PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jarvis Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Crow Dren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Mercado
vs
Dren

218 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
262 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jarvis Mercado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Crow Dren!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Ben Hemmingworth and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dren clinches.
Mercado blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dren.
Mercado is trying to break free.
Dren jumps guard but Mercado turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Dren tries to break free but Mercado pushes him back against the cage.

Mercado's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dren misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Dren gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Dren decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dren seems keen to control Mercado's posture.
Mercado is looking to work some ground and pound but Dren has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado trying to control but Dren is working from the bottom.
Mercado cracks Dren with a solid left hand.

Dren working for a triangle but Mercado defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dren is trying to keep Mercado in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercado postures up and lands a big shot to Dren's brow.
Dren has a closed guard, preventing Mercado from standing up.
Mercado working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mercado postures up in Dren's guard and throws a big left but Dren blocks it.
Dren controls Mercado momentarily but Mercado frees himself.
Dren has a closed guard, preventing Mercado from standing up.
Dren looking for a sweep. Not yet Dren, not yet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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.
Mercado seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dren closes the distance and clinches.
Mercado tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dren smiles and moves away.

Dren takes the fight into the clinch.
Mercado is pressed up against the cage. Dren has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mercado down to the mat. Mercado avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dren misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dren throws a head kick but Mercado moves out of range.
Mercado drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dren sprawls and moves away.

Dren forces Mercado back against the cage and clinches.
Dren is trying to break free.
Mercado tries to stall but Dren uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mercado managing to block the knees to the body from Dren.

Dren manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dren controls Mercado momentarily but Mercado frees himself.
Mercado throws a big elbow that misses.
Mercado scoring with punches to the head and body.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mercado postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mercado distracts Dren with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mercado postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado is stalling in the full guard.
Dren is trying to control the position but Mercado postures up.
Mercado postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dren wants to stand up but Mercado is controlling him.
Mercado will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mercado thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dren tries for a takedown but Mercado sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mercado feinted with a counter takedown.
Jarvis Mercado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crow Dren.
Dren misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dren shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mercado defends it nicely.
Dren tries for a takedown but Mercado circles away easily

and Mercado moves into the clinch.

Mercado's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Dren moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dren fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mercado defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dren.
Jarvis Mercado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crow Dren.

Dren closes the distance and clinches.

Mercado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dren misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dren misses with a combination

and Mercado moves into the clinch.
Mercado looking to slow down the pace here.

Mercado escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mercado takes the fight into the clinch.
Mercado misses with a hook to the ribs.

Mercado manages to break the clinch.
Mercado thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dren feints the counter takedown.

Dren takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dren prevents the takedown attempt.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mercado taking a breather.

Mercado manages to break the clinch.

Dren has Mercado up against the cage in a clinch.
Mercado looking to slow down the pace here.

Mercado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Dren gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dren scores with a shot to the side of Mercado's head.
Mercado is pressed up against the cage. Dren has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mercado down to the mat. Mercado avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dren changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mercado tries to avoid it but Dren manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mercado to the ground. Mercado escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As Dren tries to get set, Mercado tries to push him back and clinch up but Dren manages to avoid the attempt.
Dren slips under a jab from Mercado.

Dren closes the distance and pushes Mercado back into the cage.

Mercado pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dren tries to land a leg kick but Mercado saw it coming and moves away.
Dren dives in and grabs Mercado's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mercado pushes down on Dren's head and hops out.
Dren just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMercado.
Dren dives in for a single leg takedown but Mercado sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Dren is breathing heavily.
Dren shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mercado as he jumps to the side.
As Dren tries to get set, Mercado tries to push him back and clinch up but Dren manages to avoid the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dren closes the distance and clinches.
Crow Dren seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Mercado breaks from the clinch.

Dren closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mercado stalling.
Mercado wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mercado tries to pull guard but Dren holds him up against the cage and eventually Mercado drops back down to his feet.

Mercado breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice takedown defense from Mercado. No joy for Dren on that attempt.
Mercado wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dren darts in and clinches Mercado up against the cage.
Dren keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mercado's efforts to push away.

Mercado breaks the clinch.
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 Jarvis Mercado will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Mercado closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Mercado pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercado avoids the body shot from Dren.
Dren shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mercado as he avoids it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Mercado misses the target.
Dren throws a leg kick but Mercado sees it coming and checks it nicely.

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

Mercado breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dren will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mercado wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Dren shoots in looking for a takedown. Mercado tries to sprawl out of it but Dren keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mercado manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mercado wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Jarvis Mercado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crow Dren.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dren with a poor takedown

and Mercado counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dren takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mercado tries a body shot but Dren blocks it.
Mercado is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Mercado breaks from the clinch.
Dren looks to land a left hand but Mercado moved out of range nicely.
Mercado connects with a looping right hand.
A head kick misses from Dren.

Dren gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mercado escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercado keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mercado is looking to counter the offense by Dren and move into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dren closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mercado's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Mercado escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dren moves into range and clinches up with Mercado.
Dren is trying to break the clinch but Mercado is controlling him.
Dren gets through Mercado's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Mercado's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dren fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dren doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mercado moves into the clinch.
Dren has had enough of the clinch but Mercado keeps him there for the moment.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mercado.
Dren tries to pull guard but Mercado won't allow it.

Mercado breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dren avoids the head kick by Mercado.
A leg kick checked by Mercado.
Dren shoots in looking for a takedown but Mercado manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dren's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mercado seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Mercado lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Mercado as Dren shoots in.
Jarvis Mercado is winning the standup battle so far.

Dren instigates a clinch.

Mercado escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercado misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mercado scores with a head kick.
Mercado pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Dren moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dren is trying to force a seperation but Mercado has the dominant position.
Mercado misses with a punch to the body.
Mercado stalling against the cage.

Mercado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jarvis Mercado showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mercado 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarvis Mercado!