PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tomas Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). King Black will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mercado
vs
Black

196 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tomas Mercado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, King Black!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mercado darts in and clinches Black up against the cage.
Mercado fails to pull guard.
Mercado wants to take the fight to the mat but Black manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mercado has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Black after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomas Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Black has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mercado regains guard immediately.

Mercado is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mercado pulls Black in to control the position.
Mercado keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black wants to stand but Mercado is controlling his posture from full guard.
Black is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that Black has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Black fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mercado sprawls well initially but Black persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercado is not content to let Black control the position.
Black might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mercado haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercado won't allow Black to pass to mount.
Black is looking to take a break and control but Mercado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Black not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mercado is controlling Black's trapped leg to prevent Black from advancing to side control.
Mercado is looking to control Black's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mercado avoid being mounted?
Mercado keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Black decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Black fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mercado to the ground. Black is now in Mercado's guard.
Black throws a big elbow that misses.
Mercado avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Black throwing strikes from guard but Mercado blocks nicely.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mercado looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Black wants to get up but he can't break Mercado's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Black must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mercado tries to clinch up but Black circles away and keeps his distance.

Mercado gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Black to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mercado works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black with a flurry of punches that miss.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Black wants to control from the top but Mercado keeps moving.

Black has gone for a leg lock! Mercado slips out almost immediately though and dives into Black's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Black dominated that 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.

Black gets a takedown into half guard.
Black sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mercado defending well though.
Mercado wants to control but Black is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercado does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Black prevents Mercado from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black 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 Black.
Mercado keeping control of the position.
Mercado has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mercado tries to keep at a distance but Black has taken the fight into the clinch.
Black has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Black manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Black looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Black trying to control the position.
Mercado postures up in Black's guard and throws a big left but Black blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black wants to sweep here but Mercado controlling him for the moment.
Black is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Mercado stands and steps away. Black gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tomas Mercado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Black looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Black gets a clinch.

Mercado gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Black looking to control.
Black looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

Black looking for a guillotine here but Mercado defends easily.

Mercado gets to his feet. Black looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Black clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Black manages to break the clinch.

Black is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mercado's half guard.
Mercado really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Black with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Black showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Black has managed to clinch.

Mercado turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Mercado manages to end up in side control.

Black explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Black with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Black breaks from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Black shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mercado manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Black looking to sit in guard and control but Mercado gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Black working a defensive guard but Mercado passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mercado is thwarting Black's attempts to control the position.
Black tries to roll over but Mercado keeps him under control.
Black is looking to get back to full guard here but Mercado has managed to pass to side control instead.
Black tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Mercado presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

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.
Black really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Black tries to hold on but Mercado pushes him away.

Mercado with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Black is bucking up trying to escape but Mercado cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Mercado putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado lands a big elbow.
Black is looking to improve his position but Mercado isn't that keen on the idea.

Mercado is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Black has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Black!

Mercado working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Black has passed into half guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black is thwarting Mercado's attempts to control the position.
Black is trying to control the action in half guard but Mercado is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Black tries to stand and escape but Mercado is controlling the position.
Mercado wants to control but Black is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mercado works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mercado pulls Black in to control the position.
Tomas Mercado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
King Black is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Mercado has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Black can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to King Black.
Well Black 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... King Black!