PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jens Mertens (ranked 6723 p4p, 3720 weight class) and Darko Lujivic (ranked 522 p4p, 384 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mertens
vs
Lujivic

180 cm
25
165
1 - 2 - 0

181 cm
25
162
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jens Mertens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Darko Lujivic!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mertens misses with a body shot.
Lujivic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mertens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mertens looks to land a combination but Lujivic avoids it well.
Lujivic fails with the takedown.
Mertens throwing a counter right hand but Lujivic manages to avoid it.
Mertens throws a right and a left that Lujivic avoids nicely.
Lujivic on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Mertens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lujivic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mertens lands a nice shot to the body.
Mertens lands with a nice combination. Lujivic backs away looking to recover.
Mertens misses with a wild combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A low kick lands for Lujivic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mertens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lujivic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mertens misses with a few strikes there.
Lujivic looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mertens.
Lujivic tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mertens defends well and Lujivic ends up having to push Mertens into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jens Mertens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darko Lujivic.
Lujivic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mertens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lujivic connects with a leg kick.
Mertens looks to land a combination but Lujivic avoids it well.
Lujivic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mertens lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Mertens attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lujivic lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mertens is looking to score with low kicks.
Lujivic moves in looking to clinch but Mertens pushes him off.
Mertens seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mertens tries a head kick but it misses.
We've been informed that Lujivic has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Jens Mertens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mertens wants to slow Lujivic down by chopping away at his legs.
Lujivic lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lujivic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jens Mertens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lujivic throws a hook but Mertens blocks it.
Lujivic swings for the body but Mertens moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lujivic checks a leg kick.
Mertens scores with a hook.
Lujivic blocks a head kick by Mertens.
Mertens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lujivic is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mertens takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lujivic checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lujivic lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice combination there by Mertens.
A combination from Lujivic does no damage.
Lujivic goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mertens lands with a nice combination. Lujivic backs away looking to recover.
Lujivic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mertens.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lujivic.
Mertens scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lujivic slips a jab and a cross from Mertens.
Mertens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lujivic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mertens is breathing heavily.
Mertens scores with a jab to the body.
Lujivic throws a jab when Mertens was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Lujivic catches Mertens right on the button with a cross.
A combination from Lujivic does no damage.
Lujivic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mertens throws a series of punches but Lujivic moves out of range.
Mertens misses with a wild combination.
Lujivic buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lujivic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
An inside leg kick from Mertens misses.
Lujivic avoids a kick to the body.
Despite the aggression on Lujivic's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Mertens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lujivic changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Lujivic doesn't manage to clinch there - Mertens circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jens Mertens dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lujivic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lujivic avoids the head kick by Mertens.
Good leg kick by Lujivic.
Jens Mertens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mertens looks for the body kick but Lujivic saw that one coming.
Mertens tries to bum rush Lujivic with a series of wild strikes but Lujivic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mertens misses with a wild combination.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Lujivic might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Mertens has got the better of the exchanges.
Lujivic throws a nice looking combination but Mertens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mertens appears to be looking for a big counter.
Lujivic lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mertens's sensitive parts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mertens tries to bum rush Lujivic with a series of wild strikes but Lujivic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No joy there for Lujivic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lujivic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mertens avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lujivic wants to clinch up but Mertens keeps it at a distance.
Lujivic throws a body punch but Mertens moves out of range.
Mertens throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mertens misses with the combination.
Mertens misses with a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lujivic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lujivic wants to clinch.
Mertens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mertens digs a good body shot into Lujivic's ribs.
Lujivic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mertens swings for the body but Lujivic moves out of range.
A low kick from Mertens is predictable there
and Lujivic makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Mertens really felt that one!
Mertens swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lujivic moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Mertens throws a combination. Lujivic tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lujivic scores with a leg kick.
Mertens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lujivic can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mertens takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mertens misses the shot to the body.
Mertens looks to land a right hand but Lujivic moved out of range.
Mertens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mertens wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Mertens.
Lujivic throws a counter combo.
Mertens stuffs the takedown attempt from Lujivic. Lujivic gets slowly back to his feet.
Mertens went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Jens Mertens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darko Lujivic.
Mertens 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.
Lujivic misses with a double jab.
Mertens lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Mertens is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Mertens throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lujivic counters with an inside leg kick.
Lujivic shoots in for a takedown but Mertens shows good takedown defense.
Lujivic throws a nice looking combination but Mertens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lujivic tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mertens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lujivic lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mertens's sensitive parts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lujivic goes for a double leg but Mertens avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mertens continues to drive forward.
Mertens throws a big counter combination but Lujivic scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mertens looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Mertens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lujivic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lujivic throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Mertens lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lujivic has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lujivic and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Lujivic is looking for the big counter here.
Lujivic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lujivic throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lujivic thumps Mertens with a low kick.
Jens Mertens is winning the standup battle so far.
Lujivic lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jens Mertens dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mertens throws a right and a left that Lujivic avoids nicely.
Lujivic doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mertens stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lujivic.
Lujivic misses with a double jab.
Mertens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lujivic.
Lujivic fails with the takedown
and Mertens counters with a stiff right hand.
Mertens fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lujivic takes one on the button.
A head kick misses from Mertens.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mertens throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lujivic swinging wildly here.
Mertens is looking to wear down Lujivic with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mertens misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lujivic fails with a takedown attempt.
Mertens appears to be looking for a big counter.
Mertens looks to land a body kick but Lujivic moved away.
Mertens swats away the attempt to clinch by Lujivic.
Mertens appears to be looking for a big counter.
Danga de danga de dang - Mertens scores with a four punch combination!
Mertens motions for Lujivic to come forward. Mertens throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mertens misses with a leg kick.
Mertens takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
No luck for Lujivic with that takedown attempt.
Jens Mertens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darko Lujivic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Mertens.
Lujivic throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Mertens throws a series of punches but Lujivic moves out of range.
Mertens throws a head kick but Lujivic moves out of range.
Lujivic appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Mertens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A good leg kick by Lujivic.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mertens lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lujivic is defended easily by Mertens.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lujivic is looking to clinch.
Mertens throws a series of strikes that have Lujivic backpedaling.
Lujivic shoots for a takedown but Mertens saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As Lujivic looks to move away, Mertens throws a big counter combo but Lujivic just gets out of the way.
Lujivic lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mertens will feel that in the morning.
Lujivic lands a head kick. Mertens smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Lujivic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mertens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lujivic connects with a leg kick.
Mertens uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
That kick from Lujivic tenderised Mertens's leg. Mertens is trying to keep his angry face on.
Lujivic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mertens defends it nicely.
Mertens is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lujivic misses with a double jab.
Mertens appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Mertens connects with the punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mertens goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Mertens misses.
Lujivic is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Lujivic fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mertens has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mertens lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lujivic circles away quickly and effectively.
Mertens looks for the body kick but Lujivic saw that one coming.
Mertens misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mertens slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Darko Lujivic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jens Mertens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mertens connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Lujivic's hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jens Mertens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mertens has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jens Mertens!