PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Locke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Locke comes to the cage accompanied by The State Of Massachusetts - Dropkick Murphys. Michael Locke has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Locke
vs
Mercier

181 cm
30
176 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

182 cm
25
176 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Locke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Dexter Mercier!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Steve Montenegro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercier looks to score with a jab to the body but Locke is just out of range.
Dexter Mercier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Mercier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mercier tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Locke was well out of range. Poor timing from Mercier.
Locke goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mercier throws a body punch but Locke moves out of range.
Locke uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mercier.
Mercier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Locke manages to avoid it.
Mercier cracks Locke with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mercier goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mercier rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Locke moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Locke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mercier paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier throws a shot from downtown. Locke moves away and avoids it.
Mercier throws a series of punches but Locke avoids them all with ease.
Locke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mercier tries to bum rush Locke with a series of wild strikes but Locke uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mercier scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The fighters circle momentarily. Mercier darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Locke defending well as Mercier loads up on a big left hand.
Mercier misses with a hook. Locke ducked under it nicely.
Mercier tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Locke was well out of range. Poor timing from Mercier.
Mercier lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke ducks under a wild hook from Mercier.
Locke shoots in looking for a takedown. Mercier tries to sprawl out of it but Locke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mercier manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dexter Mercier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mercier scores with a nice right hand.
Locke throws a front kick aimed at Mercier's knee but Mercier avoids it well.
Mercier throws a looping overhand right but Locke ducks down to avoid it.
Mercier just misses with a punch to the body.
Mercier scores with a jab to the body.
Mercier throws the left hand but Locke avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier with a jab.
Mercier changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mercier displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Locke throws out the jab.
Locke fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mercier scores with a hook to the body. Locke takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A left lands for Mercier.
Mercier swings for the body but Locke moves out of range.
Mercier thows a body shot but no joy.
Locke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Locke avoids the body shot from Mercier.
Mercier bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Locke's head backwards.
A slow jab from Mercier misses its intended target.
A punch lands to the side of Locke 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Mercier pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Locke slips a straight right by Mercier.
Locke staying out of range there.
Sloppy strikes from Mercier. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercier swings for the body but Locke moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mercier.
Decent striking displayed by Mercier there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Mercier dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mercier misses with a straight right.
Mercier thuds a left hand into Locke's body.
Locke showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mercier.
Mercier misses with a wild body shot.
Mercier takes a swing at Locke's ribcage but misses.
Mercier looks to score with a jab to the body but Locke is just out of range.
Mercier throws a big shot that misses.
Locke avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mercier misses with a hook. Locke ducked under it nicely.
Mercier rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Locke counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke throwing strikes but missing.
Locke is looking to work some ground and pound but Mercier has wrist control.
Mercier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Locke.
Locke prevents Mercier from getting back to his feet.
Locke scoring with some ground and pound.
Locke distracts Mercier with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mercier looking for a sweep. Not yet Mercier, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Locke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Locke trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mercier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Locke content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Locke's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Locke working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Locke trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Locke throws a big right hand that misses.
Locke scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mercier preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Locke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mercier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Locke chips away with some ground and pound.
Locke passes Mercier's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Michael Locke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mercier is trying to stand up here but Locke is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke is looking to take a break and control but Mercier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Locke landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Locke trying to control the action but Mercier is working from the bottom.
Locke thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mercier's head.
Locke is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mercier blocking the ground and pound attempt from Locke.

Locke is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mercier sees it coming and defends easily.
Locke passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Locke lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Locke fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Locke lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Locke has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Locke goes for an armbar but Mercier turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mercier.

Mercier got a little sloppy there for a moment and Locke has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mercier has managed to get both his arms back between Locke's legs - danger averted.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Locke dominated that second round.
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 swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Locke closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A jab from Mercier misses.
Mercier looks to score with a jab to the body but Locke is just out of range.
Locke throws a body kick that misses.
Locke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mercier misses with a hook to the body

and Locke counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mercier's guard now.
Mercier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Locke.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mercier can do anything to dispel that myth.
Locke with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Locke throwing strikes but missing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Locke wants to pass the guard but Mercier is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke postures up in Mercier's guard and throws a big left but Mercier blocks it.
Locke makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mercier avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Locke trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Locke postures up and lands a big shot to Mercier's brow.
Mercier avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Locke is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mercier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Locke. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Locke is looking to work some ground and pound but Mercier has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke is looking to work some ground and pound but Mercier has wrist control.
Locke is looking to work some ground and pound but Mercier has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Locke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Locke tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercier is retaining full guard.
Mercier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mercier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Locke with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Locke sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mercier's guard.
Locke throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Locke is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mercier doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Locke.
Locke looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Locke thows a huge punch but Mercier dodges it nicely.

Locke is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mercier is just riding it out for now. Locke eventually gives up the hold.
Locke thows a huge punch but Mercier dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Locke sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mercier defending well though.
Locke thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Locke seems to be looking for submissions.
Mercier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Locke.
Mercier tries to roll over but Locke keeps him under control.
Locke not landing any meaningful shots this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Locke working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Locke showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Locke 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Locke!