PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tony Mercury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Steel is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mercury
vs
Steel

165 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Mercury!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Steel!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel tries to clinch but Mercury is having none of it.
Mercury fails to land the takedown.
Jack Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercury shoots in but no luck this time.
Mercury shoots in looking for a takedown. Steel tries to sprawl out of it but Mercury keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Steel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Mercury. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steel shoots in but Mercury avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Steel throws a jab but it's blocked by Mercury.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercury with a poor takedown

and Steel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Steel.
Mercury wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercury avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Steel should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Mercury is working an open guard so Steel takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Steel fails with the takedown
letting Mercury counter with a right hand.
Steel shoots in but Mercury avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Mercury darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Steel wants to improve his position but Mercury is controlling well.

Steel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel is trying to maintain the position but Mercury is very close to passing his half guard.
Steel is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Mercury is staying active.
Mercury throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Steel pushes Mercury off looking to stand but Mercury dives back in and keeps control.
Steel wants to control but Mercury is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mercury thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Steel's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mercury gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Steel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mercury moves into full guard.
Mercury trying to keep a closed guard but Steel is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel won't allow Mercury to sweep him here.
Steel stops Mercury from standing up.
Steel lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercury is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steel tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercury is retaining full guard.

Steel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Steel scores with a takedown into Mercury's guard.
Mercury is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel lands a couple of digs.
Mercury is trying to control the position but Steel postures up.
Mercury keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Steel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mercury bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Steel's guard.
Steel throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.

Steel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mercury gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercury accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mercury scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Steel dominated that 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.

Steel shoots and misses

and Mercury moves into the clinch.
Steel looking for a takedown.
Steel looking to slow down the pace here.
Mercury wants a takedown but no success here.
Steel wants to get back to striking at distance but Mercury won't allow it.
Mercury is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Steel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tony Mercury has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Steel.
Mercury wants a takedown but no success here.
Mercury is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Steel gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Steel is working for takedown but Mercury is calmly controlling the position for now.
Steel is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mercury gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stalling in the clinch from Steel.
Mercury drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Steel gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Steel has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mercury uses from the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercury accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel managing to control the position.
Mercury throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Steel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Steel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mercury wants to pass the guard but Steel is keeping the position.
Mercury throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercury accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mercury will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mercury stopping the sweep attempt from Steel.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Steel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mercury tries to avoid it but Steel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mercury to the ground. Mercury escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Steel shoots in looking for a takedown. Mercury tries to sprawl out of it but Steel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mercury manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mercury fails with a takedown attempt.
Mercury tries for a takedown but Steel circles away easily

and Steel counters with a single leg into guard. Mercury didn't expect that.
Steel wanted to stand there but Mercury had control of the position.
Steel trying to control but Mercury is working from the bottom.
Mercury 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.
Mercury will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel wants to stand but Mercury is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mercury utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercury is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mercury throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Steel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mercury's head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Steel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mercury as he avoids it easily.
Mercury shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Steel counters with a shoot takedown. Mercury fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercury looking to control.
Mercury bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Steel's guard.
Mercury loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mercury working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Steel's head.
Steel is trying to control the position but Mercury postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercury throws a big right hand that misses.
Mercury works over Steel with some ground and pound from guard.
Mercury looking to pass the guard.
Mercury won't allow Steel to sweep him here.
Mercury is in close to Steel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Steel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Mercury. No joy for Steel on that attempt.
Mercury misses with a takedown

and Steel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Steel wants to pass the guard but Mercury is keeping the position.
Mercury is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Steel is looking to stand up but Mercury won't let him.
Steel wants to control from the top but Mercury keeps moving.
Mercury is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Steel controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercury winds up and cracks Steel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steel on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Steel is trying to maintain the position but Mercury is very close to passing his half guard.
Steel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Mercury seems to be working for a kimura but Steel defends the submission attempt.
Steel is trying to get back to full guard.
Jack Steel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Steel is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Steel is trying to get back to full guard.
Mercury stops Steel from getting back to his feet.
Mercury with the ground and pound but Steel uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mercury with a lazy takedown attempt

and Steel decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mercury's guard.

Steel gets to his feet. Mercury looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Steel tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Mercury counter with a right hand.
Mercury stuffs the takedown attempt from Steel. Steel gets slowly back to his feet.
Mercury lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mercury as he avoids it easily.
Tony Mercury has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Steel.
No luck for Steel with that takedown attempt.
Steel tries to clinch but Mercury moves out of range.
Mercury throws a shot to the body.
Mercury with a poor takedown
and Steel counters with a low kick, right behind Mercury 's knee.
Steel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mercury as he avoids it easily.
Mercury throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Steel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mercury blocks a jab.
Mercury shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Steel counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Steel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Steel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tony Mercury has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercury is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mercury lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Steel!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Steel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Steel 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Steel!