PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Mercer (ranked 1746 p4p, 202 weight class) and Bornas Lopette (ranked 3161 p4p, 324 weight class). Mercer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Sleep Now In The Fire. Lopette comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Root Of All Evil kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Mercer
vs
Lopette

184 cm
43
182 lbs
34 - 25 - 0

190 cm
41
183 lbs
35 - 23 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 34 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 23 - 3, fighting out of New York, Bornas Lopette!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Mercer.
Mercer checks a low kick from Lopette.

Mercer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mercer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lopette backwards.
Lopette misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mercer.
Lopette missing with knees to the body.
Mercer swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Mercer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mercer fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lopette is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mercer with a body shot.
Mercer fails with a takedown attempt.
Mercer darts in trying to clinch
and Lopette counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopette misses with a low kick.
Mercer chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lopette can pounce on him.
Mercer tries to clinch up but Lopette circles away and keeps his distance.
Lopette throws a wild body kick that Mercer sees coming a mile off.
Mercer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Mercer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer staying out of range there.
Mercer fails with a takedown attempt.
Lopette stuffs the takedown.
Mercer is looking to clinch but Lopette is avoiding it.
Mercer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lopette pinned against the cage. Lopette gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mercer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lopette.
Lopette displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mercer.
Lopette throws a chopping leg kick but Mercer manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lopette throws a sloppy head kick and Mercer moves out of range easily.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lopette swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lopette throws an off balance right hand
and Mercer counters with a low kick, right behind Lopette 's knee.
Lopette punishes Mercer's body with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopette swings for the body but Mercer moves out of range.
Bornas Lopette is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mercer throws a hook to the side of Lopette's head but Lopette sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mercer fails with a takedown attempt.
Mercer takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Mercer gets a double leg takedown into Lopette's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mercer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Mercer gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Lopette goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopette misses with an uppercut. Mercer saw that one coming.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lopette as he jumps to the side.
Lopette connects with a looping right hand.
Mercer misses with a takedown attempt
and Lopette counters with a nice uppercut.
Mercer looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Mercer tries to clinch up but Lopette circles away and keeps his distance.
Mercer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lopette appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A cross from Lopette lands.
Mercer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lopette.
Mercer fails with the takedown
and Lopette counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lopette swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mercer avoids the body shot from Lopette.
Mercer tries to clinch there but Lopette circles away.
Lopette is looking to slow Mercer down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer misses with a double jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lopette circles away.
Lopette pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A left lands for Mercer.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lopette swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Mercer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mercer lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lopette.
Lopette lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Lopette breaks from the clinch.
Mercer closes the distance and clinches up with Lopette, looking for a takedown. Mercer pushes Lopette against the cage but Lopette circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mercer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lopette manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mercer checks a leg kick.
Lopette jabs Mercer right on the nose. Mercer blinks but takes it well.
Lopette stuns Mercer with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mercer shoots for a double leg takedown but Lopette sprawls well. He's pushed Mercer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bornas Lopette dominated that round.
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.

Mercer looks to land a right hand but Lopette moved out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mercer.
Mercer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mercer shoots for a double leg takedown but Lopette sprawls well. He's pushed Mercer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Mercer looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lopette keeping control of the position.

Mercer is working for a kimura but Lopette is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopette trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopette is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mercer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mercer's back!
Lopette slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Mercer trying to control the position but Lopette manages to sink in the hooks.
Lopette controlling well, preventing Mercer from escaping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercer just trying to survive but Lopette is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Lopette controlling well, preventing Mercer from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is working hard here to advance position.

Mercer manages to escape to his feet.
Lopette throws a leg kick but Mercer sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Mercer closes the distance and clinches up with Lopette, looking for a takedown. Mercer pushes Lopette against the cage but Lopette circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Mercer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Lopette as Mercer shoots in.
Lopette lands a two punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lopette with a jab.
Lopette loads up on a big right hand but Mercer slips the punch.
Mercer takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Mercer tries to clinch there but Lopette circles away.

Mercer decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mercer wants to control but Lopette is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer wants to free his trapped foot but Lopette is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Alex Mercer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lopette keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lopette wants to improve his position but Mercer is controlling well.
Mercer is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Mercer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lopette defends it well.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Mercer is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lopette sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mercer shoots for a double leg takedown but Lopette sprawls well. He's pushed Mercer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mercer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lopette.

Mercer looking to score a takedown here. Lopette is defending well but Mercer drives through and ends up in Lopette's guard.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mercer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mercer being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bornas Lopette showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 looks for a takedown but Lopette sprawls well.
Lopette stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lopette wants it to stay on the feet.
Mercer dives in for a single leg takedown but Lopette sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Lopette unleashes a big counter combination but Mercer bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Mercer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopette thuds his shin into the meat of Mercer's side.
No luck for Mercer with that takedown attempt.
Lopette scores with a jab. Mercer acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Mercer just misses with a punch to the body.
A leg kick checked by Mercer.
Mercer shoots for a takedown but Lopette saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopette tests Mercer's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lopette keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bornas Lopette seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lopette lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopette scores with a push kick.
Lopette chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lopette stuffs the takedown attempt from Mercer. Mercer gets slowly back to his feet.
Lopette has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lopette stuffs the takedown.
A nice side step and Lopette releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Lopette lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mercer's sensitive parts.
Lopette scores with a kick to the body.
Lopette lands with an uppercut that bounces Mercer off the cage and back into range.
Lopette connects with a solid leg kick.
Mercer gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lopette lands an overhand right.
Lopette moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lopette lands with an overhand left.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A telegraphed right hand from Lopette misses the target.
Mercer is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Lopette misses with a body kick.
Lopette lands with a kick to the temple. Mercer shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopette cracks Mercer with a good jab.
Nice cross by Lopette.
Lopette has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Lopette tests Mercer's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Mercer is rocked!
Lopette lands the left hand.
Oh Mercer is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lopette swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lopette drops Mercer with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Mercer! Lopette dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bornas Lopette!
Our winner, Bornas Lopette, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.