PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Glen McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying McDonald's choice of entrance music: Superstar. Glen McDonald will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mercier
vs
McDonald

178 cm
20
174 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
182 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Apocalypse Clothing
Non-Stop Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcel Mercier!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Glen McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercier is looking to clinch but McDonald is avoiding it.
Mercier misses with an uppercut.
Mercier fails to land with a series of punches.

Mercier looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mercier wants to pass the guard but McDonald is keeping the position.
Mercier trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
McDonald throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
McDonald is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald wants to sweep here but Mercier controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercier trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A punch combination from Mercier misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Mercier.

Mercier has managed to clinch.

McDonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercier throws a right and a left that both miss.
McDonald avoids the body shot from Mercier.
Some wild striking there from Mercier.
McDonald avoids a punch combination nicely.

Mercier moves into the clinch.

McDonald pulls Mercier into guard.
McDonald preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McDonald wants to sweep but no luck.
McDonald controls Mercier momentarily but Mercier frees himself.

McDonald working for a triangle but Mercier defends it easily.
McDonald throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDonald looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

McDonald looking for a guillotine here but Mercier defends easily.
McDonald looks gassed!
Mercier slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
McDonald is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mercier's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mercier scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
McDonald on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

McDonald is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercier takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
McDonald is still in real trouble! Can Mercier finish him?
Mercier working over McDonald with some ground and pound. McDonald looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.
Mercier scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mercier seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McDonald does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mercier is pressing down on McDonald's thigh, looking to free his foot. McDonald is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to get back to full guard.
Mercier wants to lay and pray for a moment but McDonald keeps working.
Mercier stalling away here and it's allowed McDonald to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Mercier forces his way into half guard.
Mercier working McDonald over with strikes.
Mercier working McDonald over with strikes.

McDonald looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mercier lands with a punch from half guard.
Mercier 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.
McDonald wants to improve his position but Mercier is controlling well.
McDonald throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Mercier trying to control from McDonald's half guard. McDonald has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
McDonald is looking to sweep but instead, Mercier has passed into half guard.
McDonald seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald gets full guard.
McDonald trying to strike off his back.
Mercier won't allow McDonald to sweep him here.

McDonald working for a triangle but Mercier defends it easily.
McDonald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mercier lands a couple of elbows.
Mercier chips away with some ground and pound.
McDonald wants to stand but Mercier is controlling the position.
Mercier distracts McDonald with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
McDonald avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McDonald looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mercier is one step ahead there.
McDonald trying to keep a closed guard but Mercier is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcel Mercier dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McDonald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercier moves away.
McDonald tries for a takedown but Mercier circles away easily

and Mercier counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mercier stopping the sweep attempt from McDonald.
Mercier trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
McDonald wants to sweep here but Mercier controlling him for the moment.
Mercier tries to free his leg and advance position but McDonald is retaining full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
McDonald controls Mercier momentarily but Mercier frees himself.
Mercier forces his way into half guard.

Mercier is looking for a kimura here.
Marcel Mercier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mercier takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier tries to pass to full mount but McDonald defends it.
Mercier prevents McDonald from improving his position.
Mercier slips a nice elbow through McDonald's hands, connecting with McDonald's forehead.
Mercier trying to control from half guard but McDonald is working away.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.
Mercier is nestled in close to McDonald, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mercier frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
McDonald keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mercier fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
McDonald is trying desperately to improve position.

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.
McDonald gets back to half guard.
McDonald moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McDonald controlling the position.

McDonald is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

McDonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McDonald fails with the takedown

and Mercier counters with a shoot takedown. McDonald fights it but they end up in guard.
McDonald wants to sweep but no luck.
McDonald thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Mercier preventing the sweep.
Mercier trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
Mercier works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McDonald moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.

Mercier is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
McDonald looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McDonald manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mercier is trying to escape the mount.
Mercier is working hard here to advance position.
Poor strikes thrown by McDonald there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mercier is squirming around, avoiding McDonald's attempts to control the action.
McDonald with a couple of short strikes.
McDonald wants to control the pace but Mercier is squirming around nicely.

That's four 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.
Mercier sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mercier moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mercier striking off his back but it's not causing McDonald any problems.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mercier keeping full guard, as McDonald tries to pass.
Mercier pulls McDonald in close to prevent any damage.

Mercier has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McDonald can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McDonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Mercier has wrist control.
Mercier lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McDonald!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcel Mercier dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mercier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McDonald manages to avoid it.
Mercier throws a right and a left that McDonald avoids nicely.
McDonald swats away the attempt to clinch by Mercier.
McDonald pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mercier misses with an uppercut. McDonald saw that one coming.
McDonald circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mercier feints and as McDonald raises his hands in defense, Mercier changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

McDonald is looking for a triangle but Mercier pushes his legs off easily.
McDonald wants to sweep but no luck.
Mercier landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McDonald manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mercier can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mercier slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
McDonald not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McDonald seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercier does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McDonald not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mercier is staying active underneath McDonald, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
McDonald tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mercier knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mercier wants to improve his position but McDonald is controlling well.

McDonald is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mercier doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time McDonald.
McDonald not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McDonald darts in trying to clinch
enabling Mercier to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McDonald misses with a takedown attempt

so Mercier counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mercier controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
McDonald has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mercier has passed into side control.
McDonald tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Mercier is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McDonald has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mercier throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Mercier taking a break here but McDonald is having none of it and regains half guard.
McDonald is trying to maintain the position but Mercier is very close to passing his half guard.

Mercier in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. McDonald tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Mercier!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Marcel Mercier!
Marcel Mercier retains his welterweight title!