PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Mercer (ranked 2514 p4p, 3129 weight class) and Curtis Rome (ranked 251 p4p, 299 weight class). Mercer comes to the cage accompanied by Why Can't We Be Friends by WAR. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Mercer
vs
Rome

166 cm
24
156
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
155
5 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Redemption ink

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bobby Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Curtis Rome!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Jonathan Paton and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Rome counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mercer!
Mercer bucks up and tries to throw Rome off but instead Rome has got his back!

Rome is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Mercer is defending well though. Rome let's go of the attempt for now.
Mercer prevents Rome from getting a body triangle.
My spies in The Jungle Room inform me that Rome has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercer wants to get back to his feet.

Rome looking to break Mercer's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Mercer remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rome will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Mercer is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mercer moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rome shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mercer as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer swinging wildly here.
Nice takedown defense from Mercer. No joy for Rome on that attempt.
Mercer went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mercer throws a nice looking combination but Rome bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rome blocks the body kick.
Rome has his takedown stuffed
and Mercer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bobby Mercer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Curtis Rome.
Rome tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mercer defends well and Rome ends up having to push Mercer into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mercer thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rome if he has to take too many more of those.
Mercer misses with a body kick.
Rome shoots in for a takedown but Mercer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Curtis Rome seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rome gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mercer.
Rome shoots for a double leg takedown but Mercer sprawls well. He's pushed Rome's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rome on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Mercer there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercer misses with a hook. Rome ducked under it nicely.
Rome drops his hands momentarily and Mercer takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rome doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mercer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rome shoots in and drives through. Mercer sprawls well.

Mercer moves into the clinch.
A body shot lands from Mercer.
Rome wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mercer has Rome pushed against the cage.
Rome wants to take the fight to the mat but Mercer manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mercer working aggressively here.
Mercer working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mercer dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Mercer throws a punch but it's blocked by Rome.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rome.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer tries to throw a body punch but Rome avoids it by throwing Mercer back against the cage.
Rome looking for a takedown.
Mercer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mercer is working Rome over against the cage.
Mercer lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mercer misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Mercer.

Rome has picked Mercer up - he's going for a ride! Rome dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rome sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mercer is looking to escape.

Mercer manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rome ducks under a wild hook from Mercer.
Nice sprawl there from Mercer as Rome shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mercer throws a body shot but no joy.
Rome is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mercer throws a body kick that misses.
Mercer lands a nice shot to the body.
Rome slips a straight right by Mercer.
Rome fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rome tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mercer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice sprawl there from Mercer as Rome shoots in.
Rome keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rome shoots in looking for a takedown. Mercer tries to sprawl out of it but Rome keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mercer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A solid body kick from Mercer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Mercer dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Mercer throws a good cross that connects.
Mercer ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sloppy strikes from Mercer. Those never looked like landing.
Mercer cracks Rome with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Rome looking to score a takedown here. Mercer is defending well but Rome drives through and ends up in Mercer's guard.
Rome controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rome trying to control but Mercer is working from the bottom.
Mercer wants to stand and escape but Rome is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mercer is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rome is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mercer can't find room to land a body shot as Rome controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer prevents the takedown attempt.
Mercer can't find room to land a body shot as Rome controls the action.
A body shot lands from Mercer.
Mercer gets underhooks to prevent Rome's takedown attempt.
Bobby Mercer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Curtis Rome.
Rome goes for a takedown attempt but Mercer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Mercer moves into the clinch successfully.
A right hand to the body from Mercer.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mercer.
Mercer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rome is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rome is breathing heavily.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Rome jumps guard and drags Mercer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Mercer stands and steps away. Rome gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A jab from Mercer does it's job there.
Rome shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mercer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rome is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mercer.

Rome is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rome.
Rome is still on wobbly legs! Can Mercer finish him?
Nice sprawl there from Mercer as Rome shoots in.
Rome tries for a takedown but Mercer circles away easily
and Mercer scores with a counter punch that sends Rome to the canvas! Mercer smells blood - he's punishing Rome with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Rome has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bobby Mercer!
A very excited looking Bobby Mercer made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.