PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hal Barrett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Mercy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barrett
vs
Mercy

204 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hal Barrett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Mercy!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercy throws a series of punches but Barrett moves out of range.
Mercy throws a series of punches but Barrett moves out of range.
Mercy throws a nice looking combination but Barrett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Mercy drops Barrett with a left and a right! Oh, Barrett is hurt - Mercy dives into side control looking to finish!

Barrett is rocked!

It looks like Hal Barrett has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mercy stands up.
Oh Barrett is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mercy falls off balance throwing a combination

and Barrett moves into the clinch.

Mercy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Mercy misses.
Barrett fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barrett seems to have got his legs back now.
Mercy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Barrett rushes Mercy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A hook to the body from Barrett.
Barrett is looking to control Mercy's arms but Mercy gets an underhook and turns him. Now Barrett has his back to the cage.
Mercy is looking to break free of the clinch but Barrett has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrett working hard to break the clinch.
Mercy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barrett has him pressed against the cage.
Barrett stalling.
Mercy is trying to break the clinch but Barrett has him pressed against the cage.
Mercy tries to break the clinch but Barrett is controlling the position.
Barrett lands an elbow inside.
Barrett lands a knee to the head.
Barrett looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Barrett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barrett is looking to clinch.
Barrett is looking to clinch.
Mercy is looking for the big counter here.
Mercy tries to bum rush Barrett with a series of wild strikes but Barrett uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mercy looks winded!
Barrett fails with an attempt to clinch.

Barrett has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrett is trying to break free.
Barrett is trying to push Mercy away but Mercy has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Barrett can't break the clinch.
Barrett is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Barrett breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Barrett clinches up with Mercy and pushes him back against the cage.
Mercy is trying to push Barrett away but Barrett has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mercy is trying to break the clinch but Barrett is controlling him.
Barrett landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Barrett tries to break the clinch but Mercy is controlling the position.
Barrett tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mercy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mercy prevents Barrett from breaking the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Barrett - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Barrett lands an uppercut.
Barrett tries to break the clinch but Mercy is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Mercy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mercy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Barrett counters with a takedown into side control.

Barrett working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Barrett creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Barrett in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Mercy is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Barrett has just dragged him back down to the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mercy can do anything to dispel that myth.

Barrett wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mercy, who protects the arm well.
Barrett works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Barrett working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrett lands a nice forearm strike.
Barrett cracks Mercy with a big elbow.
Mercy takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Barrett prevents Mercy from escaping the position.
Barrett working the head with strikes.
Barrett grinds an elbow into Mercy's temple.
Barrett landing strikes.
Barrett lands a nice forearm strike.

Barrett has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mercy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Barrett moves into range and clinches up with Mercy.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Barrett is trying to break free.
Barrett lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Barrett breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hal Barrett dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hal Barrett's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Barrett moves into range and clinches up with Mercy.

Mercy manages to break the clinch.
Mercy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Barrett counters with a left and a right that stings Mercy.
Barrett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mercy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mercy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Barrett holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mercy is looking to break free of the clinch but Barrett has double underhooks.
Hal Barrett has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Barrett lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Barrett breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barrett fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barrett doesn't manage to clinch there - Mercy circles away.
Mercy is breathing heavily.

Barrett has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barrett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mercy keeps the fight on the outside.
Mercy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barrett.
Barrett half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Barrett tries to clinch up.
Mercy is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A punch combination from Mercy misses.
Hal Barrett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barrett tries to clinch but Mercy moves out of range.

Barrett moves into the clinch successfully.
Barrett wants to get back to striking at distance but Mercy won't allow it.
Mercy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Barrett tries to break free but Mercy pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barrett breaks the clinch.
Barrett tries to clinch up but Mercy circles away and keeps his distance.
As Barrett backs off Mercy throws a huge counter combo but Barrett manages to avoid it all.
Barrett wants to clinch.
Mercy throws a counter combo.
Barrett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mercy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mercy lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Barrett tries to clinch up
and Mercy counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrett tries to close the distance and clinch but Mercy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Mercy tries to keep at a distance but Barrett has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barrett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mercy can do to turn this around?

Barrett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barrett wants to clinch up but Mercy keeps it at a distance.

Barrett moves into the clinch.

Barrett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barrett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mercy swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Barrett closes the distance and clinches.
Barrett wants to break free but Mercy has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrett lands with a short shot to the head.
Barrett wants to break the clinch but can't.

Barrett breaks the clinch.

Barrett forces Mercy back against the cage and clinches.
Mercy is trying to force a seperation but Barrett has the dominant position.
Barrett is trying to maintain a safe position but Mercy gets an underhook and turns Barrett into the cage.

Barrett breaks from the clinch.
Barrett tries to clinch but Mercy moves out of range.
Mercy throws a nice looking combination but Barrett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barrett thinks about countering with a head kick.
Barrett moves in looking to clinch but Mercy pushes him off.
Despite the aggression on Mercy's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barrett tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mercy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barrett tries to clinch there but Mercy circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hal Barrett dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hal Barrett's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mercy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mercy tries to bum rush Barrett with a series of wild strikes but Barrett uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barrett wants to clinch up but Mercy keeps it at a distance.
Barrett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mercy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Barrett backs off Mercy throws a huge counter combo but Barrett manages to avoid it all.
Mercy misses with a double jab

and Barrett decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mercy's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barrett works over Mercy with some ground and pound from guard.
Barrett working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mercy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barrett connects with a couple of short punches.
Barrett postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Mercy scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercy misses with a two punch combination.
Barrett fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barrett wants to clinch.
Mercy unleashes a big counter combination but Barrett bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Mercy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Barrett clinches up against the cage.
Barrett lands a nice uppercut.
Barrett has Mercy pressed against the cage, preventing Mercy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercy keeps control of Barrett as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barrett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Barrett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Barrett takes the fight into the clinch.
Barrett gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Barrett manages to break the clinch.
Mercy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barrett wants to clinch.
Mercy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Barrett counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
John Mercy seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrett showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mercy.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mercy takes a knee right on the jaw!
Barrett is trying to stall.

Barrett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barrett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrett fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mercy lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Barrett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mercy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barrett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mercy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barrett tries to clinch up but Mercy circles away and keeps his distance.
Barrett tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mercy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hal Barrett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barrett, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hal Barrett!