PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antoino Lombardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Mera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antoino Lombardo has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Lombardo
vs
Mera

179 cm
29
145 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

168 cm
28
150 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antoino Lombardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Mera!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mera staying out of range there.
A big left from Lombardo misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lombardo digs a good hook to Mera's body.
Mera takes one on the button.
Mera ducks under a wild hook from Lombardo.
Lombardo throws a hook but Mera blocks it.
Lombardo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mera sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mera ducks under a wild hook from Lombardo.
No joy there for Lombardo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lombardo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Lombardo misses the target.
Lombardo catches Mera with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Mera has Lombardo up against the cage in a clinch.

Lombardo jumps guard.
Mera sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lombardo's guard.
Mera sitting and controlling from the half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mera is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera working Lombardo over with strikes.

Lombardo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mera passes the guard and advances to mount!
Mera cracks Lombardo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The referee warns Lombardo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Mera lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lombardo hang on?
Mera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lombardo is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mera throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Mera looking to ground and pound but Lombardo is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo wants to hold on but Mera pushes him away.
Mera sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mera wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Lombardo is squirming around, avoiding Mera's attempts to control the action.
Lombardo is trying desperately to improve position.
Lombardo is working hard here to advance position.
Mera forces the positional change into back control.
Mera not allowing Lombardo to control his hands.
Lombardo is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Mera is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Mera working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mera throwing damaging strikes from the back! Lombardo could be in trouble here!

Mera is looking for the choke from the back position but Lombardo is controlling his hands well.

Lombardo showing good submission defense here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lombardo is trying to break free.

Mera looking for the RNC.

Mera working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Mera lands punches and elbows.
Mera has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lombardo tries to escape but Mera has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mera has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Mera biding his time, controlling Lombardo.

Mera is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Mera 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, Lombardo has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Lombardo is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Mera is persistently looking for the submission but Lombardo is defending it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mera landing with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Mera dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lombardo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Meras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Mera takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lombardo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mera.
Nice jab there from Lombardo.
Mera slips under a jab.
A slow jab from Lombardo misses its intended target.
Lombardo tests Mera's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Lombardo misses the target.
A slow jab from Lombardo misses its intended target.
Lombardo slips a jab and a cross from Mera.
Mera has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mera there as he acknowledges the shot.

Mera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mera forces his way into half guard.

Lombardo looking for submissions off his back.
Mera is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombardo wants to improve his position but Mera is controlling well.

Mera is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mera seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lombardo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Mera is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Mera is trying to work for a kimura but Lombardo is defending well.
Still in half guard, Mera seems content to control.

Lombardo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lombardo actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lombardo looking for submissions off his back.

Mera wants to work for an arm triangle but Lombardo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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

Mera is looking for a kimura but Lombardo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mera to get the leverage.
Lombardo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Jose Mera has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lombardo looking for subs off his back but Mera has passed one foot through into half guard.
Mera passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mera is taking a breather. Lombardo 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.

Mera is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lombardo defends it well.
Mera is trying to control the action in half guard but Lombardo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lombardo trying to hold on to Mera's head to control him but Mera postures up.

Mera 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.
Lombardo tries to roll over but Mera keeps him under control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Mera is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lombardo defends it well.

Mera seems to be working for a kimura but Lombardo defends the submission attempt.
Mera is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Lombardo!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mera jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Lombardo manages to avoid the submission attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lombardo is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Mera 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. This is the final round!

Mera throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lombardo was covering up waiting for the punch and Mera finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mera trying to control the position from guard on top but Lombardo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Lombardo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mera slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Lombardo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mera defends well.
Mera passes Lombardo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Mera there.

Lombardo looking for a kimura from the bottom but Mera passes into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lombardo is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Mera is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Mera controlling from mount.
Lombardo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Mera has control of Lombardo's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lombardo regains control of the situation pretty easily.
A nice elbow there by Mera.

Mera looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lombardo is looking to improve his position but Mera isn't that keen on the idea.

Mera is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Lombardo has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Mera with shots to the head and body - Lombardo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mera trying to control but Lombardo is having none of it.
Mera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lombardo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Lombardo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Mera seems to be working for a kimura but Lombardo defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mera is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lombardo trying to hold on to Mera's head to control him but Mera postures up.

Mera is working for a submission of some sort.

Mera is looking for a kimura but Lombardo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mera to get the leverage.
Mera throwing shots but Lombardo is blocking nicely.

Mera is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lombardo defends it well.

Lombardo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Antoino Lombardo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mera takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Lombardo wants to control but Mera is keeping busy.
Mera looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Mera seems to be working for a kimura but Lombardo defends the submission attempt.

Mera is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lombardo sees it coming and defends easily.
Mera trying to control from half guard but Lombardo is working away.

Mera is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lombardo actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Mera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mera winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Mera!
Jose Mera gave a mention to Zipp Zapp(w. laundry:10%) in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).