PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Caiden Banks (ranked 4170 p4p, 4163 weight class) and Kadyn Mercer (ranked 322 p4p, 323 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Banks
vs
Mercer

170 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Caiden Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kadyn Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Chad Campbell and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mercer pushes Banks up against the cage in a clinch.

Banks pulls guard effortlessly.
Mercer is looking to work some ground and pound but Banks has wrist control.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Banks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banks is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Mercer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Banks controls Mercer momentarily but Mercer frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer preventing the sweep.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mercer stays in close to Banks's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Banks has managed to clinch.

Banks jumps guard.

Banks looking for subs off his back but Mercer has passed one foot through into half guard.

Banks actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Mercer is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks is trying to get back to full guard.
Mercer is looking to advance position but Banks won't allow it.
Mercer prevents Banks from improving his position.

Mercer is looking for a kimura but Banks is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mercer to get the leverage.

Banks looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks wants to get back to full guard.

Banks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mercer pulls his head out easily.
Mercer is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Banks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mercer pulls his head out easily.
Banks gets full guard.

Banks isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Mercer stacks Banks on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Mercer!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Banks wants to control but Mercer postures up.
Banks manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Mercer is thwarting Banks's attempts to control the position.
Mercer is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Caiden Banks will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Banks gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Banks jumps into guard, dragging Mercer to the mat.
Banks looking to control but Mercer passes into half guard.
Banks trying to control from the bottom.
Banks moves into full guard.
Mercer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Mercer 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.
Banks is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Banks's guard.
Mercer wants to take a breather but Banks is having none of it.
Banks is looking to improve his position.

Banks actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Banks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mercer pulls his head out easily.
Mercer wants to control but Banks is keeping him busy.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Banks tries to keep at a distance but Mercer has taken the fight into the clinch.

Banks pulls guard.
Mercer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banks is keeping the position for now.

Banks looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mercer passes into half guard.
Mercer tries to pass to full mount but Banks defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks wants to sweep but Mercer has passed to side control!
Banks is trying to improve his position.
Banks is trying to control Mercer's posture but Mercer avoids it.
Banks prevents Mercer from improving position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banks is trying to work for a sweep but Mercer has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mercer controlling his opponent.
Banks keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Banks tries to hold on but Mercer postures up.
Banks is desperately trying to improve his position but Mercer has a good base and remains in mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Banks tries to hold on but Mercer pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kadyn Mercer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mercer has Banks up against the cage in a clinch.

Banks jumps into guard, dragging Mercer to the mat.
Mercer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Banks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banks being controlled here, momentarily.

Banks working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mercer has passed into half guard!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mercer in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks wants to improve his position but Mercer is controlling well.
Banks wants to control but Mercer is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Banks looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kadyn Mercer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mercer keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Banks tries to get to full guard but Mercer has control of the leg.
Banks is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Banks has managed to clinch.

Banks decides to pull guard.

Banks throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mercer uses it to pass to side control.
Mercer just content to control the position.
Mercer looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Banks is avoiding damage well.
Banks seems a little lost for a moment, as Mercer dominates the positioning.
Banks is looking for a sweep.
Banks is trying to work for a sweep but Mercer has mounted him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer controlling the pace for now.
Banks slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Mercer seems content to control.
Banks is looking for a sweep. Mercer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mercer with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Banks tries to roll over but Mercer keeps him under control.

Banks looking for submissions off his back.
Mercer looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Banks actively working from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kadyn Mercer.
Well Mercer 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kadyn Mercer!