PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rudy Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zalmai Qazi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Qazi has chosen "Arab Americans" by Jim Johnston as his entrance music. Zalmai Qazi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mercer
vs
Qazi

217 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 Montreal, Rudy Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zalmai Qazi!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Qazi wants to clinch

and Mercer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mercer.
Mercer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Qazi looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Mercer stands up over Qazi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mercer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mercer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mercer working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercer sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mercer has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Mercer throwing strikes from guard but Qazi blocks nicely.
Mercer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Rudy Mercer wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mercer looks to land a left hand but Qazi moved out of range nicely.

Mercer fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Qazi to the ground. Mercer is now in Qazi's guard.
Mercer lands a couple of elbows.
Mercer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mercer scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mercer sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mercer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mercer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mercer chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Rudy Mercer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Qazi gets caught flat footed, as Mercer shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercer works over Qazi with some ground and pound from guard.
Mercer content to stall in guard here.
Mercer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer with a nice head shot there.
Mercer controlling from the top position.
Mercer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Qazi on the ground.
Mercer chips away with some ground and pound.
Mercer sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rudy Mercer wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Mercer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Qazi's guard.
Mercer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mercer landing some decent shots from guard.
Mercer chips away with some ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rudy Mercer dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mercer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Qazi, pushing him back against the cage.

Mercer breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Qazi.
Qazi closes the distance but Mercer moves to the side

and Mercer counters with a takedown into side control.
Qazi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Mercer is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Qazi will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Mercer is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Qazi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Qazi is trying to escape the position but Mercer is controlling the position.
Mercer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Qazi can do to turn this around?
Qazi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Mercer's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Mercer controls the position.
Mercer is working Qazi over with some ground and pound from side control.
Mercer is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Qazi's shoulder. That is not cool.
Mercer working the head and body with strikes.
Mercer taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mercer's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Mercer stands up and beckons Qazi to his feet.
Mercer scores with a push kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Qazi closes the distance and clinches up with Mercer, looking for a takedown. Qazi pushes Mercer against the cage but Mercer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've been informed that Qazi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Mercer shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Qazi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mercer happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer looks up at the clock and then as Qazi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mercer smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mercer landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Mercer takes a little break here. Qazi wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Mercer looks up at the clock and then as Qazi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mercer smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mercer looks up at the clock and then as Qazi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mercer smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Mercer politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Mercer prefers to stall for the moment though.
Qazi taking punishment in the form of punches.
The referee asks Mercer politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Mercer prefers to stall for the moment though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Qazi taking punishment in the form of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rudy Mercer dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mercer bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Qazi's head backwards.

Qazi gets caught napping as Mercer dives in and scores a takedown. Qazi manages to retain guard.
Qazi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mercer controls the pace.
Mercer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rudy Mercer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mercer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Qazi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rudy Mercer just wasn't active enough.
Qazi ducks under a wild hook from Mercer.

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

Mercer is looking for a kimura but Qazi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mercer to get the leverage.
Mercer is taking a breather. Qazi says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Qazi has hold of Mercer's hands but Mercer slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mercer perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Mercer is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Qazi is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rudy Mercer!