PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Mertel (ranked 4253 p4p, 4732 weight class) and Javier Fuentes (ranked 433 p4p, 468 weight class). Mertel comes to the cage accompanied by Mertel Cannon. Javier Fuentes is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mertel
vs
Fuentes

192 cm
18
177
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Viktor Mertel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Javier Fuentes!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mertel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Fuentes scores with a takedown into Mertel's guard.
Fuentes is standing up over Mertel. Mertel looks to escape but Fuentes dives into side control.

Fuentes decides to stand back up.
A jab from Mertel finds it's way through Fuentes's defenses.
Fuentes throws a head kick that misses.
Mertel misses with a right hand

and Fuentes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mertel wants to control but Fuentes is keeping busy.
Mertel wants to get back to his feet.
Fuentes stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mertel pushes Fuentes off looking to stand but Fuentes dives back in and keeps control.
Fuentes trying to mount his opponent but Mertel defends it.

Fuentes seems to be looking for submissions.
Mertel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fuentes on the ground.
Fuentes with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mertel looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
It looks like Fuentes might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mertel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fuentes scores with a couple of nice shots.

Fuentes stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mertel to get to his feet.
Mertel misses with a double jab.
Fuentes throws a sloppy head kick and Mertel moves out of range easily.
Mertel lands with a straight right. Fuentes didn't see that one coming.
Fuentes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mertel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As Fuentes looks to move away, Mertel throws a big counter combo but Fuentes just gets out of the way.
Mertel connects with a single shot there.
Fuentes takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Mertel gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mertel working aggressively here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mertel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Fuentes's brow.
Mertel lands a shoulder strike.
Mertel misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mertel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mertel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Mertel.
Mertel is looking to break free of the clinch but Fuentes has double underhooks.
Mertel lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fuentes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mertel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Fuentes jumps guard.
Fuentes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mertel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fuentes has Mertel pulled in close to control his posture.

Mertel gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fuentes takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mertel dips to his left and cracks Fuentes with an uppercut!
Mertel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fuentes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd cheers as Mertel lands an impressive looking overhand right. Fuentes doesn't seem phased though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mertel swinging wildly here.
Fuentes wants to counter with a clinch but Mertel pushes him away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fuentes takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fuentes looks winded!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mertel.
Mertel tries to clinch up but Fuentes circles away and keeps his distance.
Mertel takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Fuentes swats away the attempt to clinch by Mertel.

Fuentes clinches with his opponent.

Fuentes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mertel tries to clinch up but Fuentes circles away and keeps his distance.
Fuentes darts in looking for a takedown but Mertel gets double underhooks and turns Fuentes into the cage.
Mertel throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Mertel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fuentes swats away the attempt to clinch by Mertel.
Mertel is looking to clinch.
Fuentes wants to counter with a clinch but Mertel pushes him away.
Fuentes shoots in for a takedown but Mertel shows good takedown defense.
Mertel tries to clinch up but Fuentes circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice cross by Mertel.

It looks like Javier Fuentes has been cut.
Fuentes walks into a jab.

Fuentes is rocked!
The fight stays on the outside here - Mertel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fuentes gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Mertel gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Fuentes 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 0:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Viktor Mertel!
Viktor Mertel was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.