PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Theodore Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eli Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mercado
vs
Thompson

219 cm
21
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Theodore Mercado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eli Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thompson moves into the clinch.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice sprawl there from Mercado as Thompson shoots in.
Thompson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mercado avoids it really well and circles away.
Mercado really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Thompson rushes Mercado and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mercado prevents a takedown attempt there.
Theodore Mercado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eli Thompson.
Mercado jumps guard but Thompson stands there with Mercado around his waist. Mercado gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Thompson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mercado uses from the top position.

Thompson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mercado gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercado gets to his feet - Thompson follows without any prompting.
Mercado stuffs the takedown attempt from Thompson. Thompson gets slowly back to his feet.
Thompson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mercado's waist but Mercado gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thompson off to one side.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt - Mercado sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A left and a right from Thompson both land. Nice combination.
Nice sprawl there from Mercado as Thompson shoots in.
Thompson looks winded!
Thompson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throws a sloppy head kick
and Mercado cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thompson dives in for a single leg takedown but Mercado sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mercado tries to pull guard but Thompson holds him up against the cage and eventually Mercado drops back down to his feet.

Mercado pulls guard successfully.
Mercado will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Thompson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercado trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Thompson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mercado is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Thompson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mercado is keeping the position for now.
Mercado thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Thompson controlling from the top position.
Mercado will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thompson stands and throws Mercado's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mercado tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is staying tight to Mercado's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Mercado regains half guard, as Thompson was trying to land strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Thompson dominated that round.
That's time! Mercado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thompson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Thompson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mercado can't find room to land a body shot as Thompson controls the action.
Thompson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Mercado is trying to force a seperation but Thompson has the dominant position.
Thompson wants a takedown.
The referee calls for Thompson to work.
Thompson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mercado is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado tries to pull guard but Thompson won't allow it.
Mercado is looking to control Thompson's arms but Thompson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mercado has his back to the cage.
Thompson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mercado tries to pull guard but Thompson holds him up against the cage and eventually Mercado drops back down to his feet.
Thompson tries to pull guard but Mercado holds him up against the cage and eventually Thompson drops back down to his feet.
Theodore Mercado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eli Thompson.
Mercado tries to score a body lock takedown but Thompson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mercado jumps guard but Thompson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mercado is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants a takedown but no success here.

Mercado has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Thompson uses from the top position.
Mercado striking off his back but it's not causing Thompson any problems.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson passes into half guard.
Thompson wants to take a breather but Mercado is having none of it.
Thompson trying to pass the guard but Mercado defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado missing with punches from the bottom.
Thompson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.
Mercado tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mercado won't allow Thompson to pass to mount.
Thompson blocks the strikes from Mercado.
Mercado is refusing to be controlled, as Thompson sits in half guard.

Thompson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mercado is just riding it out for now. Thompson eventually gives up the hold.
Mercado won't allow Thompson to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Thompson 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! This is the final round!

Mercado dodges the punch combination from Thompson.
Mercado tries to clinch up but Thompson circles away and keeps his distance.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt.
Mercado stuffs the takedown attempt from Thompson. Thompson gets slowly back to his feet.

Thompson moves into the clinch.
Mercado tries to pull guard but Thompson holds him up against the cage and eventually Mercado drops back down to his feet.
Thompson effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thompson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mercado's waist but Mercado gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thompson off to one side.
Theodore Mercado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eli Thompson.

Thompson moves into the clinch.
Thompson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mercado smiles and moves away.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice takedown defense from Mercado. No joy for Thompson on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mercado but Mercado pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Mercado has Thompson up against the cage in a clinch.
Mercado tries a body shot but Thompson blocks it.
Thompson stops a takedown attempt from Mercado.
Thompson tries to land a knee to the head but Mercado blocks with his arms.
Mercado tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thompson smiles and moves away.

Thompson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mercado to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Thompson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mercado throwing strikes but missing.
Mercado is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado wanted to stand there but Thompson had control of the position.
Mercado throws a big elbow that misses.

Mercado gets to his feet. Thompson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Thompson fails with the takedown.
Theodore Mercado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice shot lands for Mercado.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercado fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Theodore Mercado showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thompson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eli Thompson!