PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tracy Flores (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romelu Mertens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romelu Mertens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Flores
vs
Mertens

215 cm
24
215 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

182 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tracy Flores!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Romelu Mertens!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mertens forces Flores back against the cage and clinches.
Flores misses with a punch on the inside.

Mertens turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Mertens manages to end up in side control.
Mertens tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Mertens tries to advance to mount but Flores instead regains half guard.
Mertens is stalling here. Flores is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Mertens seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Flores has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Mertens tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mertens is trying to control Flores's posture but Flores avoids it.
Mertens tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Flores presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Flores prevents Mertens from getting the reversal.
Mertens is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Flores manages to capitalize on a mistake by Mertens to take his back!

Flores looking for the choke but no joy.
Mertens tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flores is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Mertens is defending well though. Flores let's go of the attempt for now.
Mertens trying to control the hands but Flores breaks the grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flores punches Mertens on the ear.
Flores is working the ground and pound. Can Mertens escape?
Flores not allowing Mertens to control his hands.
Flores really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mertens tries to break free.
Flores is landing with strikes from the back.
Flores keeps control of the position as Mertens tries to break free.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Flores has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Mertens has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Flores keeps control of the position as Mertens tries to break free.
Mertens is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mertens wants to control his opponent's hands but Flores gets his hands free.
Flores trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Flores is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Mertens knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Mertens for a finish.
Flores is riding his opponent, not letting Mertens buck him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flores wants to control the position but Mertens frees himself and scrambles - Flores manages to regain control in side 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 Tracy Flores will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tracy Flores's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mertens looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mertens missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mertens is controlling the pace.
Mertens trying to control from Flores's half guard. Flores has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mertens looking to pass the guard.
Flores wants to get back to his feet but Mertens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mertens trying to control the position from guard on top but Flores is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mertens must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Romelu Mertens hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mertens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

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.
Flores keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Mertens drives through and clinches with Flores against the cage.

Mertens successfully pulls guard.
Flores in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mertens wants to hit a switch here but Flores passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Mertens there!
Flores controlling the position easily from mount.
Mertens sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mertens gets back to full guard.

Mertens is working an open guard so Flores takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Mertens drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mertens tries to advance to mount but Flores denies him.

Mertens swings around for an armbar but Flores sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mertens's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mertens wants to stand and escape but Flores is having none of it.
Flores will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mertens is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mertens is breathing heavily.
Flores throwing strikes from guard but Mertens blocks nicely.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Flores's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mertens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Flores with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Flores drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mertens dives on top into guard.
Mertens trying to control the position from guard on top but Flores is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romelu Mertens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tracy Flores's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mertens swinging wildly here.
Flores tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mertens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Flores somewhat.

Flores tries to sprawl but Mertens drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mertens looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Flores moves into full guard.
Flores is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flores is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mertens showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Romelu Mertens hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mertens throws a body kick that misses
and Flores counters with a series of strikes. Mertens will be more careful next time no doubt.

Flores gets tackled into the cage by Mertens. Mertens maintains the clinch.

Mertens drags the fight down to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mertens had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Flores defends it easily.
Flores throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Flores in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Flores won't allow Mertens to get back to his feet.
Flores postures up.

Mertens looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Flores has picked Mertens up and slammed him! Mertens can't keep hold of the triangle and Flores manages to pass to side control!
Mertens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Flores moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Mertens is trying to control Flores's posture but Flores avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flores stands up.
Mertens pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Flores closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Flores prevents Mertens from improving his position.
Flores throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Flores is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mertens blocking the ground and pound attempt from Flores.
Flores lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Flores thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Flores is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mertens sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mertens wants to get back to full guard but Flores has mounted him!
Flores sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tracy Flores.
I think Flores has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Tracy Flores!