PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dominique Bell (ranked 1505 p4p, 153 weight class) and Freddie Mercury (ranked 2294 p4p, 220 weight class). Mercury has chosen Imperial March (L.O.D. Rage Mix) as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bell
vs
Mercury

170 cm
28
139 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

170 cm
21
135 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dominique Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Freddie Mercury!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercury misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bell closes the distance and clinches up with Mercury, looking for a takedown. Bell pushes Mercury against the cage but Mercury circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bell walks forward, straight into a front kick from Mercury.
Mercury lands a body shot.
Mercury connects with a body shot that sends Bell's belly button to the back.
Bell shoots in and drives through. Mercury sprawls well.
Mercury stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominique Bell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mercury throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Mercury.
Bell takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercury throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dominique Bell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bell is defended easily by Mercury.
Mercury stuffs the takedown.
Bell fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mercury avoids it really well and circles away.
Mercury moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercury connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bell takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Mercury keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Bell throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mercury tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bell is in Mercury's guard.
Bell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bell is pushing down on Mercury's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mercury is fighting to maintain full guard but Bell has managed to sneak the leg through.

Bell is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Bell is trying to work for a kimura but Mercury is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell thows a huge punch but Mercury dodges it nicely.

Bell is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mercury pushes Bell off looking to stand but Bell dives back in and keeps control.
Bell tries to pass to full mount but Mercury defends it.

Bell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercury does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bell is working for a submission of some sort.
Mercury is trying to stand.

Bell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Bell wants to work for an arm triangle but Mercury is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mercury wants to get back to his feet.

Bell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Bell seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Mercury has recovered full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie Mercury dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bell dives in for a single leg takedown but Mercury sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mercury scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Mercury lands a big head kick that sends Bell tumbling to the mat! Mercury takes a step backwards and waves Bell back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Bell is rocked!

It looks like Dominique Bell has been cut.
Mercury looks to land a combination but Bell avoids it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bell shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mercury manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mercury wants to get back to his feet but Bell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mercury swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mercury working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bell.

Bell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell is working hard here to advance position.
Bell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mercury works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mercury shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bell eats them both and turns towards Mercury to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Bell dives in for a single leg takedown but Mercury sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominique Bell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercury throws a head kick that half lands.
Mercury has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mercury but Mercury pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Bell decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercury is trying to stand but he's just given Bell his back.
Mercury wants to get back to his feet.

Mercury is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Bell gets his way!

Bell looking to break Mercury's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Mercury remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Bell will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercury avoids the strikes from Bell.

Bell is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Dominique Bell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bell working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Mercury staying busy and making it hard for Bell to control.
Bell somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Bell working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Bell is looking for the choke from the back position but Mercury is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercury is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Mercury felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Bell tightening his grip on Mercury, looking for the choke.

Bell has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Mercury is in real trouble here. Bell gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Mercury is tapping out! Bell wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dominique Bell!
In defeat, Freddie Mercury stepped up to the mic, saying 'He cheated! Check his gloves, they've got chloroform on them!'.