PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Huey Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Mercurius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freeman comes into the arena with Leverage - Mister Universe blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Mercurius's choice of entrance music: Amplifier - The Wave. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Freeman
vs
Mercurius

177 cm
31
177 lbs
26 - 15 - 1

181 cm
30
180 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 26 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Huey Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocky Mercurius!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercurius dives in and grabs Freeman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Freeman pushes down on Mercurius's head and hops out.
An inside leg kick lands from Mercurius.
Freeman takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mercurius scores with a jab to the body.
Mercurius throws a quick inside leg kick.
Freeman punishes Mercurius's body with a nice straight punch.
Mercurius takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mercurius gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Freeman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Freeman takes a swing at Mercurius's ribcage but misses.
Mercurius looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Mercurius scores with a head kick.

It looks like Huey Freeman has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An inside leg kick lands from Freeman.
Freeman attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Freeman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Freeman misses with an uppercut. Mercurius saw that one coming.
Mercurius moves out of range of the body kick from Freeman.
Freeman throws out a powerful jab.
Freeman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mercurius is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman cracks Mercurius with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mercurius lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mercurius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Freeman.

Freeman throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mercurius tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Freeman is in Mercurius's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Freeman won't allow Mercurius to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercurius keeping moving, preventing Freeman from controlling successfully.
Freeman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Freeman being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mercurius is on top in guard.
Freeman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercurius trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.

Mercurius avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mercurius showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Freeman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mercurius doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mercurius manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercurius trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.

Mercurius avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mercurius sitting in guard here, content to control.
Freeman trying to keep a closed guard but Mercurius is proving a slippery customer.

Freeman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mercurius defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Freeman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mercurius defends it easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mercurius's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Freeman pulls Mercurius in close to his closed guard and prevents Mercurius from doing any damage or advancing position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mercurius avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mercurius with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Huey Freeman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Huey Freeman's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mercurius uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Freeman.
Mercurius goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mercurius throws a hook but Freeman avoids it easily.
Freeman avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mercurius is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mercurius slips under a jab.
Freeman goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A big right from Mercurius misses.
Mercurius takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Freeman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mercurius.
Freeman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercurius moves away.
Freeman cracks Mercurius with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mercurius misses with an attempted mid kick.
Freeman ducks under a wild hook from Mercurius.
Mercurius throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Freeman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mercurius takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Mercurius.
Freeman gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Mercurius misses with a low kick.
Mercurius uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Freeman.
Mercurius chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Freeman can pounce on him.
Mercurius throws a front kick aimed at Freeman's knee but Freeman avoids it well.
Freeman swings for the body but Mercurius moves out of range.
Mercurius takes a kick to the side of the head.
Mercurius scores with a punch to the head.
Mercurius looks to land a body kick but Freeman moved away.
Freeman scores with a leg kick.
Freeman checks the leg kick.
Mercurius ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Freeman moves away.
Mercurius lands a leg kick that knocks Freeman off balance momentarily.
Freeman stuns Mercurius with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercurius keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rocky Mercurius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freeman tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Mercurius is able to avoid easily.
Mercurius throws a leg kick which misses Freeman's front leg but catches the back leg as Freeman tries to avoid it.
Mercurius takes a swing at Freeman's ribcage but misses.
Rocky Mercurius seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fighters circle momentarily. Freeman darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Freeman throws a leg kick but Mercurius sees it coming and moves out of range.
Mercurius moves out of range as Freeman strikes.
Mercurius chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mercurius.
Freeman throws a sloppy head kick and Mercurius moves out of range easily.
Mercurius chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Freeman can pounce on him.
Mercurius just misses with a punch to the body.
Freeman takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mercurius thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mercurius throws a front kick aimed at Freeman's knee but Freeman avoids it well.
Mercurius misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman takes one to the chin there.

Mercurius fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Freeman sprawls well initially but Mercurius persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Freeman looking for submissions off his back.
Freeman tries to roll over but Mercurius keeps him under control.
Freeman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Freeman working a defensive guard here.
Mercurius is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Freeman working for a triangle but Mercurius defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercurius trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mercurius with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mercurius throwing strikes from guard but Freeman blocks nicely.
Freeman throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercurius wants to control from the top but Freeman keeps moving.
Mercurius passes Freeman's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Freeman wants to control but Mercurius passes into side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rocky Mercurius will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Huey Freeman's cut.
That's time! Freeman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mercurius is looking to chop away at Freeman's legs.
Mercurius walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Freeman checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Freeman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Mercurius is looking to land body kicks.
Mercurius tries to land a front kick but Freeman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mercurius tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Freeman was well out of range. Poor timing from Mercurius.

Mercurius closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Freeman did well to prevent Mercurius getting side control.
Freeman gets back to full guard.
Freeman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mercurius manages to get himself to full guard.
Freeman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Freeman wants to control from the top but Mercurius keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercurius tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mercurius is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Freeman tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercurius is retaining full guard.
Freeman trying to control but Mercurius is working from the bottom.
Freeman postures up in Mercurius's guard and throws a big left but Mercurius blocks it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Freeman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Freeman trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercurius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Freeman throws a big right hand that misses.
Mercurius looking for a sweep. Not yet Mercurius, not yet.
Mercurius manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Freeman is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is working hard here to advance position.

Mercurius working for a guillotine from mount but Freeman is in no mood to give up.
Huey Freeman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Freeman is trying to escape the mount.
Freeman is squirming around, avoiding Mercurius's attempts to control the action.
Mercurius unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Freeman tries to lock up and control but Mercurius gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Mercurius.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Freeman is in all sorts of trouble here.
Freeman tries to lock up and control but Mercurius gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mercurius with shots to the head and body - Freeman looks very uncomfortable down there.
Freeman tries to hold on but Mercurius postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercurius working the ground and pound effectively.
Mercurius with shots to the head and body - Freeman looks very uncomfortable down there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Mercurius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mercurius has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Mercurius!
Rocky Mercurius really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that [WOT] GR Design - Top quality, from $10 to $150 ! logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.