PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clinton Duran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Duran
vs
Mercado

189 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Clinton Duran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Mercado!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duran shoots in looking for a takedown but Mercado manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Duran's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mercado pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mercado throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick by Mercado misses
and Duran counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mercado tries a head kick but it misses.
Mercado misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mercado lands a high kick!

It looks like Clinton Duran has been cut.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick and Duran moves out of range easily.
Mercado tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Mercado misses
and Duran connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercado throws a lazy head kick
and Duran counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mercado looks winded!

Duran dives in and scores a takedown into Mercado's guard.
Mercado wants to get back to his feet but Duran passes into half guard.

Duran is working for a submission of some sort.
Mercado pushes Duran off looking to stand but Duran dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duran seems to be working for a kimura but Mercado defends the submission attempt.

Duran wants to work for an arm triangle but Mercado is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mercado tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Duran manages to move to mount!

Duran has hold of Mercado's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mercado manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercado squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Duran wants to finish this one by submission but Mercado is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Duran.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mercado wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Duran looking for a guillotine from mount but Mercado is having none of it.
Mercado is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran looking to finish Mercado with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mercado!
Mercado is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Duran has taken his back!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Duran.

Duran is looking for the choke from the back position but Mercado is controlling his hands well.
Mercado has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Duran lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mercado controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercado defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercado trying to get back to his feet but Duran is in full control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Clinton Duran will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Clinton Duran's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Duran looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mercado is fending him off so far but Duran persists. Nope, Mercado circles away and we're back to standing.
Mercado throws a head kick that misses
and Duran connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick by Mercado misses
and Duran cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A head kick misses from Mercado.
Mercado tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
An inside leg kick from Duran misses.
Duran is looking to clinch but Mercado is avoiding it.
Mercado tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick
and Duran counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mercado tries a head kick but it misses.
Duran dives in and grabs Mercado's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mercado pushes down on Duran's head and hops out.
Mercado is breathing heavily.
Duran shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mercado pinned against the cage. Mercado gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clinton Duran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercado misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran dives in and grabs Mercado's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mercado pushes down on Duran's head and hops out.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Duran is defended easily by Mercado.
Clinton Duran is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercado throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A head kick by Mercado misses
and Duran counters with a thumping low kick.
Jose Mercado is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Duran looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A head kick by Mercado misses
enabling Duran to counter with a crisp jab.
A head kick misses from Mercado.
Mercado throws a head kick that misses
letting Duran counter with a right hand.
Mercado throws a head kick that misses
and Duran counters with a leg kick.

Duran dives in and scores a takedown into Mercado's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duran postures up in Mercado's guard and throws a big left but Mercado blocks it.
Mercado is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mercado is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Duran dives into side control.
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!
Mercado wants to get back to his feet but Duran is dominant here and he's now got Mercado's back!

Duran working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Mercado holding both Duran 's hands and preventing any damage.

Mercado manages to stand up with Duran still on his back. Eventually Duran drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Mercado.
A head kick by Mercado misses
and Duran counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Jose Mercado seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Duran looking to score a takedown here. Mercado is defending well but Duran drives through and ends up in Mercado's guard.
Mercado wants to get back to his feet but Duran is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mercado wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Duran manages to pass to side control.
Duran prevents Mercado from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado tries to kick Duran off in order to stand up. Duran Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Duran is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mercado has escaped the position, nice work there.

Duran looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mercado wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercado is looking to get back to his feet here but Duran is keeping cool and he's managed to take Mercado's back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Clinton Duran will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Clinton Duran's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Duran lands with a thumping leg kick.
Duran avoids the head kick by Mercado.
Duran shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mercado sprawls well. Mercado wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Duran gets slowly back to his feet.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick
and Duran counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Mercado is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Mercado pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Duran throws an overhand right that lands on Mercado's shoulder, as Mercado tries to avoid the shot.
Duran fails to land the takedown.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick
and Duran makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick
and Duran counters with a slapping leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Duran shoots in for a takedown but Mercado shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clinton Duran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercado throws a head kick that misses
and Duran counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mercado throws a head kick that misses
and Duran makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Mercado misses
and Duran counters with a left and a right that stings Mercado.
Jose Mercado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercado misses with a head kick.
Mercado's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick
and Duran counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mercado throws a nice head kick!
A head kick by Mercado misses
and Duran connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick misses from Mercado.
Mercado walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mercado tries a head kick but it misses.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Duran to counter with a crisp jab.
Mercado misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mercado throws a head kick that misses
and Duran counters with a head kick.
Mercado pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mercado pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercado tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick
and Duran counters with a three punch combo that has Mercado backing up. Mercado nods at Duran to acknowledge the strikes.
Duran is looking to clinch but Mercado is avoiding it.
Duran avoids the head kick by Mercado.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick and Duran moves out of range easily.
Duran blocks a head kick by Mercado.
Mercado tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mercado pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Mercado.
Mercado throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A head kick misses from Mercado.
Mercado throws a head kick that half lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercado throws a lazy head kick
and Duran counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mercado lands a high kick!
A head kick misses from Mercado.
Mercado throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mercado throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
Mercado throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
Mercado throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mercado lands with a kick to the temple. Duran shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Duran avoids the head kick by Mercado.
A head kick by Mercado misses
and Duran counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mercado's knee momentarily.
Mercado throws a lazy head kick
and Duran counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mercado misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Duran looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mercado is fending him off so far but Duran persists. Nope, Mercado circles away and we're back to standing.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick
and Duran counters with a thumping low kick.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick
and Duran counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A head kick misses from Mercado.
Mercado throws a sloppy head kick
and Duran makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A head kick by Mercado misses

and Duran counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercado tries to kick Duran off but Duran keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mercado pushes Duran off but Duran dives into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercado tries to escape but Duran is in control.
Jose Mercado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clinton Duran is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Mercado comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Duran has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clinton Duran!