PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danjie Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Granger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercado comes to the cage accompanied by Pagsubok. Danjie Mercado could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to James Granger's chin.

Mercado
vs
Granger

168 cm
25
147 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

162 cm
26
143 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

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 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danjie Mercado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Granger!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Granger.
Mercado gets back to half guard.
Granger looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mercado with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mercado is looking for a sweep. Granger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Granger is thwarting Mercado's attempts to control the position.
Mercado is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at BigMouth Cabrons, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Mercado regains full guard. Nicely done.

Mercado working for a triangle but Granger defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercado trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Granger wants to control from the top but Mercado keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercado is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Mercado had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Granger defends it easily.
Granger trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Granger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Granger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mercado is keeping the position for now.
Mercado working a defensive guard here.
Granger trying to control but Mercado is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Granger looking to pass the guard.
Granger pushes down on Mercado's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Granger wants to advance to full mount but Mercado doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Granger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Granger throws a strike but Mercado rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Granger controls Mercado momentarily but Mercado frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Granger can't keep his opponent in guard - Mercado advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado trying to pass the guard but Granger defending well.
Mercado thows a huge punch but Granger dodges it nicely.
Mercado sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Granger defending well though.
Granger avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mercado.
Granger is trying to maintain the position but Mercado is very close to passing his half guard.
Granger is holding on to half guard well.
Mercado looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Granger with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Granger is not content to let Mercado control the position.
Granger is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granger keeps trying to improve his position.
Granger is trying to control but can't.
Mercado thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Granger's head.
Granger regains full guard. Nicely done.

Granger has his foot on Mercado's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mercado works his way back into a safe position though.
Mercado throws a big right hand that misses.
Mercado trying to control the position from guard on top but Granger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Granger tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mercado swats him away and circles back towards the center.
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 Danjie Mercado will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mercado swats away the attempt to clinch by Granger.

Mercado tries to keep at a distance but Granger has taken the fight into the clinch.

Granger has clasped his hands together around Mercado's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Mercado is looking for a sweep.
Mercado is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Granger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Granger is chipping away with strikes.
Granger working the head with strikes.
Granger working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Mercado manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mercado is thwarting Granger's attempts to control the position.
Mercado 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.
Granger preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Mercado scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado passes to full mount!
Granger wants to hold on but Mercado pushes him away.
Granger tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Poor strikes thrown by Mercado there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mercado prevents Granger from getting the reversal.
Mercado in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mercado misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mercado with good strikes from the mount here!
Mercado scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Granger is rocked!
Mercado unloads with some shots from mount but Granger bucks and avoids them well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granger gets back to half guard.
Mercado wants to lay and pray for a moment but Granger keeps working.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercado wants to free his trapped foot but Granger is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Granger trying to control but Mercado postures up.
Granger is controlling Mercado's trapped leg to prevent Mercado from advancing to side control.

Mercado is looking for a kimura here.
Mercado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado wants to lay and pray for a moment but Granger keeps working.
Granger is looking to improve his position.
Granger moves into full guard.
Mercado postures up.
Mercado trying to control but Granger is working from the bottom.
Granger is trying to keep Mercado in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Granger tries to clinch up.

Granger gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Granger 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.
Granger is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mercado wants to control from the top but Granger keeps moving.
Mercado looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danjie Mercado dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Granger clinches.
Mercado tries for a takedown. No joy.

Granger has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mercado regains guard immediately.

Mercado is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Granger defends well.

Mercado looking for a guillotine here but Granger defends easily.
Mercado keeping moving, preventing Granger from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercado is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mercado is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Granger throws a sloppy strike and Mercado has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Granger is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Mercado!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Danjie Mercado!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Danjie Mercado waved his t-shirt featuring FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)'s logo in front of the cameras.