olivier Aubin Mercier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hiro Tsanaka!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tsanaka gets caught flat footed, as Aubin Mercier shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Tsanaka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Aubin Mercier doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Aubin Mercier manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tsanaka keeping moving, preventing Aubin Mercier from controlling successfully.
Aubin Mercier slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Aubin Mercier is trying to get an arm triangle but Tsanaka is defending well.

Aubin Mercier is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tsanaka knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsanaka struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aubin Mercier trying to control the position but Tsanaka is working away.
Tsanaka looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Aubin Mercier thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Aubin Mercier looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Aubin Mercier working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tsanaka is not content to let Aubin Mercier control the position.
Tsanaka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Aubin Mercier working the head with strikes.

Aubin Mercier tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Aubin Mercier has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Aubin Mercier works to advance to full mount. Tsanaka defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Aubin Mercier looking to control but Tsanaka is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsanaka bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Tsanaka would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tsanaka trying to control but Aubin Mercier is working from the bottom.
Aubin Mercier pulls Tsanaka in to control the position.
Tsanaka prevents Aubin Mercier from getting back to his feet.
Aubin Mercier has control of Tsanaka's left arm, preventing Tsanaka from doing any damage.
Tsanaka preventing the sweep.
Aubin Mercier keeping moving, preventing Tsanaka from controlling successfully.
Tsanaka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aubin Mercier lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Aubin Mercier trying to move into half guard but instead Tsanaka has managed to sweep!

Tsanaka wants to control from the top but Aubin Mercier keeps moving.

The fighters are working up against the ropes. Aubin Mercier manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the ropes.

Aubin Mercier has clasped his hands together around Tsanaka's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tsanaka tries to buck Aubin Mercier off but Aubin Mercier is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Aubin Mercier thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Aubin Mercier tries to move into full mount but can't pass Tsanaka's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olivier Aubin Mercier dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Aubin Mercier moves out of range as Tsanaka strikes.
Tsanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aubin Mercier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Olivier Aubin Mercier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tsanaka misses with a combination
and Aubin Mercier counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tsanaka misses with a jab to the body

and Aubin Mercier counters by moving into the clinch.

Aubin Mercier turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Aubin Mercier manages to end up in side control.
Aubin Mercier passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Tsanaka!
Aubin Mercier can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tsanaka is looking to escape.

Aubin Mercier stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Aubin Mercier drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tsanaka throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Aubin Mercier escapes and throws Tsanaka's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Aubin Mercier controls the position from side control.

Aubin Mercier swings around for an armbar but Tsanaka sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Aubin Mercier's guard.
Aubin Mercier pulls Tsanaka in to control the position.

Aubin Mercier has his foot on Tsanaka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tsanaka works his way back into a safe position though.
Tsanaka trying to stand up but can't free himself from Aubin Mercier's guard.

Aubin Mercier is looking for a triangle but Tsanaka pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Aubin Mercier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aubin Mercier has momentary wrist control but Tsanaka slips an elbow through the middle.

Aubin Mercier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tsanaka is fighting to break Aubin Mercier's control of his arms but Aubin Mercier is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsanaka trying to control but Aubin Mercier is working from the bottom.

Aubin Mercier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Tsanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Aubin Mercier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aubin Mercier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Aubin Mercier holds on and takes a little breather.
Tsanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Aubin Mercier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Aubin Mercier is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tsanaka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tsanaka trying to control but Aubin Mercier is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aubin Mercier fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tsanaka avoids it really well and circles away.
Aubin Mercier looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aubin Mercier shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tsanaka as he jumps to the side.
Hiro Tsanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tsanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aubin Mercier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olivier Aubin Mercier dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Tsanaka misses with a lunging right hand

and Aubin Mercier counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Aubin Mercier is working for a submission of some sort.
Aubin Mercier is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tsanaka can do to turn this around?

Tsanaka looking for submissions off his back.
Aubin Mercier passes to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aubin Mercier has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Aubin Mercier quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Aubin Mercier but it's paid off an Tsanaka is forced to tap! Nice work by Aubin Mercier.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Olivier Aubin Mercier!