PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean ODonnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ODonnell is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Going down to Boston by Dropkick Murphys. Sean ODonnell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mercier
vs
ODonnell

178 cm
20
174 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean ODonnell!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Mercier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mercier fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mercier misses with a two punch combination.
ODonnell looks to land a combination but Mercier avoids it well.
Mercier swats away the attempt to clinch by ODonnell.

Mercier shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
ODonnell is trying to stand up here but Mercier is controlling him well.
Mercier works his foot free and advances to mount.
ODonnell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mercier. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mercier takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercier tries to control but ODonnell wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier controlling the position easily from mount.
ODonnell tries to lock up and control but Mercier gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mercier cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The referee warns ODonnell that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
ODonnell in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mercier putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Mercier cracks ODonnell with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
BOOM! Mercier connects with a massive shot to the dome!

ODonnell is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
ODonnell wants to hold on but Mercier pushes him away.
ODonnell is still in real trouble! Can Mercier finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercier looking to finish ODonnell with some ground and pound. This is bad for ODonnell!
Mercier avoids the attempt from ODonnell to control.
ODonnell seems to have recovered his senses.
Mercier with good strikes from the mount here!
Mercier landing shots from mount.
ODonnell wants to control but Mercier is having none of it.
Mercier looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mercier putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Mercier lands a heavy elbow.
Mercier lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell wants to control but Mercier is having none of it.
Mercier controlling the pace for now.
ODonnell working to try and regain half guard.
ODonnell looks gassed!
Mercier working ODonnell over with strikes here.
ODonnell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Mercier looking to secure an arm triangle but ODonnell defends it well.
The referee warns ODonnell that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
ODonnell tries to hold on but Mercier pushes him away.
Mercier is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. ODonnell can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
ODonnell tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercier looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Mercier landing strikes from the mount and ODonnell is in trouble!
A nice elbow there by Mercier.
Mercier trying to control but ODonnell is having none of it.
ODonnell is bucking up trying to escape but Mercier cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Mercier with the ground and pound from mount.
Mercier trying to control but ODonnell is having none of it.
Mercier lands with some vicious ground and pound - can ODonnell hang on?
Mercier trying to control but ODonnell is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice elbow there by Mercier.

Mercier is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. ODonnell can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcel Mercier dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mercier bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Mercier is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. ODonnell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
ODonnell is trying to improve his position.
Mercier in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Mercier advances to mount.
Mercier lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
ODonnell keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
ODonnell wants to hold on but Mercier pushes him away.
ODonnell is wriggling around trying to escape.
ODonnell is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier looking to finish ODonnell with some ground and pound. This is bad for ODonnell!
ODonnell is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mercier content just to control the position here.
ODonnell working to try and regain half guard.
Mercier punishing his opponent with strikes.
Marcel Mercier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Mercier looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
ODonnell is working 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!

Mercier swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and ODonnell is now in Mercier's guard. A big mistake from Mercier there, giving up the dominant position!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercier preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
ODonnell passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mercier manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Mercier misses with some strikes from the bottom.
ODonnell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mercier's head.
ODonnell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mercier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
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.
Mercier has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. ODonnell is working away from the top position though.
Mercier is pressing down on ODonnell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mercier has a closed guard, preventing ODonnell from standing up.
Mercier manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell is working to get back to half guard.
Mercier with good strikes from the mount here!

It looks like Sean ODonnell has been cut.
Mercier putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Mercier with a couple of short strikes.
Mercier scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish ODonnell?
Mercier lands a big shot there that rocks ODonnell but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
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!
ODonnell in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mercier punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mercier is landing with some decent strikes but ODonnell is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
ODonnell tries to hold on but Mercier pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Mercier.
ODonnell is looking to get to half guard.
ODonnell takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercier lands a heavy elbow.
Mercier scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish ODonnell?
Mercier working the ground and pound effectively.
Mercier breaks from ODonnell's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mercier pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mercier lands with some strikes.

Mercier working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mercier punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mercier lands a big elbow.
ODonnell is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mercier is landing with some decent strikes but ODonnell is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Mercier lands a big elbow.
ODonnell tries to hold on but Mercier pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcel Mercier dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sean ODonnell's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

ODonnell moves in looking to clinch but Mercier pushes him off.
Mercier is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that ODonnell can do to turn this around?
ODonnell tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
ODonnell keeps the fight on the outside.
ODonnell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marcel Mercier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
ODonnell circles away from the clinch attempt

and ODonnell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mercier gets back to full guard.
ODonnell trying to control but Mercier is working from the bottom.
ODonnell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mercier is on top in guard.
ODonnell is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
ODonnell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. ODonnell swivels though and keeps the full guard.

ODonnell scrambles and gets back to his feet.

ODonnell scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mercier manages to get back to half guard.
Mercier is looking to control ODonnell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mercier avoid being mounted?
ODonnell wants to stand but Mercier has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Mercier makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mercier.
ODonnell is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
ODonnell thows a big elbow that misses.
ODonnell works over Mercier with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell throws a strike but Mercier rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now ODonnell is on top in guard.
ODonnell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mercier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mercier striking off his back but it's not causing ODonnell any problems.
ODonnell works over Mercier with some ground and pound from guard.
ODonnell working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

ODonnell stands up and waves to Mercier to follow him.
Mercier is looking to clinch.
ODonnell closes the distance but Mercier moves to the side

and Mercier counters by moving into the clinch.

ODonnell breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier tries to clinch but ODonnell moves away

and ODonnell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mercier's guard now.
ODonnell trying to control but Mercier is working from the bottom.
Mercier can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as ODonnell controls the pace.
Mercier wants to sweep here but ODonnell controlling him for the moment.
Mercier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from ODonnell.
Mercier striking from the bottom here.
ODonnell is looking to stand up but Mercier won't let him.
ODonnell wants to control from the top but Mercier keeps moving.
Mercier is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
ODonnell is looking to control Mercier's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can ODonnell avoid being mounted?
ODonnell wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercier wants to take a breather but ODonnell is having none of it.
ODonnell trying to control but Mercier postures up.
Sean ODonnell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
ODonnell is refusing to be controlled, as Mercier sits in half guard.

ODonnell looking for submissions off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
ODonnell wants to clinch.

Mercier drives through and clinches with ODonnell against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercier lands a body punch.

Mercier is trying to trip ODonnell. He has hold of a leg but ODonnell is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mercier persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Mercier content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean ODonnell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mercier has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:26
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:26
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcel Mercier!
Marcel Mercier retains his welterweight title!