PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Mercer (ranked 3062 p4p, 330 weight class) and Johannes Maanpohja (ranked 2373 p4p, 275 weight class). Mercer's entrance music is Sleep Now In The Fire. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mercer
vs
Maanpohja

184 cm
43
182 lbs
33 - 25 - 0

171 cm
42
173 lbs
23 - 40 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Determined

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 33 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 40 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maanpohja moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Maanpohja dives in for a single leg takedown but Mercer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Johannes Maanpohja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercer throws a body punch but Maanpohja moves out of range.
Maanpohja tries for a takedown but Mercer circles away easily
and Mercer counters with a nice body shot.
Mercer scores with a jab to the head.
Mercer scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Maanpohja dives in and grabs Mercer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mercer pushes down on Maanpohja's head and hops out.
Mercer appears to be looking for a big counter.
Alex Mercer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Maanpohja.
Mercer slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Mercer gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercer wants to stand up but Maanpohja is controlling him.
Maanpohja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mercer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mercer throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mercer 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.

Mercer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maanpohja gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maanpohja working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Mercer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maanpohja gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maanpohja is looking to work some ground and pound but Mercer has wrist control.
Mercer trying to control the position.

Maanpohja avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mercer controlling the position.
Maanpohja is looking to work some ground and pound but Mercer has wrist control.
Maanpohja prevents Mercer from getting back to his feet.
Maanpohja lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mercer keeping full guard, as Maanpohja tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maanpohja drops back looking for a leg! Mercer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mercer manages to kick Maanpohja off! Maanpohja jumps back into Mercer's guard.

Mercer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maanpohja can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mercer trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maanpohja's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mercer is trying to control the position but Maanpohja postures up.
Maanpohja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mercer swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Maanpohja drops back looking for a leg! Mercer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mercer manages to kick Maanpohja off! Maanpohja jumps back into Mercer's guard.
Mercer is trying to control the position but Maanpohja postures up.
Maanpohja tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercer is retaining full guard.
Mercer wants to stand but Maanpohja is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercer is retaining full guard.

Mercer pushes Maanpohja off and scrambles back to his feet.
Maanpohja takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Maanpohja looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mercer misses with a few strikes there.
Maanpohja feints the counter takedown.
Nice shot by Mercer.
Maanpohja fails with the takedown.
Mercer moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mercer lands a jab to the head.

Maanpohja throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mercer was covering up waiting for the punch and Maanpohja finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercer has control of Maanpohja's left arm, preventing Maanpohja from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Mercer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mercer seems to be working for a kimura but Maanpohja defends the submission attempt.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mercer pulls his head out easily.
Maanpohja is refusing to be controlled, as Mercer sits in half guard.
Maanpohja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mercer is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Mercer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maanpohja keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Mercer dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mercer throws the left hand but Maanpohja avoids the punch easily.
Maanpohja misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maanpohja fails with a takedown attempt.
Mercer went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Maanpohja shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mercer counters with a straight right hand.
Alex Mercer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Maanpohja.
Maanpohja shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mercer as he avoids it easily.
Mercer lands with an uppercut that bounces Maanpohja off the cage and back into range.
Alex Mercer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maanpohja changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mercer tries to avoid it but Maanpohja manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mercer to the ground. Mercer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mercer throws a series of strikes that have Maanpohja backpedaling.

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

Maanpohja is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Maanpohja is still in real trouble! Can Mercer finish him?
Mercer advances to mount.

Mercer gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Maanpohja shoots in looking for a takedown but Mercer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Maanpohja's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Maanpohja seems to have recovered his senses.
Maanpohja shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mercer as he jumps to the side.
Maanpohja fails with the takedown
and Mercer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maanpohja is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer works Maanpohja's body with a nice hook.

A jab-cross combination lands for Mercer and sends Maanpohja crashing to the mat! Mercer follows him down to the mat - Maanpohja regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
Mercer passes to full mount!

Mercer is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Maanpohja on the wrong end of a nice hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maanpohja gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Mercer gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Maanpohja is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alex Mercer!
Alex Mercer decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.