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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gareth Keenan Jr (ranked 2161 p4p, 2092 weight class) and Bobby Mercer (ranked 175 p4p, 171 weight class). Mercer has chosen Why Can't We Be Friends by WAR as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.
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| 179 cm
37
158
20 - 16 - 0 |
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166 cm
32
158
17 - 17 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed |
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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 20 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gareth Keenan Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bobby Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some bone on bone action there as Keenan Jr checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mercer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Keenan Jr blocks a head kick by Mercer.
Mercer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Keenan Jr tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mercer stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mercer ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Keenan Jr staying out of range there.
Mercer throws a combination that misses
and Keenan Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bobby Mercer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Keenan Jr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mercer takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mercer darts in and clinches Keenan Jr up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keenan Jr takes a shot to the head.
Mercer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer has managed to clinch.
Mercer working aggressively here.
Mercer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Keenan Jr blocks a head kick by Mercer.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Keenan Jr. Mercer shrugs it off though.
Mercer misses with a hook.
A solid leg kick lands there for Keenan Jr.
Mercer throws a body kick that misses.
Mercer gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mercer throws a punch but it's blocked by Keenan Jr.
A right handed body shot lands from Mercer.
Mercer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mercer lands a head kick. Keenan Jr smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Keenan Jr lands with a right hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mercer looks to score with a jab to the body but Keenan Jr is just out of range.
Keenan Jr appears to be looking for a big counter.
Mercer lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Keenan Jr backs up against the cage.
Keenan Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mercer is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Keenan Jr thuds his shin into the meat of Mercer's side.
Keenan Jr misses the shot to the body.
Keenan Jr slips a straight right by Mercer.
Mercer misses with a left hand
and Keenan Jr counters with a two punch combo.
Keenan Jr has Mercer up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mercer.
Mercer cracks Keenan Jr with a nice body shot.
Mercer working aggressively here.
Keenan Jr softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Keenan Jr is trying to break free.
Mercer tries to land knees in the clinch but Keenan Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Mercer breaks from the clinch.
Keenan Jr misses with a wild combination.
Mercer scores with a jab to the jaw.
Some wild striking there from Mercer.
Mercer goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Keenan Jr misses the shot to the body.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses
and Keenan Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr wants to clinch
and Mercer counters with a leg kick.
Keenan Jr throws a low kick but Mercer moves out of range easily.
Mercer connects with a single shot there.
Keenan Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mercer keeps the fight on the outside.
A slow jab from Mercer misses its intended target.
Keenan Jr scores with a leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Keenan Jr avoids a punch combination nicely.
Keenan Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mercer connects with a nice looking jab.
Mercer scores with a head kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Bobby Mercer dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Mercer misses with a left hand
and Keenan Jr counters with a series of strikes. Mercer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mercer throws a shot from downtown. Keenan Jr moves away and avoids it.
A lazy body kick from Mercer
and Keenan Jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Keenan Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mercer throws a right and a left that Keenan Jr avoids nicely.
As Mercer looks to move away, Keenan Jr throws a big counter combo but Mercer just gets out of the way.
Mercer misses with a hook. Keenan Jr ducked under it nicely.
Keenan Jr fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Mercer checks it well.
Mercer throws a fast counter high kick but Keenan Jr manages to duck under it in time.
Keenan Jr takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mercer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mercer misses with a shot to the body
and Keenan Jr counters with a series of strikes. Mercer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercer feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Keenan Jrs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer throws a looping overhand right but Keenan Jr ducks down to avoid it.
Keenan Jr was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Mercer lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Keenan Jr backs up against the cage.
Keenan Jr avoids the head kick by Mercer.
Keenan Jr throws a big counter combination but Mercer scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
An inside leg kick lands from Keenan Jr.
Keenan Jr throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mercer.
Gareth Keenan Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Keenan Jr moves out of range as Mercer throws a body kick.
Bobby Mercer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mercer swings widly with a right hand
and Keenan Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
Mercer slips a straight right by Keenan Jr.
Keenan Jr explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Mercer tries a head kick but it misses.
Keenan Jr avoids the body shot from Mercer.
Mercer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mercer throws a jab but it's blocked by Keenan Jr.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr checks the leg kick.
Mercer tries a head kick but it misses.
Mercer throws a poor cross that misses
and Keenan Jr counters with a nice kick to the body.
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!
Mercer lands with an overhand left.
Mercer throws a right hand that Keenan Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Keenan Jr also avoids with ease.
Keenan Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mercer.
Mercer misses with an uppercut
and Keenan Jr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mercer thinking.
Mercer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Keenan Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Keenan Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Mercer misses with a lunging right hand
and Keenan Jr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mercer looks to land a left hand but Keenan Jr moved out of range nicely.
Mercer throws a big shot that misses.
Keenan Jr went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Keenan Jr is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mercer throws a lazy head kick
and Keenan Jr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mercer thinking.
Keenan Jr lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Mercer misses with a looping right.
Keenan Jr appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Mercer swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Keenan Jr.
An inside leg kick lands from Mercer.
A head kick misses from Mercer.
The fight stays on the outside here - Keenan Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Keenan Jr lands a jab-cross combination.
Mercer gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keenan Jr clinches up against the cage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr tries to circle away but Mercer has him pinned against the cage.
Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses.
Mercer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mercer looks to score with a jab to the body but Keenan Jr is just out of range.
Keenan Jr displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mercer throws out the jab.
Mercer looks to land a right hand but Keenan Jr moved out of range.
Mercer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Keenan Jr fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick by Mercer misses
and Keenan Jr counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A big right from Mercer misses.
Mercer throws a leg kick
and Keenan Jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Gareth Keenan Jr will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!
Mercer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mercer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Keenan Jr counters with a low kick, right behind Mercer 's knee.
Mercer throws a series of punches but Keenan Jr avoids them all with ease.
Keenan Jr throws a big counter combination but Mercer scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Keenan Jr takes a swing at Mercer's ribcage but misses.
Keenan Jr works over Mercer's head and body with a nice combination.
It looks like Bobby Mercer has been cut.
Mercer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Keenan Jr.
Mercer scores with a jab.
Mercer misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Keenan Jr lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Keenan Jr uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mercer.
Keenan Jr was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Mercer throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Keenan Jr sees it coming and avoids it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer tried to score with a low kick but Keenan Jr checks it.
Keenan Jr takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Keenan Jr throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Keenan Jr moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Keenan Jr tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mercer! But no joy.
Mercer works the jab nicely.
Mercer throws an off balance right hand
and Keenan Jr counters with a one-two to the body.
Keenan Jr drives through and clinches with Mercer against the cage.
Mercer is trying to push Keenan Jr away but Keenan Jr has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Keenan Jr tries to throw a body punch but Mercer avoids it by throwing Keenan Jr back against the cage.
Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercer drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercer throws a lazy right hand but Keenan Jr sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A quick step to the side and Keenan Jr tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr looks to clinch
and Mercer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A head kick misses from Mercer.
Mercer misses with a low kick.
Keenan Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mercer tries a head kick but it misses.
As Mercer looks to move away, Keenan Jr throws a big counter combo but Mercer just gets out of the way.
Keenan Jr scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Mercer rushes Keenan Jr and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Keenan Jr wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mercer has him pressed against the cage.
Mercer is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mercer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mercer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mercer misses with a punch to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer misses with a body punch.
Keenan Jr breaks from the clinch.
Mercer takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mercer attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Keenan Jr fails to land with a series of punches.
Mercer misses with the combination.
Mercer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Keenan Jr counters with a nice kick to the body.
Keenan Jr connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mercer misses with a right hand
and Keenan Jr counters with a three punch combo that has Mercer backing up. Mercer nods at Keenan Jr to acknowledge the strikes.
Mercer swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Keenan Jr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Keenan Jr throws a head kick that misses.
It seemed like Mercer was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throws a shot from downtown. Keenan Jr moves away and avoids it.
Mercer rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Keenan Jr counters with a nice body shot.
Mercer keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Keenan Jr paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Keenan Jr darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Mercer throws a leg kick that is checked
and Keenan Jr counters with a straight right hand.
Keenan Jr is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Mercer misses with a body kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Keenan Jr misses its target.
Mercer thuds his shin into the meat of Keenan Jr's side.
Mercer tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Keenan Jr is able to avoid easily.
Keenan Jr stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mercer pivots, looking for a leg kick but Keenan Jr is out of range and Mercer settles back down.
And that's the end of the fight!
Gareth Keenan Jr showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Keenan Jr has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:29
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Gareth Keenan Jr!
During a confident post fight interview, Gareth Keenan Jr thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
68% |
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