PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kadyn Mercer (ranked 3894 p4p, 5284 weight class) and Caiden Banks (ranked 252 p4p, 300 weight class). Caiden Banks struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 137.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Caiden Banks told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Mercer
vs
Banks

170 cm
25
145
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
150
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kadyn Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Caiden Banks!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Russell Pearce and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mercer moves into the clinch.

Banks pulls Mercer into guard.
Mercer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Banks throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Mercer escapes and throws Banks's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Banks is trying to control Mercer's posture but Mercer avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Banks will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks tries to bench press Mercer off him but Mercer keeps the position.
Banks is not content to let Mercer control the position.
Mercer tries to move to mount but Banks blocks the move with his legs.
Banks tries to buck Mercer off but Mercer is having none of it.
Mercer trying to control the action but Banks is working from the bottom.
Mercer laying and praying for a moment but Banks takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's two 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 tries to pass the half guard into mount. Banks knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Banks is not content to let Mercer control the position.
Banks wants to sweep but Mercer has passed to side control!
Mercer throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Mercer advances nicely into full mount.
Mercer prevents Banks from getting the reversal.
Mercer content just to control the position here.
Banks is in all sorts of trouble here.
Banks is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Banks looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mercer keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mercer is looking to take a break and control but Banks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kadyn Mercer dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mercer rushes Banks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Mercer pulls guard effortlessly.
Banks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mercer swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Mercer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Banks showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mercer trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mercer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Banks defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercer throws his legs up looking for a submission but Banks uses it to pass to side control.
Banks trying to control the action but Mercer is working from the bottom.
Kadyn Mercer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mercer is trying to work for a sweep but Banks has mounted him!
Mercer working to try and regain half guard.
Mercer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Banks can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Mercer is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Banks pulls his head out easily.
Mercer wants to get back to full guard.
Mercer manages to get to full guard.
Mercer looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercer looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Banks passes into half guard.
Banks keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mercer trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Banks sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mercer tries to hold on but Banks postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer tries to reverse the position but Banks maintains control.
Mercer sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Mercer moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Banks is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Mercer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mercer wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Banks is now in half guard.

Mercer looking for submissions off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Caiden Banks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mercer closes the distance and pushes Banks back into the cage.

Mercer ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mercer no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mercer looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Banks puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Mercer wants to get back to full guard but Banks has mounted him!
Mercer is looking to get to half guard.
Banks controlling from mount.
Mercer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks tries to control but Mercer wriggling away.
Mercer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mercer tries to hold on but Banks pushes him away.
Mercer is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercer is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

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

Mercer looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mercer is trying to control but Banks manages to pass to mount!
Mercer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Banks tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is looking to improve his position but Banks isn't that keen on the idea.
Mercer is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mercer wants to hold on but Banks pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Banks controlling the pace for now.
Mercer tries to hold on but Banks pushes him away.
Mercer manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mercer is trying to control but Banks passes into side control!
Mercer tries to buck Banks off but Banks is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caiden Banks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Banks has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caiden Banks!