PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Liam Mertens (ranked 4295 p4p, 4389 weight class) and James Dalton (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.

Mertens
vs
Dalton

182 cm
25
200
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
17
200
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Liam Mertens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Dalton!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Topper Green and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dalton throws out a leg kick but Mertens moves out of range and Dalton only half commits.
Dalton fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A punch lands to the side of Dalton 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Mertens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dalton dives in for a single leg takedown but Mertens sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mertens is looking to counter punch.
Dalton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mertens is looking to counter punch.
Mertens missing with a left hand there. Dalton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dalton tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mertens counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mertens misses with an uppercut. Dalton saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mertens throws a hook but Dalton blocks it.
Nice takedown defense from Mertens. No joy for Dalton on that attempt.
Mertens throwing a counter right hand but Dalton manages to avoid it.

Mertens rushes Dalton and presses him up against the cage.
Mertens misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mertens makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mertens.
Mertens lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Mertens on the inside.
Dalton tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mertens lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mertens has a couple of punches blocked by Dalton.
Dalton stalling in the clinch but Mertens improves position.
Dalton blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mertens.
Mertens lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mertens softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mertens lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dalton backwards.

Dalton is rocked!
Dalton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dalton tries to pull guard but Mertens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Liam Mertens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Dalton.
Mertens throws a punch but it's blocked by Dalton.
Mertens swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mertens lands a hook that snaps the head of Dalton backwards.
Dalton is still on wobbly legs! Can Mertens finish him?
Dalton blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mertens misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mertens swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mertens swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mertens gets underhooks to prevent Dalton's takedown attempt.
Mertens misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dalton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dalton.
Mertens working aggressively here.
Mertens misses with a punch on the inside.
Mertens misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dalton seems to have recovered his senses.
Mertens lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Dalton to his knees! Mertens keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Liam Mertens!