PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Milo Markovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Milo Markovic was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Mercer
vs
Markovic

184 cm
36
182 lbs
29 - 21 - 0

178 cm
26
172 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Anarchy Clothing

Victory! Sports 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 29 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Milo Markovic!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mercer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Markovic.
Markovic swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mercer counters with a left to the body.
Mercer looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mercer throws a leg kick but Markovic moved away.
Markovic is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Markovic fails with a takedown attempt.
Markovic throws a poor cross that misses
and Mercer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Markovic fails with the takedown
and Mercer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mercer throws a leg kick but Markovic sees it coming and moves out of range.
Mercer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Markovic lands a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markovic tries to close the distance and clinch but Mercer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Markovic moves out of range as Mercer strikes.
Markovic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mercer fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Markovic looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Markovic misses with an uppercut. Mercer saw that one coming.
Mercer half committed to a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markovic blocks a low kick nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Markovic!
Markovic bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mercer's head.
Mercer with a nice cross.
A jab lands there for Markovic.
Mercer attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Markovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As Markovic backs away, Mercer returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Markovic lands with a thumping leg kick.
Markovic throws a shot from downtown. Mercer moves away and avoids it.
Markovic lands with a good body shot.
Alex Mercer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mercer chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Markovic can pounce on him.
Markovic throws a lazy uppercut
and Mercer counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markovic goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Markovic scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mercer doesn't seem bothered though.
Markovic moves out of range as Mercer throws a body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Mercer as Markovic shoots in.
Alex Mercer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Milo Markovic.
Markovic moves out of range as Mercer throws a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer misses the shot to the body.
Both fighters circling a little - Mercer finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Mercer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Markovic takes a swing at Mercer's ribcage but misses.
Milo Markovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markovic walks forward, straight into a front kick from Mercer.
Markovic misses with the combination.
Markovic fails in his attempt to clinch.
A quick step to the side and Mercer tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Markovic wants to clinch.
Mercer fires out a quick counter leg kick but Markovic just manages to avoid it.
Jab by Markovic.
Markovic throws the left hand but Mercer avoids the punch easily.
Markovic tries for a takedown but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Markovic moves out of range as Mercer strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Markovic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Markovic takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Markovic throws a leg kick but Mercer sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Mercer fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Markovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mercer.
Mercer fires out a quick counter leg kick but Markovic just manages to avoid it.
Mercer throws a solid leg kick but Markovic takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mercer.
Markovic swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mercer makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Markovic misses with a double jab.
Markovic lands a really nice looking cross but Mercer seems unphased.
Mercer moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Markovic misses with a wild body shot.
Mercer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Markovic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Markovic. Mercer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Markovic checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice defenses there by Markovic.
Mercer throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Markovic misses with a straight left.
Markovic walks forward, straight into a front kick from Mercer.
Mercer looks for the body kick but Markovic saw that one coming.
Markovic looks to land a left hand but Mercer moved out of range nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mercer. Markovic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mercer takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Markovic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Mercer throws Markovic to one side and escapes!
Mercer misses with a low kick.
Markovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercer is looking to land body kicks.
Mercer throws a lazy uppercut

and Markovic counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Markovic.

Mercer is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Markovic presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Markovic drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Markovic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mercer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mercer buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mercer is looking to slow Markovic down with leg kicks.
Mercer throws a wild body kick that Markovic sees coming a mile off.
Markovic checks a low kick from Mercer.
Markovic changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Markovic throws a head kick that Mercer semi-blocks.
Mercer throws a leg kick which misses Markovic's front leg but catches the back leg as Markovic tries to avoid it.
Mercer misses with a hook. Markovic ducked under it nicely.
Markovic scores with the left hand. Mercer knows he should have avoided that one.
Markovic lunges at Mercer with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mercer's hand.
Mercer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer connects with a leg kick. Markovic looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Mercer thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Markovic if he has to take too many more of those.
Markovic moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Alex Mercer is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Markovic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mercer.
Mercer throws a leg kick

and Markovic counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mercer won't be happy with that.

Mercer bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer misses with a low kick.
Markovic drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mercer defends it well.
Mercer connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mercer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mercer tries to score with a low kick but Markovic moves his leg out of the way.
Markovic is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mercer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Markovic wants to clinch.
Mercer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Mercer. No joy for Markovic on that attempt.
Mercer appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Markovic throws a push kick but Mercer slaps the foot to one side.
Mercer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Markovic.
Mercer throws a chopping leg kick but Markovic manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Markovic blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markovic takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mercer.
Markovic moves out of range of the body kick.
Markovic throws a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markovic avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Markovic checks a leg kick.
Good leg kick by Mercer there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Markovic tries to clinch but Mercer is having none of it.
Markovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Markovic's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mercer connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Markovic scrambles back to his feet.
Mercer lands with a hook. Markovic tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Mercer staying out of range there.
Markovic connects with a single shot there.
Markovic tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Markovic throws a leg kick which misses Mercer's front leg but catches the back leg as Mercer tries to avoid it.
Mercer has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mercer there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markovic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Markovic avoids a kick to the body.
Markovic scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nice shot lands for Markovic.
Mercer misses with a body kick.
Markovic tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Markovic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mercer.

Markovic closes the distance and clinches.

Markovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercer avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Markovic lands a nice hook to Mercer's body. Mercer takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mercer scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Mercer throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mercer misses with a wild body shot.
Markovic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mercer.
Mercer jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A punch lands to the side of Markovic 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Markovic tries to clinch there but Mercer circles away.
Mercer keeps the fight on the outside.
Markovic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mercer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mercer connects with an inside leg kick.
Markovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercer moves away.
Mercer scores with a leg kick.
Markovic misses with a left hand
and Mercer counters with a nice body kick.
Markovic blocks the body kick.

Markovic has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mercer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Markovic looks to score with a jab to the body but Mercer is just out of range.
Mercer checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
It looked like Mercer wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercer lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Mercer connects with a solid leg kick.
Markovic has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Mercer.
Mercer connects with a body shot.
Mercer throws a body kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Mercer dominated that second round.
That's time! Mercer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mercer takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Markovic moves into the clinch.
Mercer has had enough of the clinch but Markovic keeps him there for the moment.
Markovic tries to land knees in the clinch but Mercer avoids the damage to the body.
Mercer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Markovic lands a nice shot to the body.
Markovic cracks Mercer with a nice body shot.

Markovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mercer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mercer cracks Markovic with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Markovic lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Markovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mercer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markovic throws a looping overhand right but Mercer ducks down to avoid it.
Mercer moves into range and connects with a jab.
Markovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mercer feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Markovic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mercer avoids the body shot from Markovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markovic throws an off balance right hand
and Mercer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mercer slips a straight right by Markovic.
Mercer scores with a leg kick.
Mercer works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Markovic tries to bum rush Mercer with a series of wild strikes but Mercer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mercer will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Markovic's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Markovic throws out a loose jab but Mercer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Markovic doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mercer moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Markovic tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Markovic staying out of range there.
Mercer throws a body punch but Markovic moves out of range.
Markovic is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Markovic throws a jab when Mercer was well out of range.
Mercer takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markovic throws a right and a left that Mercer avoids nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Markovic misses with a looping right.
It looked like Mercer was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Markovic.
Mercer throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mercer scores with a nice body kick.
Markovic is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Markovic fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mercer throws a body kick that misses.
Markovic changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mercer scores with a hook.
Mercer misses with a leg kick

and Markovic counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mercer!
Mercer manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Markovic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mercer stalling.

Markovic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mercer pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Markovic wants to improve his position but Mercer is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mercer stands up and beckons Markovic to join him on the feet.
Mercer throws a good cross that connects.
Milo Markovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer looks for the body kick but Markovic saw that one coming.
Mercer takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Markovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Markovic misses with a punch on the inside.

Mercer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Markovic throws a lazy uppercut
and Mercer counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Markovic misses with an uppercut.
Mercer appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Markovic loads up on a big right hand but Mercer slips the punch.
Markovic dives in and grabs Mercer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mercer pushes down on Markovic's head and hops out.
Mercer tried to counter with a leg kick but Markovic avoided it.
An inside leg kick lands from Mercer.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A solid body kick from Mercer.
Markovic takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Markovic has closed the distance and engaged Mercer in a clinch.
Mercer with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Milo Markovic has been cut.
Markovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

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 Alex Mercer.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mercer, 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Mercer!
Our winner, Alex Mercer, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.