PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Azim Kaarduu (ranked 3112 p4p, 2000 weight class) and Tyrese Mercado (ranked 293 p4p, 202 weight class). Tyrese Mercado will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kaarduu
vs
Mercado

173 cm
24
163
5 - 0 - 0

194 cm
26
155
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Sakura Style
Black Lab Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Azim Kaarduu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tyrese Mercado!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kaarduu pushes Mercado up against the cage in a clinch.
Mercado swings wildly with an uppercut but Kaarduu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercado misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kaarduu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kaarduu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mercado misses with some punches.
Mercado blocks an uppercut.

Kaarduu gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mercado can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mercado wants to stand and escape but Kaarduu is having none of it.
Mercado has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Alpha Brasil. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Mercado avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mercado preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mercado wants to stand up but Kaarduu is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Kaarduu trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaarduu distracts Mercado with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaarduu is looking to work some ground and pound but Mercado has wrist control.
Kaarduu working some strikes from top position.
Kaarduu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kaarduu throwing strikes from guard but Mercado blocks nicely.
Kaarduu stops Mercado from standing up.
Kaarduu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kaarduu lands a couple of digs.
Kaarduu works over Mercado with some ground and pound from guard.
Kaarduu postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kaarduu landing some decent shots from guard.
Kaarduu chips away with some ground and pound.
Kaarduu distracts Mercado with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kaarduu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaarduu landing some decent shots from guard.
Kaarduu trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaarduu looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaarduu throws a big right hand that misses.
Mercado is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kaarduu connects with a couple of short punches.
Mercado avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kaarduu lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercado is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kaarduu trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaarduu scoring with some ground and pound.
Kaarduu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kaarduu is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kaarduu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mercado keeping moving, preventing Kaarduu from controlling successfully.
Mercado wants to get back to his feet but Kaarduu passes into half guard.
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. Kaarduu connects with a nice short shot to Mercado's temple.
Kaarduu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mercado with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kaarduu is looking to take a break and control but Mercado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kaarduu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mercado with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mercado wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaarduu uses his free foot to push down on Mercado's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Mercado.
Mercado is in a horrible position here. Kaarduu smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kaarduu raining down hammerfists from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaarduu lands a heavy elbow.
Mercado tries to buck Kaarduu off but he can't manage it.
Kaarduu working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Mercado is rocked!
Mercado really wants to buck Kaarduu off and get back to his feet.
Mercado in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mercado is still in real trouble! Can Kaarduu finish him?
Kaarduu landing shots from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Azim Kaarduu dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mercado connects with a right hand. Kaarduu shakes it off.
Mercado seems to have recovered his senses.
Jab from Mercado.
Tyrese Mercado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kaarduu moves in looking to clinch but Mercado pushes him off.
Mercado connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Azim Kaarduu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercado lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Azim Kaarduu has been cut.
Mercado is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mercado catches Kaarduu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kaarduu wants to clinch.
Mercado takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Kaarduu is rocked!
Mercado circles away from the clinch attempt
and Mercado scores with a counter punch that sends Kaarduu to the canvas! Mercado smells blood - he's punishing Kaarduu with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Kaarduu has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tyrese Mercado!