PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Sardiini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercer has chosen Doomsday as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sardiini
vs
Mercer

185 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keijo Sardiini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Mercer!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sardiini avoids the head kick by Mercer.
Mercer shoots in but no luck this time.
Mercer fails with a takedown attempt.
Mercer shoots in looking for a takedown. Sardiini tries to sprawl out of it but Mercer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sardiini manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Keijo Sardiini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Mercer.
Sardiini wants to clinch up but Mercer keeps it at a distance.
Sardiini throws a sloppy head kick

and Mercer decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sardiini's guard.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Sardiini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mercer stopping the sweep attempt from Sardiini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sardiini is trying to keep Mercer in close.
Sardiini keeping full guard, as Mercer tries to pass.
Mercer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sardiini trying to keep a closed guard but Mercer is proving a slippery customer.
Sardiini is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Sardiini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sardiini tries to clinch there but Mercer circles away.
Sardiini ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercer moves away.
Sardiini closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mercer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mercer's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mercer is working for takedown but Sardiini is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sardiini throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mercer blocks it with crossed arms.
Mercer drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sardiini gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mercer blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sardiini is looking to break free of the clinch but Mercer has double underhooks.

Sardiini manages to break the clinch.
A low kick from Sardiini is predictable there

so Mercer counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sardiini has control of Mercer's left arm, preventing Mercer from doing any damage.
Mercer trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sardiini's guard.
Mercer looks gassed!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sardiini is on top in guard.
Sardiini passes Mercer's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sardiini is tying to control. Mercer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mercer wants to control but Sardiini is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sardiini sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sardiini is looking to take a break and control but Mercer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Mercer dominated that round.
That's time! Sardiini's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sardiini rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mercer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mercer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sardiini shoots in for a takedown but Mercer shows good takedown defense.
Mercer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sardiini tries to clinch

and Mercer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Sardiini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mercer throwing strikes from guard but Sardiini blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sardiini wants to sweep but no luck.
Sardiini is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Sardiini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sardiini wants to stand and escape but Mercer is having none of it.
Mercer preventing the sweep.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sardiini!

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.
Sardiini ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mercer is breathing heavily.
Sardiini swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mercer counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sardiini's guard now.
Sardiini not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mercer stopping the sweep attempt from Sardiini.
Mercer trying to control but Sardiini is working from the bottom.

Sardiini looking for a guillotine here but Mercer defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sardiini has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mercer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sardiini looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Mercer wants to control from the top but Sardiini keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sardiini shoots and misses

and Mercer counters with a shoot takedown. Sardiini fights it but they end up in guard.
Mercer wants to pass the guard but Sardiini is keeping the position.
Sardiini has Mercer pulled in close to control his posture.
Mercer passes into half guard.
Alex Mercer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mercer is keen to just control but Sardiini is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Mercer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mercer closes the distance but Sardiini moves to the side
enabling Sardiini to counter with a crisp jab.
Mercer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sardiini's waist but Sardiini gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mercer off to one side.
Sardiini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sardiini tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mercer swivels and escapes.
Sardiini shoots for a double leg takedown but Mercer sprawls well. He's pushed Sardiini's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sardiini throws a body punch but Mercer moves out of range.
Sardiini tries to clinch up but Mercer circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sardiini misses with a head kick.
Mercer connects with a high kick.
Sardiini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sardiini throws a hook to the side of Mercer's head but Mercer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sardiini throws a sloppy head kick

and Mercer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mercer.
Mercer stands and throws Sardiini's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sardiini is not content to let Mercer control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A lull in the action here as Mercer stalls from top position.
Mercer is looking to take a break and control but Sardiini is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sardiini is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Sardiini is trying to control but can't.
Sardiini wants to control but Mercer passes into side.

Mercer decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sardiini to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sardiini throws a lazy head kick

and Mercer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sardiini won't be happy with that.
Sardiini is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Sardiini is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mercer scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mercer throwing shots but Sardiini is blocking nicely.
Mercer is looking to stall here but Sardiini recovers full guard.
Sardiini throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sardiini escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mercer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sardiini trying to keep a closed guard but Mercer is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Mercer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mercer 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Mercer!