PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Kirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kirk
vs
Mercer

225 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Kirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lance Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Bruno Lombardi and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirk avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mercer manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kirk on his heels. He'll look to pass Kirk's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mercer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mercer wants to control from the top but Kirk keeps moving.

Mercer drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kirk dives on top into guard.
Mercer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kirk.
Kirk distracts Mercer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Mercer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kirk is aware though and is defending well.
Kirk wants to get up but he can't break Mercer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercer working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer has his hands on Kirk's head, controlling the position.

Mercer throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kirk escapes and throws Mercer's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Mercer manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kirk manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kirk wants to sweep here but Mercer controlling him for the moment.

Kirk looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mercer passes into side control.
Kirk is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mercer asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mercer throws a strike aimed at the side of Kirk's head but Kirk avoids it well.
Kirk manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kirk lands a nice short elbow.

Kirk moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Mercer.
Sloppy strikes there by Kirk.
Mercer is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kirk connects with a decent elbow.
Mercer is trying to improve his position.
Mercer wants to control but Kirk postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirk grinds an elbow into Mercer's temple.
Mercer trying to control but Kirk flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Mercer's corner are yelling at him, telling him to just focus on controlling Kirk's hands.
Mercer is really stuck here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercer trying to control the position but Kirk manages to sink in the hooks.
Mercer turns into Kirk and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lance Mercer will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mercer closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kirk is looking to reverse the position.
Mercer throws a strike aimed at the side of Kirk's head but Kirk avoids it well.
Kirk gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Lance Mercer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kirk is squirming around, avoiding Mercer's attempts to control the action.
Kirk is looking to improve his position but Mercer isn't that keen on the idea.
Mercer thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kirk is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer content just to control the position here.
Kirk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mercer punching from mount but Kirk doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kirk is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but Mercer turns him over and now has his back.
Kirk prevents Mercer from getting a body triangle.
Mercer has good solid back control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk is keeping busy.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercer not allowing Kirk to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is hanging on to Kirk's back as he tries to escape.
Kirk just trying to survive but Mercer is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Kirk manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Mercer is now in side control.
Mercer tries to score with some ground and pound. Kirk controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Mercer stands up and beckons Kirk to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kirk gets caught napping as Mercer dives in and scores a takedown. Kirk manages to retain guard.
Mercer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mercer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mercer tries to free his leg and advance position but Kirk is retaining full guard.
Mercer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mercer stopping the sweep attempt from Kirk.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Mercer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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 throws a head kick but Kirk moves out of range.
Kirk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mercer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mercer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mercer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kirk swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A head kick misses from Mercer.

Mercer scores with a takedown into Kirk's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk wants to sweep but no luck.
Kirk is working hard here to advance position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kirk is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kirk prevents Mercer from improving his position.
Mercer trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer punching from the bottom.
Kirk misses with a head shot. Mercer uses the momentum to regain guard.

Kirk decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mercer, up you get!

Mercer is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kirk's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mercer in particular looking to stall.
Kirk trying to control here.
Mercer wants to stand up but Kirk manages to regain full guard.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mercer gets to his feet - Kirk follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercer scores with a takedown into Kirk's guard.
Mercer trying to control but Kirk is working from the bottom.
Mercer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mercer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kirk wants to improve his position but instead Mercer has moved into half guard.
Ricky Kirk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lance Mercer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mercer looks to land a strike but Kirk avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lance Mercer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mercer 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

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