PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Luco Zade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Mera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mera comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Automatic - Monster kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Luco Zade has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zade
vs
Mera

177 cm
27
168 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

170 cm
27
160 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luco Zade!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Danny Mera!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mera throws a big shot that misses.
Mera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mera throws an off balance right hand

and Zade counters with a shoot takedown. Mera fights it but they end up in guard.
Mera manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zade manages to get himself to full guard.
Zade is trying to control the position but Mera postures up.
Mera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mera is in close to Zade's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zade striking off his back but it's not causing Mera any problems.
Mera wants to control from the top but Zade keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zade is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mera is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera strikes from the bottom but Zade uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Zade in the domination position with Mera hanging on.
Mera struggling a bit here.
Zade lands an elbow.
Zade lands some shots froms side control.

Mera throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Mera tries to close the distance and clinch but Zade swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zade fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mera avoids it really well and circles away.
A jab lands there for Mera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mera scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mera is thwarting Zade's attempts to control the position.
Zade has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mera trying to pass the guard but Zade defending well.

Zade pushes Mera off and gets back to his feet.

Mera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mera wants to control from the top but Zade keeps moving.
Mera stands up over Zade, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mera trying to control the position from guard on top but Zade is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mera trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zade is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mera is controlling him.
Zade trying to control the position.
Mera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zade looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mera is pushing down on Zade's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zade is fighting to maintain full guard but Mera has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zade taking some punishment here, with Mera in his half guard.
Zade controlling the position for now.
Zade pushes Mera off looking to stand but Mera dives back in and keeps control.
Mera lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mera wants to pass to mount but Zade is defending the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mera controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mera rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zade moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mera misses with an uppercut. Zade saw that one coming.
Luco Zade is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zade misses with a wild combination.

Zade changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mera looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Zade decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mera stuns Zade with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zade misses with a takedown
and Zade takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zade blocks a head kick by Mera.
Zade shoots for a takedown but Mera saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mera misses with a hook.
Zade tries for a takedown but Mera circles away easily

and Mera counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zade's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luco Zade. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zade looking to control.
Zade looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zade trying to control the position.
Zade has momentary wrist control but Mera slips an elbow through the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zade wants to stand but Mera is controlling the position.
Mera tries to free his leg and advance position but Zade is retaining full guard.
Mera in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zade keeping full guard, as Mera tries to pass.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mera won't allow Zade to get back to his feet.
Mera tries to free his leg and advance position but Zade is retaining full guard.
Mera passes Zade's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mera wants to control but Zade is keeping him busy.
Mera stalling.
Zade is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mera landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zade is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mera is trying to control. Zade wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mera is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
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!
Mera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zade defending well though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zade is trying to control but can't.
Mera missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mera missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Mera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mera lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mera fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Zade shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mera manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mera is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zade stands up out of Mera's guard for a moment - Mera manages to land a nice upkick.
Zade stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mera looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Zade wants to control from the top but Mera keeps moving.
Danny Mera has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Mera trying to keep a closed guard but Zade is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Danny Mera was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Zade shoots in for a double leg but Mera sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mera misses with a series of wild punches.
Mera tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zade sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mera somewhat.
Mera misses with a takedown attempt - Zade sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mera stuffs the takedown.
Mera throws a lazy uppercut

so Zade counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Zade throwing strikes from guard but Mera blocks nicely.
Zade postures up.
Zade passes into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zade prevents Mera from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zade seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mera does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Zade is looking for a kimura but Mera is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zade to get the leverage.
Mera is trying to maintain the position but Zade is very close to passing his half guard.
Zade wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mera keeps working.
Zade is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Zade wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mera keeps working.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mera keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zade fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luco Zade. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zade shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Danny Mera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mera manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mera trying to control but Zade postures up.
Mera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zade.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zade looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mera controlling the position for now.
Luco Zade has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Zade is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luco Zade showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mera has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Mera!
During a confident post fight interview, Danny Mera thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.