PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danjie Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercado's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Pagsubok. Danjie Mercado is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Mercado
vs
Pettis

168 cm
32
147 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

176 cm
33
144 lbs
18 - 18 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Danjie Mercado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Jeremy Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pettis gets caught napping as Mercado dives in and scores a takedown. Pettis manages to retain guard.
Mercado trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mercado throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mercado loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mercado throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercado trying to control but Pettis is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado looking to pass the guard.
Mercado pushing down on Pettis's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado prevents Pettis from standing back up.
Mercado lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mercado looks to land a strike but Pettis avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Pettis is looking to stand up but Mercado isn't so interested in that idea.
Mercado postures up in Pettis's guard and throws a big left but Pettis blocks it.
Pettis wants to stand up but Mercado is controlling him.
Mercado postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mercado won't allow Pettis to get back to his feet.
Mercado looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
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.
Mercado pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pettis is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercado with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pettis wants to stand but Mercado is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mercado with a poor takedown
and Pettis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pettis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mercado shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pettis as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danjie Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pettis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mercado is defended easily by Pettis.
Mercado sets himself, and Pettis steps forward looking for the clinch! Mercado avoids it this time.

Mercado shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado is nestled in close to Pettis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pettis pushes Mercado off looking to stand but Mercado dives back in and keeps control.
Mercado passes the guard and advances to mount!
BOOM! Mercado connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Pettis wants to get back to his feet.
Mercado trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pettis is in a horrible position here. Mercado smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercado landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danjie Mercado 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 gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pettis counters with a straight right hand.
Mercado doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pettis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mercado gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pettis connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danjie Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado shoots and misses
and Pettis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pettis counters with a stiff right hand.
Mercado shoots and misses
letting Pettis counter with a right hand.
Mercado tries for a takedown but Pettis circles away easily
and Pettis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mercado fails with the takedown.
Pettis looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mercado shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Pettis has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Mercado is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pettis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mercado shoots in for a double leg but Pettis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pettis let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Mercado tries for a takedown but Pettis circles away easily
and Pettis connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Pettis counter with a right hand.
Mercado doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Pettis counters by moving into the clinch.
Mercado misses with the head strike.

Pettis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercado fails with the takedown.
Pettis throws a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pettis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mercado shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pettis defends it nicely.
Pettis swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jeremy Pettis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mercado shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pettis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mercado looks for a takedown but Pettis sprawls well.
Pettis tries to counter with a clinch but Mercado shakes him off and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Pettis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! 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.

No luck for Mercado with that takedown attempt.
Pettis appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Mercado shoots for a double leg takedown but Pettis sprawls well. He's pushed Mercado's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pettis swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mercado gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pettis cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danjie Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado with a poor takedown
and Pettis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mercado gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pettis connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado fails with the takedown

and Pettis counters by moving into the clinch.

Pettis breaks the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mercado.
Pettis is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Mercado is controlling him well.

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!
Pettis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mercado throws a strike aimed at the side of Pettis's head but Pettis avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Pettis tries to escape but Mercado is in control.

Mercado is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pettis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mercado trying to control the position but Pettis is working away.

Pettis sneaks out the side door and pushes Mercado away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
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!
Mercado shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Pettis counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pettis tries to avoid it but Mercado manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pettis to the ground. Pettis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pettis wants to counter the offense by Mercado and move into the clinch position.
Pettis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mercado.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mercado is defended easily by Pettis.
Mercado with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pettis counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado tries for a takedown but Pettis circles away easily
and Pettis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mercado has his takedown stuffed
and Pettis counters with a nice uppercut.
Mercado shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pettis but Pettis pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Danjie Mercado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A shot to the body from Mercado misses

and Pettis moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremy Pettis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pettis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeremy Pettis!
Jeremy Pettis thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Danjie Mercado was interviewed post fight and said 'Well, what can I say man. He's the better man today. I'll be back. '.