PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tatsuya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Mercer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aoki
vs
Mercer

178 cm
39
181 lbs
38 - 23 - 1

184 cm
31
182 lbs
23 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tatsuya Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Aoki.
Aoki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mercer pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Aoki back to the cage. Mercer follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Tatsuya Aoki has been cut.

Aoki scores with a takedown into Mercer's guard.
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.
Aoki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Aoki throws a strike but Mercer rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Aoki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mercer defends well.
Mercer stopping the sweep attempt from Aoki.
Mercer wants to pass the guard but Aoki is keeping the position.
Aoki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Aoki has his foot on Mercer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mercer works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mercer being controlled here momentarily.
Mercer trying to stand up but can't free himself from Aoki's guard.
Mercer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Aoki looking for a sweep. Not yet Aoki, not yet.
Aoki managing to control the position.
Mercer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two 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.
Aoki trying to keep a closed guard but Mercer is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mercer misses with a jab to the body
and Aoki counters with a left and a right that stings Mercer.
Mercer leaves Aoki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Aoki backing away here, and Mercer unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Mercer throws out a leg kick but Aoki moves out of range and Mercer only half commits.
Mercer tries to land a front kick but Aoki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mercer lands a nice shot that snaps Aoki's head back.
Mercer swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Aoki.
Aoki feints a jab promting Mercer to slip. Aoki then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Mercer slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Alex Mercer has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mercer.
A counter left hand to the body from Aoki misses its target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mercer. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aoki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Mercer lands with a cross.
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A countering left hand to the body from Mercer misses.
Mercer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Horrible takedown attempt by Aoki or perhaps it was just good defense by Mercer, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tatsuya Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aoki slips under a jab from Mercer.
Aoki is looking to counter with a body kick.
Aoki chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mercer can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throws the left hand but Aoki avoids the punch easily.
Mercer looks to score with a jab to the body but Aoki is just out of range.

Aoki shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mercer is trying to defend but Aoki finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Aoki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Mercer kicks Aoki off and gets back to his feet.
Good exchange - Mercer coming out on top.
Mercer scores with a jab to the jaw.
Aoki misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Mercer dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Aoki moves out of range as Mercer strikes.
Aoki changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mercer lands a nice shot to the body.
Mercer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aoki avoids the body shot from Mercer.
Aoki is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Mercer swinging wildly here.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown but Mercer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mercer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
It looked like Aoki was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Mercer.
Aoki looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Mercer throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mercer throws a hook but Aoki avoids it easily.
Aoki appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Mercer lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mercer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aoki somewhat.
Mercer throws a body punch but Aoki moves out of range.
Mercer throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Alex Mercer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aoki walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mercer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aoki.
Aoki attempts a counter takedown but Mercer avoids it well and moves away.
Aoki cracks a nice hook into Mercer's ribs.
Mercer misses with a looping left.
Aoki blocks a head kick by Mercer.
Aoki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mercer sprawls and moves away.
Mercer scores with the left hand. Aoki knows he should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Aoki feinted with a counter takedown.
Mercer ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aoki is defended easily by Mercer.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tatsuya Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aoki on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Aoki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercer misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer slaps away a takedown attempt from Aoki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Aoki drops his hands momentarily and Mercer takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tatsuya Aoki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercer throws a shot to the body.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A quick step to the side and Aoki tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mercer throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Mercer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Aoki feinted with a counter takedown.
Alex Mercer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses.
Mercer throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throws an off balance right hand
and Aoki counters with a series of strikes. Mercer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Aoki throws a low kick but Mercer moves out of range easily.
It seemed like Mercer was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mercer lands with a straight right. Aoki didn't see that one coming.
Aoki takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercer fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Aoki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mercer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aoki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Mercer connects with a looping right hand.
Aoki throws a nice looking combination but Mercer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Aoki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mercer.
Aoki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Aoki slips a straight right by Mercer.
Aoki is looking for a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Mercer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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! This is the final round!

Aoki misses with a jab, cross combination.

Aoki dives in and scores a takedown into Mercer's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki throws a big elbow that misses.
Aoki trying to control but Mercer is working from the bottom.
Aoki postures up.
Aoki 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mercer works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki is trying to maintain the position but Mercer is very close to passing his half guard.
Aoki wants to improve his position but Mercer is controlling well.
Aoki trying to control here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Mercer decides to return to a standing position.
Nice uppercut lands for Mercer. That snapped Aoki's head back.
Mercer throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Mercer lands a nice hook to Aoki's body. Aoki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mercer darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mercer misses with a wild body shot.
Aoki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Mercer scores with the left hand. Aoki knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice defenses there by Aoki.
Aoki swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Mercer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoki moves away.
Aoki swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Mercer scores with a crisp jab that stopped Aoki in his tracks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aoki. Mercer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mercer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aoki looks to score with a jab to the body but Mercer is just out of range.
Aoki 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.
Mercer throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mercer.
Aoki misses the shot to the body.
Mercer is trying to counter with his kicks.
Mercer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mercer throws an overhand right that lands on Aoki's shoulder, as Aoki tries to avoid the shot.
Aoki tries for a takedown but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mercer let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Aoki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mercer scores with a leg kick.
Aoki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mercer misses with a body shot.
Aoki throwing a counter right hand but Mercer manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mercer misses with a body shot.
Mercer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aoki manages to avoid it.
Aoki is looking for a counter combo.
Mercer throws out a powerful jab.
Mercer swinging wildly here.
Aoki throws a body punch but Mercer moves out of range.
Mercer bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Aoki throws a leg kick but Mercer moved away.
Tatsuya Aoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Mercer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mercer scores with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Mercer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mercer has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Mercer!
After winning the bout, Alex Mercer thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.