PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Mera (ranked 4489 p4p, 408 weight class) and Marco Polo (ranked 4065 p4p, 379 weight class). Polo has chosen On The Floor as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mera
vs
Polo

168 cm
43
150 lbs
22 - 20 - 1

178 cm
37
153 lbs
14 - 24 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 20 - 1, fighting out of London, Jose Mera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marco Polo!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polo leaves Mera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Polo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mera to the mat! Mera manages to get full guard.
Polo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mera is keeping the position for now.
Polo landing with the ground and pound.
Polo preventing the sweep.

Mera is looking for a triangle but Polo pushes his legs off easily.

Mera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Polo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Polo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polo trying to control the position from guard on top but Mera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Polo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mera is looking for a triangle but Polo pushes his legs off easily.
Mera throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Polo distracts Mera with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Mera is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Polo is aware though and is defending well.
Mera keeping full guard, as Polo tries to pass.
Polo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mera is striking from the bottom but Polo uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Mera tries to roll over but Polo keeps him under control.

Mera actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Polo there.

Mera actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mera is refusing to be controlled, as Polo sits in half guard.
Mera missing with punches from the bottom.

Polo seems to be working for a kimura but Mera defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mera is staying active underneath Polo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mera missing with punches from the bottom.
Polo wants to take a breather but Mera is having none of it.
Mera gets full guard.

Mera looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Polo passes into side control.
Polo working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mera tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Polo presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Polo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Mera bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Mera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Polo is keeping the position for now.
Polo pulls Mera in to control the position.
Polo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mera manages to get himself to full guard.

Polo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mera wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polo wants to control from the top but Mera keeps moving.
Polo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mera haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Mera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mera is looking for a triangle but Polo pushes his legs off easily.

Mera looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Polo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Polo is looking to work some ground and pound but Mera has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Polo 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.

Mera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Polo pinned against the cage. Polo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Mera moves into range and clinches up with Polo.
Mera misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mera throws a head punch that misses.
Polo prevents the takedown attempt.
Mera is trying to drag Polo to the mat but Polo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Mera. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Polo wants the takedown. Mera is fighting it off but Polo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Mera's guard against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polo throws a big right hand that misses.
Polo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Mera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Polo trying to control but Mera is working from the bottom.
Polo throws a big right hand that misses.
Marco Polo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polo working some strikes from top position.

Mera is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Polo forces his way into half guard.
Polo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Mera looking for submissions off his back.

Mera is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Polo pulls his head out easily.
Mera is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Polo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mera is refusing to be controlled, as Polo sits in half guard.
Polo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polo wants to control but Mera is keeping him busy.
Mera trying to control here.
Polo thows a huge punch but Mera dodges it nicely.
Polo trying to control the pace.
Mera is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mera manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Polo throws a big right hand that misses.
Mera has momentary wrist control but Polo slips an elbow through the middle.

Mera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Polo sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mera keeping moving, preventing Polo from controlling successfully.

Mera working for submissions but it's allowed Polo to get to half guard.
Polo moves nicely into side control.
Polo working the body and head with strikes.
Polo takes a little break here. Mera wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Polo is looking to take a break and control but Mera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mera is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Polo off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Polo is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Mera looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Polo is controlling Mera 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.

Mera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Polo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Polo lands a couple of digs.
Polo trying to control but Mera is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Polo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mera gets a takedown into half guard.

Mera is looking for a kimura here.
Polo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Polo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mera is one step ahead there.
Mera trying to control the position from guard on top but Polo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mera working some strikes from top position.
Mera tries to free his leg and advance position but Polo is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Polo is trying to control the position but Mera postures up.
Polo keeping moving, preventing Mera from controlling successfully.
Polo controlling the position.
Polo trying to keep a closed guard but Mera is proving a slippery customer.
Polo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mera's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Polo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mera controlling from the top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Polo scores with the left hand. Mera knows he should have avoided that one.
Jose Mera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Polo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Polo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mera napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mera tries to buck Polo off but Polo is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Mera's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Polo wants to control but Mera is keeping him busy.
Polo landing strikes.
Polo lands some shots froms side control.
Polo lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mera down.
Polo is looking to take a break and control but Mera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mera gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polo content just to control the position here.
Mera is wriggling around trying to escape.
Polo with a couple of short strikes.
Polo looking to finish Mera with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mera!
Mera sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mera is refusing to be controlled, as Polo sits in half guard.

Mera is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Polo pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Polo seems content to control.
Polo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mera tries to roll over but Polo keeps him under control.
Mera trying to hold on to Polo's head to control him but Polo postures up.
Marco Polo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Mera looking for subs from the bottom but Polo mounts him!
Polo controlling from mount.
Mera is looking to improve his position but Polo isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Polo lands a big shot there that rocks Mera but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Polo landing strikes from the mount.
Polo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Polo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Polo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Polo!
An out of breath Marco Polo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.