PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reynald Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Black Flood Diesel - Lost Cause. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mercier
vs
Nelson

197 cm
25
247 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

205 cm
29
289 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Reynald Mercier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Brad Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson shoots in for a takedown but Mercier shows good takedown defense.
Nelson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mercier is fending him off so far but Nelson persists. Nope, Mercier circles away and we're back to standing.
Mercier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nelson manages to avoid it.
Brad Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercier throws a jab when Nelson was well out of range.
Nelson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Reynald Mercier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Nelson.
Some wild striking there from Mercier.
A combination from Nelson does no damage.
Mercier stuffs the takedown.
Mercier misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nelson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mercier.
Mercier looks to score with a jab to the body but Nelson is just out of range.
Mercier throws a combination. Nelson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Nelson shoots in and gets a takedown into Mercier's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nelson trying to control but Mercier is working from the bottom.
Nelson preventing the sweep.

Nelson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nelson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nelson forces his way into half guard.
Nelson wants to advance to full mount but Mercier doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Mercier looking for a guillotine here but Nelson defends easily.
Mercier can't keep his opponent in guard - Nelson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercier has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nelson is working away from the top position though.
Nelson passes to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nelson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mercier, who protects the arm well.

Nelson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mercier is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Mercier is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nelson moves to the back position.
Mercier just trying to survive but Nelson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Nelson controlling the positon.

Nelson working for the choke.

Mercier fending off the submission attempt from Nelson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercier tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercier is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Nelson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nelson lands with a nice body punch.
Mercier throws a push kick but Nelson slaps the foot to one side.
Nelson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mercier's waist but Mercier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nelson off to one side.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mercier as he jumps to the side.
Nelson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercier moves away.
Nelson shoots and misses
and Mercier counters with a stiff right hand.
Reynald Mercier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Nelson.
Mercier thows a body shot but no joy.
Nelson scores with the left hand. Mercier knows he should have avoided that one.
Nelson closes the distance and clinches up with Mercier, looking for a takedown. Nelson pushes Mercier against the cage but Mercier circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nelson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier throws a hook but Nelson blocks it.
Nelson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mercier counters with a nice uppercut.
Nelson is breathing heavily.
Mercier throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nelson.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown but Mercier shows good takedown defense.
Mercier misses the shot to the body.
Nelson ducks right into an uppercut from Mercier.
Nelson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mercier misses the jab.
Mercier swinging wildly here.
Nelson tries for a takedown but Mercier sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercier waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nelson.
Mercier waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nelson.
Nelson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mercier swivels and escapes.
Mercier misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Mercier.
Mercier just misses with a punch to the body.
Mercier slaps away a takedown attempt from Nelson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mercier throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nelson sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson fails with the takedown
and Mercier counters with a nice kick to the body.
Mercier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Nelson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mercier has control of Nelson's left arm, preventing Nelson from doing any damage.

Mercier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nelson is aware though and is defending well.
Nelson tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercier is retaining full guard.

Mercier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nelson is aware though and is defending well.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mercier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nelson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nelson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nelson trying to control but Mercier is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Brad Nelson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mercier swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mercier won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercier struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Nelson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mercier throws a leg kick

and Nelson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mercier's guard.
Mercier wants to sweep here but Nelson controlling him for the moment.

Nelson has gone for a leg lock! Mercier slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nelson's guard.
Nelson is trying to keep Mercier in close.

Nelson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mercier is aware though and is defending well.
Mercier is pushing down on Nelson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nelson is fighting to maintain full guard but Mercier has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nelson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mercier.
Nelson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nelson.
Nelson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Mercier from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is trying to control the position but Mercier postures up.

Nelson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mercier defends well.

Mercier drops back looking for a leg! Nelson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nelson manages to kick Mercier off! Mercier jumps back into Nelson's guard.
Nelson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Nelson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mercier can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Brad Nelson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nelson is looking to sinch up a triangle. Mercier throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Nelson's body to avoid the submission. Nelson has instead reached around Mercier's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Nelson arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Brad Nelson!