PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reece Crane (ranked 4011 p4p, 5150 weight class) and Marc Antoine Mercier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marc Antoine Mercier is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Crane
vs
Mercier

178 cm
25
182
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
179
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Reece Crane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marc Antoine Mercier!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercier looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Mercier has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Mercier gets a takedown into half guard.

Mercier seems to be working for a kimura but Crane defends the submission attempt.
Crane wants to get back to full guard but Mercier has passed into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercier working away.
Mercier tries to advance to mount but Crane denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercier trying to control the action but Crane is working from the bottom.
Crane tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mercier wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Mercier wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Crane, who protects the arm well.
Crane can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crane is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Crane is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mercier's leg. Oh but that's left an opportunity for Mercier! He's got an arm triangle... it looks tight! He's rotating and Crane has tapped! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:08 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Marc Antoine Mercier!
Marc Antoine Mercier seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.