PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danjie Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Crawford might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Kanye West- New Slave. Mercado comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Pagsubok kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Danjie Mercado will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Crawford
vs
Mercado

150 cm
26
135 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

168 cm
22
147 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danjie Mercado!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercado misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Crawford.
Mercado fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Crawford decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crawford seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Crawford wants to pass to mount but Mercado is defending the position.
Still in half guard, Crawford seems content to control.
Crawford trying to mount his opponent but Mercado defends it.
Crawford is trying to control. Mercado wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Crawford sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Michael Crawford just wasn't active enough.
Mercado has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Crawford pinned against the cage. Crawford gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Michael Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danjie Mercado.
Mercado misses with a takedown attempt

and Crawford holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Crawford turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Crawford advances nicely into full mount.
Mercado can't escape the position.
Crawford takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crawford seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mercado for as long as he can get away with.

Crawford wants to finish this one by submission but Mercado is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Crawford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford content just to control the position here.
Mercado regains half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crawford is taking a breather. Mercado says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Crawford has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Mercado actively working from the bottom here.
Crawford tries to pass to full mount but Mercado defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mercado tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Crawford sitting in guard here, content to control.
Crawford has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Crawford trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've been hearing that Crawford has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Mercado is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Crawford defends well.
Crawford content to stall in guard here.

Mercado has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Crawford can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Crawford pushing down on Mercado's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford stalling.

Mercado actively working from the bottom here.
Crawford not doing much here.

Mercado is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Crawford pulls his head out easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Crawford is working for a submission of some sort.
Mercado trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Crawford dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mercado misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Crawford.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mercado. Crawford does a little dance to reset his feet.

Mercado shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Crawford napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Crawford sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Crawford might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mercado scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Mercado is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Crawford looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mercado winds up and cracks Crawford with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
My spies in BigMouth Cabrons inform me that Mercado has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Mercado is trying to control the action in half guard but Crawford is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mercado missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Mercado looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Crawford is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mercado chips away with some ground and pound.
Crawford wants to stand but Mercado is controlling the position.
Michael Crawford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Crawford preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Crawford looking for a guillotine here but Mercado defends easily.
Mercado with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Crawford is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mercado trying to control but Crawford is working from the bottom.

Crawford has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mercado can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercado throws a big right hand that misses.

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

Crawford working for a triangle but Mercado defends it easily.
Mercado works over Crawford with some ground and pound from guard.
Mercado has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercado trying to control but Crawford is working from the bottom.

Crawford working for submissions but it's allowed Mercado to get to half guard.
Crawford is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Crawford wants to control but Mercado is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Crawford manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Crawford is looking for a triangle but Mercado pushes his legs off easily.
Mercado trying to control the position from guard on top but Crawford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Crawford throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Crawford can't keep his opponent in guard - Mercado advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Mercado is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Crawford is just riding it out for now. Mercado eventually gives up the hold.

Crawford looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mercado tries to pass to full mount but Crawford defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is looking for a sweep. Mercado is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mercado is controlling the pace.
Mercado trying to mount his opponent but Crawford defends it.
Mercado is looking to take a break and control but Crawford is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mercado scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mercado landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mercado is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Crawford has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mercado scoring with strikes to the body and head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crawford wants to improve his position but Mercado is controlling well.
Crawford avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mercado.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danjie Mercado showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Mercado tries for a takedown but Crawford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mercado thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from Mercado misses.
Mercado shoots for a takedown but Crawford saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mercado takes a swing at Crawford's ribcage but misses.
Nice sprawl there from Crawford as Mercado shoots in.
Michael Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danjie Mercado.
No luck for Mercado with that takedown attempt.
Mercado tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Crawford defends well and Mercado ends up having to push Crawford into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Crawford has clasped his hands together around Mercado's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercado keeps working.

Crawford thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Crawford tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Crawford has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mercado gets back to half guard.
Crawford prevents Mercado from improving his position.
Crawford wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercado keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mercado actively working from the bottom here.
Mercado manages to get to full guard.
Crawford's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mercado 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.
Crawford controls from within his opponent's guard.

Mercado is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Crawford is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is stalling in the full guard.
Crawford trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Michael Crawford has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Mercado shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Crawford's guard.
Mercado postures up.
Mercado slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Crawford is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mercado in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Crawford tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mercado passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Crawford!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crawford takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mercado lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Crawford is rocked!
Mercado scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Oh Crawford is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mercado lands a big elbow - Crawford is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Crawford is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Danjie Mercado!
Danjie Mercado took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Yeah I guess I came here to whoop that a**'.