PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hildebrand Coenan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Mercer has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Hildebrand Coenan's chin.

Coenan
vs
Mercer

185 cm
30
180 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

184 cm
26
182 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

****160Q Energy for $150****

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Hildebrand Coenan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer misses with an uppercut.
Mercer connects with a nice looking jab.
Coenan digs a good body shot into Mercer's ribs.
Mercer throws a jab when Coenan was well out of range.
Coenan connects with a right hand. Mercer shakes it off.
Mercer fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Coenan misses with a double jab.
Coenan throws a low kick but Mercer avoids it.
Mercer throws out a loose jab but Coenan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercer throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
We've been hearing reports that Coenan has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Mercer fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Coenan checks it well.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mercer. That's going to slow Coenan down.
Mercer missing with a left hand there. Coenan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Coenan stalks Mercer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mercer's face. Mercer staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Coenan looks to land a left hand but Mercer moved out of range nicely.
Coenan misses the shot to the body.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A jab from Coenan misses.
Alex Mercer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Mercer throws a looping overhand right but Coenan ducks down to avoid it.
Mercer lands a nice leg kick that just misses Coenan's sensitive parts.

Coenan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Coenan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Coenan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mercer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Coenan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercer keeps working.
The strikes coming from Coenan are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Coenan working the body and head with strikes.
Coenan lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Mercer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Coenan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mercer has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mercer taking a bit of punishment here - Coenan scoring with strikes.
Coenan scores with punches from side control.
Mercer avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Coenan.
Mercer parries the strikes from Coenan easily there. Coenan is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mercer to escape.
Mercer is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Coenan has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Mercer is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Coenan.
Coenan trying to control the position but Mercer is working away.
Mercer is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloppy strikes there by Coenan.
Coenan lands a decent elbow from side control.
Coenan throws a strike aimed at the side of Mercer's head but Mercer avoids it well.
Coenan tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Coenan working the strikes but Mercer uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Mercer is trying to maintain the position but Coenan is very close to passing his half guard.
Coenan throwing shots but Mercer is blocking nicely.
Coenan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is looking for a sweep. Coenan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mercer moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Coenan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Coenan wants to pass the guard but Mercer is keeping the position.
Mercer looking for a sweep. Not yet Mercer, not yet.

Coenan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Coenan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Coenan is in close to Mercer's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Coenan chips away with some ground and pound.
Mercer wants to sweep but no luck.
Coenan with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hildebrand Coenan dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mercer throws out a powerful jab.
A combination from Mercer does no damage.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses.
Nice cross by Coenan.

Mercer tries to keep at a distance but Coenan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Coenan tries a body shot but Mercer blocks it.

Coenan wants the takedown. Mercer is fighting it off but Coenan persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Mercer's guard against the cage.
Mercer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mercer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Coenan wants to get back to full guard.
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!

Mercer decides to return to a standing position.
Hildebrand Coenan is winning the standup battle so far.
Mercer shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Coenan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mercer can do to turn this around?
Coenan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Coenan manages to avoid it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mercer.
Coenan misses with a wild body shot.
Coenan lands a two punch combo.
Mercer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mercer tries a head kick but it misses.
Mercer ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mercer throws a low kick but it's checked well by Coenan.
Coenan throws an overhand right that lands on Mercer's shoulder, as Mercer tries to avoid the shot.
Mercer connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Coenan's hands.
Coenan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mercer.
Mercer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Some bone on bone action there as Coenan checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mercer scores with a spinning back kick!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercer missing with a left hand there. Coenan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Coenan tries to clinch but Mercer is having none of it.
Coenan misses the shot to the body.
Coenan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Coenan misses with a hook.
A jab from Coenan does it's job there.
Coenan throws a lazy right hand but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Coenan blocks a jab.
Coenan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Coenan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mercer.
Mercer ducks under a wild hook from Coenan.
Mercer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mercer cracks Coenan with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Mercer misses its intended target.

Coenan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Coenan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Coenan is trying to control the action in half guard but Mercer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mercer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Coenan.
Coenan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mercer wants to control but Coenan is keeping busy.
Coenan looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mercer with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Coenan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mercer wants to get back to his feet.
Hildebrand Coenan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mercer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Coenan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Coenan's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coenan breaks Mercer's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mercer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Coenan postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Coenan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercer 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Coenan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mercer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mercer wants to get back to his feet but Coenan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Coenan preventing the sweep.
Coenan trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Coenan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mercer swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Coenan lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Coenan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Coenan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Coenan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mercer paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mercer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nice shot lands for Coenan.
Coenan lands with a cross.
Coenan misses with the combination.
A lazy left from Mercer finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Mercer does it's job there.
Mercer walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Coenan checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mercer swats away the attempt to clinch by Coenan.
Nice takedown defense from Mercer. No joy for Coenan on that attempt.
Mercer keeps the fight on the outside.
Coenan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mercer.
Mercer moves out of range of the body kick from Coenan.
Coenan swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mercer counters with a solid body kick.
Coenan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mercer can pounce on him.
Coenan misses with the combination.
Coenan looks to land a left hand but Mercer moved out of range nicely.
Coenan swings for the body but Mercer moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Coenan pushes Mercer up against the cage in a clinch.
Mercer is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Coenan throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mercers head.
Coenan misses with a hook from the clinch.
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!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Coenan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Coenan goes for a takedown attempt but Mercer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hildebrand Coenan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercer shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Coenan eats them both and turns towards Mercer to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Coenan is rocked!
A punch combination from Mercer misses.
Coenan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hildebrand Coenan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercer loads up on a big right hand but Coenan slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Mercer misses.
Coenan loads up on a big right hand but Mercer slips the punch.

Coenan has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mercer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Coenan throws a shot from downtown. Mercer moves away and avoids it.
A nice combination there by Mercer.
Coenan throws a big shot that misses.
Mercer throws a jab when Coenan was well out of range.
Mercer moves forwards but Coenan connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mercer, right into the meat.
A decent looking cross lands there for Coenan.
Coenan wants to clinch.
Coenan fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercer throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Coenan counters with a right hand to the body.
Mercer throws a nice outside leg kick.
Donk. Coenan catches Mercer right on the button with a cross.

Mercer is rocked!

Coenan moves into range and clinches up with Mercer.
Mercer wants to get back to striking at distance but Coenan won't allow it.
Coenan throws a head punch that misses.
Mercer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Coenan can't find room to land a body shot as Mercer controls the action.
Coenan keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mercer's efforts to push away.

Mercer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mercer throws a sloppy head kick and Coenan moves out of range easily.
Mercer lands a lovely overhand right.
Mercer throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Mercer throws a head kick but Coenan moves out of range.
Mercer throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Alex Mercer just about did enough to take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A slow jab from Coenan misses its intended target.
Mercer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mercer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mercer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Coenan.
A lazy left from Coenan finds it's target.
Mercer tries to work over Coenan's front leg with a kick but Coenan checks it.
Coenan slips under a jab from Mercer.
Mercer sizes up Coenan with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Coenan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mercer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Coenan somewhat.
Mercer needs to keep his hands up - Coenan had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mercer.
Mercer looks to land a combination but Coenan avoids it well.
Coenan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mercer paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coenan throws a solid leg kick but Mercer takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Coenan.
Coenan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Coenan looks to land a combination but Mercer avoids it well.
Mercer lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Mercer throws a jab but it's blocked by Coenan.
Mercer walks into a jab.
Mercer throws an overhand right that lands on Coenan's shoulder, as Coenan tries to avoid the shot.
Mercer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Coenan.
Coenan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mercer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mercer stuffs the takedown.
Mercer misses with the combination.
Coenan misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Mercer.
Mercer checks a low kick from Coenan.
Mercer throws a leg kick which misses Coenan's front leg but catches the back leg as Coenan tries to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mercer lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Coenan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mercer sprawls well initially but Coenan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Coenan passes to side control.
Mercer manages to get back to half guard.
Mercer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Coenan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercer keeps working.
Coenan lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Coenan is working away from the top position though.
Coenan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mercer defending well though.
Coenan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mercer keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Coenan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Coenan is trying to work for a kimura but Mercer is defending well.
Mercer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Coenan throwing shots but Mercer is blocking nicely.
Coenan is keen to just control but Mercer is a slippery customer.
Coenan is thwarting Mercer's attempts to control the position.
Coenan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mercer defending well though.

Coenan is working for a kimura but Mercer is defending it quite comfortably.

Mercer manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Coenan keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Coenan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Hildebrand Coenan will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mercer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mercer lands with a kick to the ribs.
Mercer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mercer smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Coenan wants to clinch up but Mercer keeps it at a distance.
Coenan blocks a head kick by Mercer.
Coenan looks to land a left hand but Mercer moved out of range nicely.
Coenan with a nice cross.
Coenan moves out of range of the strikes.
Mercer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer throws a wild body kick that Coenan sees coming a mile off.
Mercer throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Coenan counter with a right hand.

Mercer gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Coenan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Coenan stopping the sweep attempt from Mercer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coenan trying to control but Mercer is working from the bottom.
Coenan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Coenan trying to control but Mercer is working from the bottom.
Mercer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mercer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Coenan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Coenan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mercer's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Coenan throwing strikes but missing.

Mercer is working an open guard so Coenan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Coenan throws an overhand right that lands on Mercer's shoulder, as Mercer tries to avoid the shot.
Coenan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Coenan throws out a loose jab but Mercer uses good head movement to avoid it.

Coenan shoots in and gets a takedown into Mercer's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Coenan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mercer is still in real trouble! Can Coenan finish him?
Coenan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mercer's head.
Coenan gets to his feet and stands over Mercer, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Mercer felt that one! Coenan unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Mercer from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hildebrand Coenan!
Hildebrand Coenan retains his welterweight title!
After winning the bout, Hildebrand Coenan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.