PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and German Salbiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Dexter Mercier has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mercier
vs
Salbiev

182 cm
22
176 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dexter Mercier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, German Salbiev!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercier throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Salbiev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mercier on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mercier tries to get out of the position.
Salbiev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Salbiev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mercier has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Salbiev is working away from the top position though.
Salbiev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Salbiev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Salbiev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mercier moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Salbiev is looking to work some ground and pound but Mercier has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salbiev trying to control but Mercier is working from the bottom.
Mercier has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Mercier pushes Salbiev off and gets back to his feet.
Salbiev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Salbiev.
Mercier scores with a body shot.
Mercier with a hook.

It looks like German Salbiev has been cut.
Mercier bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salbiev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mercier sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Salbiev somewhat.
Mercier lands a jab-cross combination.
Dexter Mercier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salbiev misses with a lunging right hand
and Mercier counters with a stiff right hand.
Mercier rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Salbiev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mercier scores with a nice right hand.
Salbiev throws the left hand but Mercier avoids the punch easily.
Salbiev with a hook.
Nice body punch from Mercier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salbiev misses with an uppercut.
Nice jab there from Mercier.
A left and a right from Mercier both land. Nice combination.
Mercier lands a nice hook to Salbiev's body. Salbiev takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercier tests Salbiev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salbiev shoots for a takedown but Mercier saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Mercier dominated that round.
The cut man is working on German Salbiev's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mercier feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Salbievs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Jab by Mercier.
Mercier lands a two punch combo.
Dexter Mercier is winning the standup battle so far.
Salbiev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Salbiev throws an overhand right that lands on Mercier's shoulder, as Mercier tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters circling - Salbiev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mercier lands a two punch combo.
Salbiev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mercier as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
German Salbiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salbiev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mercier but Mercier pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Salbiev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mercier swivels and escapes.
Dexter Mercier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of German Salbiev.
Salbiev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Mercier gets caught flat footed, as Salbiev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salbiev trying to control but Mercier is working from the bottom.
Salbiev throws and elbow that misses. Mercier uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Salbiev's guard. Nice move by Mercier!
Mercier seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Mercier gets to his feet - Salbiev follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salbiev misses with a double jab.
A combination from Mercier does no damage.
Salbiev throws an off balance right hand
letting Mercier counter with a right hand.
Dexter Mercier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salbiev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Some wild striking there from Mercier.
Salbiev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mercier pinned against the cage. Mercier gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salbiev has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Salbiev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mercier tries to avoid it but Salbiev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mercier to the ground. Mercier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercier lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Jab by Mercier.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Mercier dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on German Salbiev's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Salbiev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Salbiev misses with a body punch
and Mercier counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Salbiev closes the distance and clinches up with Mercier, looking for a takedown. Salbiev pushes Mercier against the cage but Mercier circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mercier fails to land with a series of punches.
Mercier lands a nice shot that snaps Salbiev's head back.
Mercier connects with a looping right hand.
Salbiev has a takedown stuffed.
Dexter Mercier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of German Salbiev.
Sloppy strikes from Mercier. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier scores with a body shot.
Mercier thuds his right hand into Salbiev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Salbiev shoots in looking for a takedown but Mercier manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Salbiev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mercier lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Salbiev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mercier closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercier scores with a jab.
Salbiev has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Salbiev takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salbiev takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Salbiev misses with a lunging right hand
and Salbiev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salbiev shoots for a takedown but Mercier saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Salbiev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Salbiev misses with a straight right.
Mercier displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Salbiev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier scores with a crisp jab that stopped Salbiev in his tracks.
German Salbiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mercier lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Salbiev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Salbiev misses with a lunging right hand
and Mercier counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Salbiev shoots in for a double leg but Mercier sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mercier stuns Salbiev with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salbiev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mercier is fending him off so far but Salbiev persists. Nope, Mercier circles away and we're back to standing.
Mercier dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mercier connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Salbiev's hands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercier goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That has opened up German Salbiev's cut even more.
No joy there for Salbiev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mercier throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercier tests Salbiev's chin there with a solid looking shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dexter Mercier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mercier, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dexter Mercier!