PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reynald Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Joshua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Joshua is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Mercier
vs
Joshua

197 cm
27
247 lbs
7 - 9 - 1

185 cm
28
230 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

[EVO] Koffin Inc. *Laundry Available*

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Reynald Mercier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Joshua!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joshua lands a nice hook to Mercier's body. Mercier takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Joshua avoids the body shot from Mercier.

Mercier looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Joshua!
Joshua working to try and regain half guard.
Mercier sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Mercier scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Joshua?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Joshua because Mercier loaded up on that one.
Joshua is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mercier thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mercier is stalling here but it's allowed Joshua to get half guard.
Joshua keeping control of the position.
Mercier not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joshua tries to get to full guard but Mercier has control of the leg.
Mercier controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joshua makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Joshua.
Joshua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
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 being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercier advances to half guard.

Mercier seems to be looking for submissions.
Mercier is looking to take a break and control but Joshua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercier missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mercier is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Joshua wants to control but Mercier is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mercier is looking to take a break and control but Joshua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercier works his foot free and advances to mount.

Mercier is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Joshua has managed to escape the submission attempt.

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

That was a close round but I would say that Reynald Mercier will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Joshua displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mercier throws out the jab.
Reynald Mercier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercier changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mercier throws a good cross that connects.
Joshua is looking to clinch but Mercier is avoiding it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mercier.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Mercier lands a two punch combo.
Joshua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshua waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mercier.
Mercier looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mercier takes a jab right on the kisser.

Joshua drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Joshua postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Joshua trying to control the action but Mercier is working from the bottom.
Joshua is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joshua is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Joshua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercier keeps working.

Joshua wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mercier, who protects the arm well.
Mercier can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joshua remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Mercier holds on to Joshua's head and controls the position momentarily.
Mercier tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Joshua wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercier gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Joshua is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mercier defends it well.
Mercier is trying is best to control the position here.
Mercier trying to hold on to Joshua's head to control him but Joshua postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercier is refusing to be controlled, as Joshua sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anthony Joshua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Joshua takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mercier misses with a double jab
and Joshua counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mercier thinking.
Joshua throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Mercier counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Joshua!
Reynald Mercier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joshua sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mercier looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Joshua is positioning himself well to prevent Mercier advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshua gets back to full guard.
Joshua seems keen to control Mercier's posture.
Joshua trying to control the position.
Mercier throws a strike but Joshua rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mercier seems keen to control Joshua's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercier keeping moving, preventing Joshua from controlling successfully.

Mercier working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Joshua has passed into half guard!
Joshua frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Joshua is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joshua has Mercier up against the cage in a clinch.

Joshua's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Joshua on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Joshua shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Joshua trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mercier lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Joshua!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshua tries to reverse the position but Mercier maintains control.
Mercier trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Joshua keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mercier lands a big elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercier throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Joshua because Mercier loaded up on that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anthony Joshua.
I think Joshua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Anthony Joshua!