PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Mercury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Two Hands (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Mercury might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to you got another thing comin'. The key to victory for Mark Mercury has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mercury
vs
Hands

185 cm
21
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Lightning Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Mercury!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Two Hands!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Roberts and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercury wants to clinch up but Hands keeps it at a distance.
No luck for Mercury with that takedown attempt.

Mercury clinches.
Hands wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mercury breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mercury shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mercury shoots for a takedown but Hands saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Mercury. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hands closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hands lands in his opponent's guard.

Mercury throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hands must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Mercury is looking for a triangle but Hands pushes his legs off easily.
Hands lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hands working some strikes from top position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hands trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mercury is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hands is controlling him.
Hands working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mercury's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands trying to control but Mercury is working from the bottom.

Mercury throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hands works over Mercury with some ground and pound from guard.
Mercury looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hands is one step ahead there.
Hands landing some decent shots from guard.
Hands lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hands is in close to Mercury's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hands connects with a couple of short punches.
Hands distracts Mercury with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hands is working Mercury over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hands pushing down on Mercury's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hands is looking to take a break and control but Mercury is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mercury wants to improve his position but Hands is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hands prevents Mercury from improving his position.
Hands seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mercury throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Mercury looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mercury is breathing heavily.
Hands working Mercury over with strikes.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mercury tries to clinch up but Hands circles away and keeps his distance.
A big left from Mercury misses.
Mercury tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hands paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hands has managed to clinch.
Mercury lands with a right to the head.
Hands wants a takedown but no success here.

Mercury breaks the clinch.

Hands feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hands lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mercury controls Hands momentarily but Hands frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercury wants to get back to his feet but Hands is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hands cracks Mercury with a solid left hand.
Hands content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mercury controls Hands momentarily but Hands frees himself.
Mercury wants to sweep but no luck.
Hands landing some decent shots from guard.

Mercury has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hands is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Mercury.
Mercury takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Mercury is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hands off and has taken his back!
Hands prevents Mercury from getting a body triangle.
Hands is covering up but some of the strikes from Mercury are getting through and doing damage.
Mercury has the hooks in. Hands is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercury gets his hands free as Hands looks to control.

Mercury is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Hands has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Mercury has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Hands.

Mercury is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Hands defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Mercury is not going to allow Hands to sit and survive in this position.
Hands turns into Mercury and is now in his guard.
Mercury wants to sweep here but Hands controlling him for the moment.
Hands working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mercury's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mercury is looking for a triangle but Hands pushes his legs off easily.
Mercury looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hands scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Two Hands dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mercury misses with a takedown attempt

and Hands counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hands lands a couple of elbows.
Hands lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hands stopping the sweep attempt from Mercury.

Mercury is looking for a triangle here but Hands uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Hands is looking to take a break and control but Mercury is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hands working the ground and pound from side control.
Hands wants to control but Mercury is keeping him busy.
Hands lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hands lands a nice forearm strike.
Hands working the body and head with strikes.
Mercury regains half guard.
Mercury missing with punches from the bottom.
Mercury wants to improve his position but Hands is controlling well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercury won't allow Hands to pass to mount.
Hands is nestled in close to Mercury, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hands landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Hands there.
Hands content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mercury is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hands working over Mercury with some ground and pound. Mercury looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hands slips a nice elbow through Mercury's hands, connecting with Mercury's forehead.
Hands tries to pass to full mount but Mercury defends it.
Mercury has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hands is working away from the top position though.
Hands is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mercury wants to improve his position but Hands is controlling well.
Hands blocks the strikes from Mercury.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Mercury tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mercury doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hands counters with a takedown into side control.
Hands wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercury keeps working.
Mercury is trying to improve his position.
Hands works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Hands wants to take a breather but Mercury manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Hands.
Mercury keeping moving, preventing Hands from controlling successfully.
Mercury looking to control.
Mercury wants to get back to his feet but Hands is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mercury with a lazy takedown attempt

so Hands counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Mercury. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hands won't allow Mercury to sweep him here.
Hands lands a couple of elbows.
Two Hands has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands stopping the sweep attempt from Mercury.

Mercury working for a triangle but Hands defends it easily.
Mercury manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Mercury stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Hands scores with a takedown into Mercury's guard.

Mercury escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hands gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Mercury has his foot on Hands's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hands works his way back into a safe position though.
Hands trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercury is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hands avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mercury is on top in guard.
Mercury wants to get up but he can't break Hands's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mercury working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mercury trying to control but Hands is working from the bottom.
Hands tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mercury wanted to stand there but Hands had control of the position.
Hands striking from his own guard.
Hands striking off his back but it's not causing Mercury any problems.
Mercury pushing down on Hands's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hands is looking to control Mercury's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hands avoid being mounted?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hands fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mercury tries to clinch but Hands is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Two Hands showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Mercury's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mercury lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Two Hands has been cut.
Mercury misses with a head kick.

Mercury pushes Hands up against the cage in a clinch.

Mercury has hold of one of Hands's legs. Hands is fighting the takedown attempt but Mercury gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Mercury preventing the sweep.
Hands can't keep his opponent in guard - Mercury advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mercury not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hands is not content to let Mercury control the position.

Mercury is trying to work for a kimura but Hands is defending well.
Hands moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mercury preventing the sweep.
Hands is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hands keeping full guard, as Mercury tries to pass.
Hands looking for a sweep. Not yet Hands, not yet.
Hands really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mercury. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Hands misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mercury tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hands swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mercury gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hands counters with a shoot takedown. Mercury fights it but they end up in guard.
Hands preventing the sweep.
Hands landing some decent shots from guard.

Mercury throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mercury tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mercury controls Hands momentarily but Hands frees himself.

Mercury has his foot on Hands's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hands works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Mercury working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hands doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hands manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hands postures up.
Hands chips away with some ground and pound.

Mercury is looking for a triangle but Hands pushes his legs off easily.
Hands is working Mercury over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hands with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hands trying to control but Mercury is working from the bottom.
Mercury throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mercury lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hands!
Hands flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hands is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hands can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercury is trying to take his opponent's back.
Hands manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Hands wants to get back to full guard.
Hands is staying active underneath Mercury, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Mercury seems to be looking for submissions.
Hands gets full guard.
Mercury works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Mercury seems to be working for a kimura but Hands defends the submission attempt.
Hands tries to roll over but Mercury keeps him under control.
Mercury trying to control the action but Hands is working from the bottom.
Mercury prevents Hands from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hands slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hands bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mercury's guard.
Hands throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mercury works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mark Mercury has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Mercury escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hands gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hands is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mercury wants to sweep here but Hands controlling him for the moment.
Hands postures up and lands a big shot to Mercury's brow.
Hands keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mercury's head.
Hands is in close to Mercury's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Mercury has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hands can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hands wants to pass the guard but Mercury is keeping the position.
Hands is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Mercury is looking for a triangle but Hands pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Two Hands.
I've got Hands winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Two Hands!