PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michal Kucharski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danjie Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercado is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Pagsubok. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kucharski
vs
Mercado

177 cm
28
144 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

168 cm
27
147 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Good chin

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michal Kucharski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danjie Mercado!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kucharski throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mercado feints the counter takedown.

Kucharski bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kucharski postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Mercado has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Mercado takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Mercado is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercado can't do much from the bottom here.
Mercado is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Kucharski looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kucharski scoring with punches and elbows.
Mercado wants to control but Kucharski postures up.
Mercado managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kucharski.
Kucharski works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kucharski looks up at the clock and then as Mercado takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kucharski smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mercado manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kucharski wants to improve his position but Mercado is controlling well.
Mercado trying to mount his opponent but Kucharski defends it.
Kucharski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mercado is thwarting Kucharski's attempts to control the position.
Kucharski regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mercado chips away with some ground and pound.
Mercado passes Kucharski's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mercado thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kucharski won't allow Mercado to pass to mount.
Mercado is thwarting Kucharski's attempts to control the position.
Mercado passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mercado tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mercado has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mercado fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kucharski is looking to reverse the position.
Kucharski manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
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!
Kucharski trying to pass the guard but Mercado defending well.
Kucharski seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kucharski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mercado is trying to get back to full guard.

Kucharski wants to work for an arm triangle but Mercado is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mercado is trying is best to control the position here.
Kucharski 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado manages to get to full guard.

Kucharski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kucharski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kucharski tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercado is retaining full guard.
Kucharski postures up and lands a big shot to Mercado's brow.
Mercado can't keep his opponent in guard - Kucharski advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kucharski not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mercado trying to hold on to Kucharski's head to control him but Kucharski postures up.
Kucharski passes to side control.
Mercado struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado is looking for a sweep.
Mercado defending against the ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by Kucharski.

Kucharski looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mercado is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kucharski off and has taken his back!
Mercado keeps control of the position as Kucharski tries to break free.
Mercado lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
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!
Kucharski is taking damage to the body and head.
Kucharski trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercado is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Mercado gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Mercado gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Mercado apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Mercado closes the distance and clinches up with Kucharski, looking for a takedown. Mercado pushes Kucharski against the cage but Kucharski circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kucharski feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Kucharski dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mercado avoids the head kick by Kucharski.

Kucharski fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mercado to the ground. Kucharski is now in Mercado's guard.
Mercado preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kucharski postures up.

Kucharski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mercado can't keep his opponent in guard - Kucharski advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kucharski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mercado's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kucharski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mercado's head.
Kucharski prevents Mercado from improving his position.
Kucharski tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mercado knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mercado is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado moves into full guard.
Kucharski throws a big elbow that misses.
Mercado is trying to control the position but Kucharski postures up.

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

Mercado has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kucharski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kucharski trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mercado looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Kucharski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mercado has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kucharski has managed to get both his arms back between Mercado's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kucharski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kucharski preventing the sweep.
Kucharski throwing strikes from guard but Mercado blocks nicely.
Kucharski wants to control from the top but Mercado keeps moving.
Kucharski works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Kucharski is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mercado doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kucharski.

Mercado actively working from the bottom here.

Kucharski 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado gets back to full guard.
Kucharski won't allow Mercado to sweep him here.
Kucharski's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kucharski wants to control from the top but Mercado keeps moving.
Kucharski postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kucharski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mercado can do to turn this around?
Kucharski throwing strikes but missing.
Kucharski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mercado is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kucharski throws a strike but Mercado rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mercado wants to control from the top but Kucharski keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kucharski is on top in guard.

Kucharski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kucharski passes into half guard.
Mercado tries to roll over but Kucharski keeps him under control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kucharski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercado keeps working.
Mercado is looking to control Kucharski's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mercado avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Kucharski dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mercado shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kucharski sprawls well. Kucharski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mercado gets slowly back to his feet.
Kucharski misses with a wild combination.
Mercado drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kucharski defends it well.
Mercado defending well as Kucharski loads up on a big left hand.
Mercado looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A punch combination from Kucharski misses.
Kucharski missing with a left hand there. Mercado was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mercado.
Kucharski is trying to control Mercado's posture but Mercado avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kucharski managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mercado.
Mercado landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Mercado lands some shots froms side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercado is trying to get an arm triangle but Kucharski is defending well.
Mercado trying to control the action but Kucharski is working from the bottom.
Mercado looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kucharski is avoiding damage well.
Kucharski wants to control but Mercado postures up.
Michal Kucharski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mercado in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kucharski sneaks back into half guard.
Kucharski tries to roll over but Mercado keeps him under control.
Kucharski wants to control but Mercado is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mercado wants to pass the guard but Kucharski is defending well.
Mercado throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kucharski is looking to improve his position.
Mercado frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mercado with a couple of short strikes.
Kucharski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mercado lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Mercado prevents Kucharski from getting the reversal.
Mercado lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercado with shots to the head and body - Kucharski looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kucharski slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado is thwarting Kucharski's attempts to control the position.

Kucharski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mercado looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kucharski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Mercado seems to be looking for submissions.

Mercado seems to be looking for submissions.
Mercado is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kucharski tries to roll over but Mercado keeps him under control.
Mercado scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mercado trying to control from half guard but Kucharski is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mercado throwing shots but Kucharski is blocking nicely.
Kucharski holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kucharski tries to get to full guard but Mercado has control of the leg.
Kucharski gets full guard.

Mercado got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kucharski has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mercado has managed to get both his arms back between Kucharski's legs - danger averted.
Mercado content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mercado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kucharski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mercado preventing the sweep.
Danjie Mercado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michal Kucharski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kucharski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mercado.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danjie Mercado comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kucharski 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michal Kucharski!
A less than humble Michal Kucharski misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
In defeat, Danjie Mercado stepped up to the mic, saying 'Well, what can I say man. He's the better man today. I'll be back. '.