PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rex Volkham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rex Volkham has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mercado
vs
Volkham

225 cm
18
151 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
24
141 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Likes musicals

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sonny Mercado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rex Volkham!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Volkham clinches with his opponent.
Volkham looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Volkham tries to work over Mercado's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Volkham has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mercado avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Mercado breaks from the clinch.
Mercado fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Volkham avoids it really well and circles away.
Mercado shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Volkham but Volkham pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mercado misses with a takedown attempt
and Volkham makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mercado scores with a takedown into Volkham's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mercado throws a big elbow that misses.
Mercado postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mercado postures up in Volkham's guard and throws a big left but Volkham blocks it.
Mercado scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mercado lands a couple of elbows.
Volkham is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mercado is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mercado shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Volkham but Volkham pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice takedown defense from Volkham. No joy for Mercado on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Volkham fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mercado closes the distance and clinches up with Volkham, looking for a takedown. Mercado pushes Volkham against the cage but Volkham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mercado connects with a leg kick. Volkham looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Mercado shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mercado seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mercado lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercado stands up out of the half guard.

Mercado throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Volkham tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mercado is in Volkham's guard.
Volkham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mercado is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mercado showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Volkham has momentary wrist control but Mercado slips an elbow through the middle.
Mercado postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mercado postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mercado landing with the ground and pound.
Mercado chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercado keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Volkham's head.
Mercado content to stall in guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Volkham closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Mercado dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mercado shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mercado showed some decent athleticism there.
Mercado slips a nice elbow through Volkham's hands, connecting with Volkham's forehead.
Mercado missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mercado controlling the action here.
Volkham wants to get back to full guard but Mercado has passed into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado taking a breather here.
Volkham is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado grinds an elbow into Volkham's temple.
Mercado will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mercado landing a few strikes.
Mercado working the ground and pound from side control.
Volkham takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Volkham struggling a bit here.
Mercado scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Mercado is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Volkham can do to turn this around?
Mercado landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Volkham looks to move to half guard but instead Mercado has passed into mount! Damn!
Mercado lands a heavy elbow.
Mercado landing strikes from the mount.
Mercado looking to finish Volkham with some ground and pound. This is bad for Volkham!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado dominating with strikes here.
Mercado working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mercado cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mercado with a couple of short strikes.
BOOM! Mercado connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mercado putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Mercado landing strikes from the mount and Volkham is in trouble!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mercado cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Volkham wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mercado looking to finish Volkham with some ground and pound. This is bad for Volkham!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado looking to finish Volkham with some ground and pound. This is bad for Volkham!
Mercado dominating with strikes here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercado in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
BOOM! Mercado connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mercado scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Volkham?
Mercado controlling his opponent.
Mercado with good strikes from the mount here!
Volkham in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mercado landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Mercado dominated that second round.
That's time! Mercado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mercado misses with a takedown attempt - Volkham sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by Volkham or perhaps it was just good defense by Mercado, which made it look bad.

Mercado closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Volkham's guard.
Mercado controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mercado stops Volkham from standing up.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Volkham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Volkham is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mercado closes this distance looking for a takedown but Volkham circles away.
Mercado fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercado shoots and misses

so Volkham counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mercado keeping moving, preventing Volkham from controlling successfully.

Mercado working for a triangle but Volkham defends it easily.

Mercado has his feet on Volkham's thighs here. He's pushed Volkham off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Volkham screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sonny Mercado!