PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Mercer (ranked 1472 p4p, 1922 weight class) and Yamaoka Yukinobu (ranked 167 p4p, 211 weight class). Mercer's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Why Can't We Be Friends by WAR. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Mercer
vs
Yukinobu

166 cm
27
160
9 - 7 - 0

170 cm
32
148
15 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bobby Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yamaoka Yukinobu!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yukinobu takes one to the side of the head.

It looks like Yamaoka Yukinobu has been cut.
Mercer doesn't manage to clinch there - Yukinobu circles away.
Yukinobu throws a series of punches but Mercer avoids them all with ease.
Yukinobu misses with a few strikes there.
Yukinobu lands a head kick!

It looks like Bobby Mercer has been cut.
Mercer is looking to clinch.
Yukinobu misses with a head kick.
Yukinobu is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Yukinobu lands the left hand.
Yukinobu connects with a crisp jab.
Mercer throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yukinobu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercer clobbers Yukinobu with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Yukinobu on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Mercer closes the distance and pushes Yukinobu back into the cage.
Mercer can't find room to land a body shot as Yukinobu controls the action.
Mercer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yukinobu's elbow.
Mercer misses with a body punch.
Mercer can't find room to land a body shot as Yukinobu controls the action.
Mercer is struggling to control the position.
Mercer blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yukinobu turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Mercer sneaks out the side door and pushes Yukinobu away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Mercer lands a nice leg kick that just misses Yukinobu's sensitive parts.
Mercer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yukinobu keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yukinobu misses with a two punch combination.
Mercer feints and then cracks Yukinobu's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Yukinobu down.
Nice sprawl there from Mercer as Yukinobu shoots in.
Mercer tries to clinch there but Yukinobu circles away.
Yukinobu moves out of range of the body kick from Mercer.
Mercer lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A jab from Yukinobu finds it's way through Mercer's defenses.
Yukinobu closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Mercer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mercer tries to clinch up.
Mercer throws a sloppy head kick and Yukinobu moves out of range easily.
Yukinobu with the counter takedown but Mercer avoids it easily.
Bobby Mercer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yukinobu checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu blocks the body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Yukinobu.
Yukinobu lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Yukinobu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Mercer takes a swing at Yukinobu's ribcage but misses.
Mercer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Yukinobu slips a straight right by Mercer.
Yukinobu misses with a body kick.
Yukinobu checks a leg kick nicely.
Mercer misses with a series of wild punches.

Mercer moves into the clinch successfully.
Mercer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yukinobu prevents a body shot from Mercer.
Mercer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Yukinobu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mercer takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu misses with a two punch combination.
Mercer ducks under a wild hook from Yukinobu.
Yukinobu keeps the fight on the outside.
Mercer swings for the body but Yukinobu moves out of range.
Yukinobu throws a looping overhand right but Mercer ducks down to avoid it.
Mercer keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mercer tries to clinch up.
Yukinobu jabs Mercer to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Yukinobu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Yukinobu connects with the punch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mercer.
Mercer takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Yukinobu looks to score with a jab to the body but Mercer is just out of range.
A head kick misses from Yukinobu.
An attempted straight right counter from Mercer misses the target.
Mercer lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yukinobu jabs Mercer to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Mercer misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu blocks a head kick by Mercer.
Mercer throws the kick towards the body but Yukinobu avoids it.
And Yukinobu tries to counter it with a takedown but Mercer pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Yukinobu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mercer throws a head kick but Yukinobu moves out of range.
Yukinobu throws a wild body kick that Mercer sees coming a mile off.
Mercer takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mercer tries to clinch there but Yukinobu circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A lazy body kick from Yukinobu
and Mercer counters with an outside leg kick.
Yukinobu throws a hook to the side of Mercer's head but Mercer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yukinobu moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Mercer fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Yukinobu checks it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch but Yukinobu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And Yukinobu tries to counter it with a takedown but Mercer pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Good leg kick by Mercer.
Yukinobu lands with an uppercut that bounces Mercer off the cage and back into range.
Yukinobu misses with a wild combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yamaoka Yukinobu will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A low kick from Mercer misses

and Yukinobu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yukinobu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yukinobu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yukinobu throwing strikes from guard but Mercer blocks nicely.

Mercer manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Mercer misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yukinobu prevents a body shot from Mercer.
Mercer is looking to control Yukinobu's arms but Yukinobu gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mercer has his back to the cage.
Mercer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Yukinobus head.
Yukinobu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mercer misses with the head strike.
Yukinobu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mercer prevents the takedown attempt.
Mercer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yukinobu's efforts to push away.
Mercer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yukinobu's elbow.
Mercer can't find room to land a body shot as Yukinobu controls the action.
Yukinobu blocks a body shot from Mercer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer misses with a punch to the body.
Mercer throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Yukinobu is trying to break the clinch but Mercer is controlling him.
Yukinobu prevents a body shot from Mercer.
A body shot lands from Mercer.
Nice body punch from Mercer.
Yukinobu is breathing heavily.
Mercer misses with a punch to the body.
Mercer struggles to land a body shot inside as Yukinobu controls his hands.
A frustrated look appears on Yukinobu's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Yukinobu wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Yukinobu wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short body shot lands from Mercer as the two fighters clinch.
Mercer lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yukinobu or not.
Mercer is looking to control Yukinobu's arms but Yukinobu gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mercer has his back to the cage.
Mercer lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yukinobu backwards.
Mercer works on Yukinobu's body with a couple of short punches.
Mercer tries to work over Yukinobu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mercer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mercer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mercer has Yukinobu pressed against the cage, preventing Yukinobu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer misses with a punch to the body.
Mercer just leaning against Yukinobu, taking a breather.
Mercer's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mercer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A body shot lands from Mercer.

Yukinobu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mercer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mercer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Yukinobu. That did some damage!

Mercer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yukinobu, pushing him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercer struggles to land a body shot inside as Yukinobu controls his hands.
Mercer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yukinobu's elbow.

Yukinobu breaks from the clinch.
Yukinobu gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mercer.
Yukinobu lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mercer circles away quickly and effectively.
Yukinobu misses with a head kick.
A left lands for Mercer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu lands a jab to the nose.
Yukinobu's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Mercer doesn't manage to clinch there - Yukinobu circles away.
Mercer takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Yukinobu swings for the body but Mercer moves out of range.
Yukinobu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mercer is looking to clinch but Yukinobu is avoiding it.
Mercer swings for the body but Yukinobu moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mercer.
Mercer throws a body shot but no joy.
Yukinobu throws a push kick but Mercer slaps the foot to one side.
Mercer connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mercer throws a body punch but Yukinobu moves out of range.
Yukinobu tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Yukinobu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mercer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yukinobu changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mercer tries to clinch there but Yukinobu circles away.
Yukinobu pushes Mercer away with a front kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercer has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mercer there as he acknowledges the shot.
Yamaoka Yukinobu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yukinobu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Yukinobu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mercer wants to clinch up but Yukinobu keeps it at a distance.
Yukinobu throws the kick towards the body but Mercer avoids it.
Yukinobu throws a series of punches but Mercer moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mercer. Yukinobu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yukinobu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bobby Mercer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Yukinobu with the counter takedown but Mercer avoids it easily.
Mercer misses with the combination.
Mercer cracks a nice hook into Yukinobu's ribs.
Mercer connects with a leg kick.
Yukinobu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Mercer dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mercer slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Yukinobu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Yukinobu cracks Mercer with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yukinobu.

Mercer has closed the distance and engaged Yukinobu in a clinch.
Mercer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mercer scores with a shot to the side of Yukinobu's head.
Yukinobu wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yukinobu goes for a takedown attempt but Mercer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Yukinobu takes one to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer pushes Yukinobu away with a front kick.
Yukinobu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mercer scores with the left hand. Yukinobu knows he should have avoided that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercer jabs at Yukinobu's body.
Mercer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mercer tries to clinch there but Yukinobu circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yukinobu listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Yukinobu cracks Mercer with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Nice cross by Yukinobu.
Mercer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Yukinobu. That did some damage!
Mercer goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Yukinobu is rocked!
Good standup being displayed there by Mercer as he connects with a hook.
Yukinobu is still on wobbly legs! Can Mercer finish him?
Mercer lands a leg kick that knocks Yukinobu off balance momentarily.
Mercer lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mercer sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Yukinobu seems to have recovered his senses.
Yukinobu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yukinobu avoids a kick to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Yukinobu misses.
Yukinobu blocks a head kick by Mercer.
Mercer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Yukinobu misses with a right hand
and Mercer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer avoids a kick to the body.
Yukinobu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yukinobu misses with an uppercut. Mercer saw that one coming.
Yukinobu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mercer moves away from the strike by Yukinobu.
Yukinobu throws a push kick but Mercer slaps the foot to one side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yukinobu. Mercer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yukinobu lands with a hook. Mercer tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Yukinobu throws a poor cross that misses
and Mercer counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That kick from Mercer tenderised Yukinobu's leg. Yukinobu is trying to keep his angry face on.
A low kick lands for Mercer.
Yukinobu throws a body kick that misses.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch but Yukinobu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yukinobu takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yukinobu.
Yukinobu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mercer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throws a leg kick that misses.
Mercer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yukinobu with the counter takedown but Mercer avoids it easily.
Mercer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Yukinobu. That did some damage!
Mercer tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yukinobu is able to avoid easily.
Mercer misses with a hook. Yukinobu ducked under it nicely.
Mercer walks into a left hand.
You can see that Yukinobu has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
Yukinobu checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mercer is looking to land body kicks.
Mercer scores with a spinning back kick!
Yukinobu throws a body kick that misses
and Mercer counters with a three punch combo that has Yukinobu backing up. Yukinobu nods at Mercer to acknowledge the strikes.
Yukinobu throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mercer counters with a two punch combo.
A leg kick checked by Yukinobu.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mercer. Yukinobu does a little dance to reset his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yukinobu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No joy there for Yukinobu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mercer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mercer takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mercer takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Mercer rushes Yukinobu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Yukinobu tries to circle away but Mercer has him pinned against the cage.
Mercer misses with a body punch.
Yukinobu wants a takedown.
Mercer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mercer misses with a punch to the body.
Yukinobu tries to circle away but Mercer has him pinned against the cage.
Yukinobu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bobby Mercer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A frustrated look appears on Yukinobu's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Yukinobu breaks from the clinch.
Mercer tries to clinch but Yukinobu moves out of range.
Mercer lands a head kick!
Yukinobu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Mercer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mercer 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Mercer!
An out of breath and clearly excited Bobby Mercer thanked Bondi MMA 🏝️ for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).