PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Han Denderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elia Mercurio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Elia Mercurio was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Denderson
vs
Mercurio

180 cm
26
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

191 cm
26
195 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Island's Forbidden Fruits

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Han Denderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Elia Mercurio!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercurio throws a chopping leg kick but Denderson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Denderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mercurio.
Denderson throws the left hand but Mercurio avoids the punch easily.
Mercurio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Denderson moves away.
Denderson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Denderson misses with a double jab.
Mercurio has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Denderson is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Mercurio connects with a crisp jab.
Mercurio blocks a jab.
Mercurio comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mercurio throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Han Denderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercurio lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Denderson misses with the combination.
Denderson shoots in but no luck this time.
Denderson blocks a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Denderson instigates a clinch.
Denderson tries to land knees in the clinch but Mercurio avoids the damage to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mercurio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denderson has Mercurio pushed against the cage.
Mercurio digs a right hand into Denderson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Denderson's gas tank.
Denderson is trying to drag Mercurio to the mat but Mercurio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mercurio misses with a body punch.
Denderson wants to take the fight to the mat but Mercurio manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Han Denderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Denderson has a couple of punches blocked by Mercurio.
Mercurio tries to score a body lock takedown but Denderson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Denderson being controlled against the cage.
Denderson has Mercurio pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercurio jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Denderson walks away with a smile on his face. Mercurio gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Denderson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mercurio trying to control but Denderson postures up.
Mercurio is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mercurio gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercurio tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Denderson postures up.
Mercurio is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Mercurio escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Denderson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Denderson is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Harambe Remembrance Hall that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Mercurio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercurio is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Denderson won't allow Mercurio to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mercurio can do anything to dispel that myth.
Denderson trying to control but Mercurio is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Denderson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Denderson with a nice head shot there.
Mercurio wants to sweep but no luck.
Denderson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Denderson won't allow Mercurio to sweep him here.
Mercurio is pulling down on Denderson's head to control his posture.
Mercurio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Denderson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercurio pulls Denderson in close to prevent any damage.

Denderson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mercurio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mercurio trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Denderson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mercurio on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Han Denderson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Denderson tries to bum rush Mercurio with a series of wild strikes but Mercurio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mercurio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Denderson is looking to clinch but Mercurio is avoiding it.
Mercurio throws a big shot that misses.
Jab from Denderson.
Denderson looks to land a left hand but Mercurio moved out of range nicely.
Denderson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Denderson goes for a double leg but Mercurio avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mercurio continues to drive forward.
Mercurio is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Denderson with a body shot.
Mercurio fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Denderson darts in looking for a takedown but Mercurio gets double underhooks and turns Denderson into the cage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Denderson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Han Denderson. 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.
Mercurio tries to bum rush Denderson with a series of wild strikes but Denderson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It looked like Denderson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Mercurio.

Denderson clinches.
Denderson has a couple of punches blocked by Mercurio.

Denderson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercurio uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Denderson.
Mercurio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Denderson was well out of range. Poor timing from Mercurio.
Mercurio dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mercurio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Denderson.
Denderson misses with a low kick.
Denderson tries to clinch there but Mercurio circles away.
Mercurio with a hook.
Denderson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mercurio is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Denderson rather than just go for the knockout.
Denderson misses with a straight left.
Elia Mercurio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mercurio misses with a body shot.
Mercurio misses with a straight right.
Mercurio lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Denderson backs up against the cage.
Denderson shoots in for a double leg but Mercurio sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mercurio lands a nice hook to Denderson's body. Denderson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercurio shoots in and drives through. Denderson sprawls well.
Denderson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mercurio misses the jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Denderson misses the target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Denderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mercurio has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No joy there for Mercurio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mercurio throws a body punch but Denderson moves out of range.

Mercurio looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mercurio preventing the sweep.
Mercurio content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mercurio postures up.
Mercurio throwing strikes from guard but Denderson blocks nicely.
Mercurio controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Denderson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercurio controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Denderson is nestled in close to Mercurio, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mercurio regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mercurio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Denderson stopping the sweep attempt from Mercurio.
Denderson passes Mercurio's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mercurio trying to hold on to Denderson's head to control him but Denderson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denderson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Denderson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercurio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mercurio taking some punishment here, with Denderson in his half guard.
Han Denderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mercurio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mercurio is looking to improve his position.
Denderson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mercurio has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Denderson is working away from the top position though.
Denderson trying to control from half guard but Mercurio is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elia Mercurio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mercurio lands a nice shot that snaps Denderson's head back.

Denderson forces Mercurio back against the cage and clinches.
Mercurio is pressed up against the cage. Denderson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mercurio down to the mat. Mercurio avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Denderson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mercurio looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Denderson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Denderson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Denderson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mercurio down.
Mercurio tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mercurio is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Denderson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mercurio is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercurio is looking to control Denderson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mercurio avoid being mounted?
Mercurio wants to get back to full guard.
Denderson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Denderson working over Mercurio with some ground and pound. Mercurio looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Mercurio is rocked!
Denderson lands strikes from half guard.
Mercurio is still in real trouble! Can Denderson finish him?
Denderson lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Mercurio quite badly. Mercurio pulls Denderson in close trying to recover. Denderson postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Mercurio on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Mercurio doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Han Denderson!
A relieved looking Han Denderson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.