PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eddy Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddie Mercury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Fernandez
vs
Mercury

214 cm
19
161 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eddy Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Freddie Mercury!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercury throws a leg kick but Fernandez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Freddie Mercury seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mercury looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mercury throwing strikes but missing.
Mercury is looking to work some ground and pound but Fernandez has wrist control.
Fernandez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mercury is one step ahead there.
Fernandez wants to stand but Mercury is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercury is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez wants to sweep here but Mercury controlling him for the moment.

Fernandez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mercury uses it to pass to side control.
Mercury working the ground and pound but Fernandez is defending the strikes.
Fernandez is trying to work for a sweep but Mercury has mounted him!
Mercury content just to control the position here.
Fernandez is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercury looking to ground and pound but Fernandez is blocking nicely.
Mercury throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Fernandez is squirming around, avoiding Mercury's attempts to control the action.
Fernandez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mercury tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mercury looking to control but Fernandez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Fernandez working to try and regain half guard.
Mercury thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez throws a strike from the bottom but Mercury uses the opportunity to take his back.
Mercury controls the action.

Mercury is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Even with his hooks in, Mercury manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Fernandez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mercury missing with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercury is hanging on to Fernandez's back as he tries to escape.
What can Fernandez do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Mercury keeps control of the position as Fernandez tries to break free.
Mercury is looking to control Fernandez but Fernandez is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mercury keeps control of the position as Fernandez tries to break free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercury is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie Mercury dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mercury shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mercury thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fernandez's head.
Fernandez gets back to full guard.

Fernandez has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mercury is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Fernandez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernandez tries to bench press Mercury off him but Mercury keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercury is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fernandez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fernandez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fernandez passes into side control, despite Mercury's attempt to control the position.
Fernandez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mercury is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Fernandez has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez wants to control but Mercury is keeping him busy.
A control attempt from Mercury but he's now mounted!
Fernandez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mercury tries to lock up and control but Fernandez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Fernandez tries to control but Mercury wriggling away.
Fernandez looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercury is trying desperately to improve position.
Fernandez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mercury squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Fernandez trying to control but Mercury is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercury gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mercury is trying to maintain the position but Fernandez is very close to passing his half guard.
Fernandez trying to control from half guard but Mercury is working away.
Mercury wants to improve his position but Fernandez is controlling well.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mercury makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mercury.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fernandez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddy Fernandez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Mercury clinches up with Fernandez and pushes him back against the cage.
Fernandez is looking to control Mercury's arms but Mercury gets an underhook and turns him. Now Fernandez has his back to the cage.

Mercury has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Fernandez is trying to keep an underhook but Mercury manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Fernandez pushes Mercury off and gets back to his feet.
Mercury lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Mercury shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mercury was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fernandez is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez gets back to half guard.

Fernandez is defending against the submission attempts here by Mercury.
Fernandez is staying active underneath Mercury, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Fernandez won't allow Mercury to pass to mount.
Mercury prevents Fernandez from improving his position.

Fernandez actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Fernandez punching from the bottom.
Mercury looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mercury prevents Fernandez from improving his position.

Mercury is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Fernandez sees it coming and defends easily.

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

Mercury is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Fernandez's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mercury.
Fernandez is staying active underneath Mercury, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mercury works his way into full mount!
Mercury misses with a head shot.
Fernandez suckers Mercury into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Fernandez is now in Mercury's guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercury trying to strike off his back.
Mercury working a defensive guard but Fernandez passes into half guard.
Mercury won't allow Fernandez to pass to mount.
Fernandez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Fernandez stands up from half guard.
Fernandez swats away the attempt to clinch by Mercury.
It looked like Fernandez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mercury closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fernandez to the mat! Fernandez manages to get full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Freddie Mercury.
Well Mercury has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Freddie Mercury!