PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darrian Ashoka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Mercury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercury is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by you got another thing comin'. Mark Mercury told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ashoka
vs
Mercury

180 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
192 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Sublime Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darrian Ashoka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Mercury!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Lou da Vinci and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercury lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Ashoka sprawling to the canvas. Mercury follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Ashoka hang on?

It looks like Darrian Ashoka has been cut.

Mercury wants to work for an arm triangle but Ashoka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ashoka tries to get to full guard but Mercury has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercury missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mercury is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Mercury is trying to work for a kimura but Ashoka is defending well.
Ashoka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ashoka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mercury doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mercury manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mercury must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercury accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ashoka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Ashoka working for a triangle but Mercury defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashoka looking for a sweep. Not yet Ashoka, not yet.
Mercury scoring with some ground and pound.

Ashoka looking for a guillotine here but Mercury defends easily.
Ashoka is breathing heavily.

Mercury is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ashoka is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ashoka has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mercury wants to stand and escape but Ashoka is having none of it.

Ashoka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Mercury looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ashoka has picked Mercury up and slammed him! Mercury can't keep hold of the triangle and Ashoka manages to pass to side control!
Mercury tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Mercury sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercury striking from half guard on the bottom.
Mercury wants to improve his position but Ashoka is controlling well.
Ashoka looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ashoka not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Mercury actively working from the bottom here.
Mercury landing a few short strikes.
Mercury is pressing down on Ashoka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Ashoka is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Mercury working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ashoka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ashoka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mercury lands some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercury escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ashoka gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Mercury has his foot on Ashoka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ashoka works his way back into a safe position though.
Mercury throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ashoka prevents Mercury from getting back to his feet.
Ashoka trying to control but Mercury is working from the bottom.
Mercury wants to stand up but Ashoka is controlling him.

Ashoka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ashoka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Mercury manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Mercury shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mercury showed some decent athleticism there.

Mercury is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashoka regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ashoka working for a triangle but Mercury defends it easily.
Mercury works over Ashoka with some ground and pound from guard.
Mercury is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercury scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mercury postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ashoka has momentary wrist control but Mercury slips an elbow through the middle.
Mercury works over Ashoka with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Mercury dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Darrian Ashoka's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mercury throws a head kick that Ashoka semi-blocks.

Ashoka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mercury is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ashoka pulls his head out easily.
Mercury punching from the bottom.
Ashoka takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Still in half guard, Ashoka seems content to control.
Mercury misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Ashoka is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mercury doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ashoka.
Mercury gets back to full guard.
Ashoka tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercury is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercury looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ashoka is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ashoka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Mercury working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ashoka has passed into half guard!
Ashoka works his way into side control.
Mercury stops Ashoka from passing to mount.
Mercury is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Mercury is looking for a sweep. Ashoka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashoka trying to pass the guard but Mercury defending well.
Mercury punching from the bottom.

Ashoka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mercury throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mercury tries to clinch up but Ashoka circles away and keeps his distance.

Mercury closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mercury lands in his opponent's guard.
Mercury wants to get up but he can't break Ashoka's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Ashoka is looking to sinch up a triangle. Mercury throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Ashoka's body to avoid the submission. Ashoka has instead reached around Mercury's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Ashoka arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Darrian Ashoka!