PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clay Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rollo Lothbrok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Rollo Lothbrok enters the cage!

Mercer
vs
Lothbrok

189 cm
43
220 lbs
27 - 16 - 0

198 cm
30
220 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Clay Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rollo Lothbrok!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lothbrok throws a big shot that misses.
Mercer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lothbrok closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The fighters circle momentarily. Mercer darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A jab from Lothbrok misses.
Lothbrok tries for a takedown but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lothbrok checks a leg kick.
Mercer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lothbrok moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mercer has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Hellfire Antechamber in the buildup to the fight.
Mercer connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lothbrok has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lothbrok takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mercer.
Lothbrok lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lothbrok is able to avoid easily.
Lothbrok throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lothbrok lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Clay Mercer has been cut.
Mercer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Clay Mercer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mercer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lothbrok.
Some wild striking there from Lothbrok.
It looked like Mercer was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Mercer throws an overhand right that lands on Lothbrok's shoulder, as Lothbrok tries to avoid the shot.
Mercer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Lothbrok uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mercer.
Lothbrok scores with a jab to the body.
Lothbrok slips under a jab from Mercer.
Lothbrok looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mercer walks into a straight right hand from Lothbrok.
Lothbrok throws a jab when Mercer was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lothbrok scores with a sloppy right hand. Mercer should have avoided that one.
Mercer lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lothbrok's sensitive parts.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercer ducks under a wild hook from Lothbrok.
Mercer swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mercer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lothbrok.
Lothbrok tries to close the distance and clinch but Mercer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A swing and a miss from Mercer.
Nice defenses there by Mercer.
Mercer scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mercer thuds his shin into the meat of Lothbrok's side.
Mercer thows a left - swing and a miss!

Lothbrok looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mercer is trying to maintain the position but Lothbrok is very close to passing his half guard.
Mercer is refusing to be controlled, as Lothbrok sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercer looking for submissions off his back.
Lothbrok trying to control from half guard but Mercer is working away.
Lothbrok takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Let's hope that Lothbrok has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lothbrok connects with a nice short shot to Mercer's temple.

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.
Lothbrok trying to mount his opponent but Mercer defends it.
Mercer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Still in half guard, Lothbrok seems content to control.
Lothbrok working the head and body with strikes.
Lothbrok is controlling the pace.
Lothbrok not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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 Clay Mercer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Clay Mercer's cut.
That's time! Mercer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A punch combination from Mercer misses.
Mercer swats away the attempt to clinch by Lothbrok.
Lothbrok tries for a takedown but Mercer circles away easily
and Mercer counters with a left to the body.

Mercer gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lothbrok to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mercer being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lothbrok got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mercer has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lothbrok has managed to get both his arms back between Mercer's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lothbrok trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lothbrok can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mercer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lothbrok throws an elbow that misses. Mercer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lothbrok's guard. Nice move by Mercer!

Mercer stops Lothbrok from standing up.
Lothbrok is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Lothbrok is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lothbrok keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
Lothbrok working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mercer.
Mercer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mercer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lothbrok wants to sweep here but Mercer controlling him for the moment.
Lothbrok pulls Mercer in close to prevent any damage.
Mercer has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lothbrok is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lothbrok looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mercer is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mercer moves away from the strike by Lothbrok.
Mercer swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lothbrok scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mercer swinging wildly here.

Lothbrok closes the distance and pushes Mercer back into the cage.
Mercer throws a punch but it's blocked by Lothbrok.
Mercer blocks an elbow strike.
Lothbrok wants a takedown but no success here.

Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercer lands with a hook. Lothbrok tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lothbrok looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lothbrok postures up and lands a big shot to Mercer's brow.

Mercer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lothbrok slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Mercer has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lothbrok is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Mercer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mercer throws Lothbrok to one side and escapes!
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 Clay Mercer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Clay Mercer's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lothbrok shoots in looking for a takedown. Mercer tries to sprawl out of it but Lothbrok keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mercer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A little feinted left hand from Mercer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nice uppercut lands for Mercer. That snapped Lothbrok's head back.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mercer. That's going to slow Lothbrok down.
Mercer misses with a left hand
and Lothbrok counters with a two punch combo.
Mercer scores with a punch to the head.
Lothbrok tries to clinch but Mercer moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lothbrok fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mercer, pushing him back against the cage.
Lothbrok wants a takedown but no success here.
Lothbrok has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mercer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Clay Mercer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rollo Lothbrok.
Lothbrok stalling the fight.
Mercer misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lothbrok is trying to trip Mercer. He has hold of a leg but Mercer is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Lothbrok persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Rollo Lothbrok has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mercer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Lothbrok stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Mercer throws up his legs and catches Lothbrok in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Lothbrok tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Mercer! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Clay Mercer!
In his post fight interview, Clay Mercer started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.