PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Caiden Banks (ranked 5505 p4p, 4015 weight class) and Kadyn Mercer (ranked 303 p4p, 260 weight class). Caiden Banks had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 137.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Caiden Banks could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kadyn Mercer's chin.

Banks
vs
Mercer

170 cm
25
150
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
145
2 - 1 - 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 bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Caiden Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kadyn Mercer!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, David Schapiro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Banks gets tackled into the cage by Mercer. Mercer maintains the clinch.

Banks manages to pull guard.
Mercer content to stall in guard here.

Banks looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Banks has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mercer is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Banks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Banks sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks is trying to improve his position.
Mercer takes a little break here. Banks wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Banks wants to control but Mercer postures up.
Banks is trying to improve his position.
Mercer taking a breather here.
Banks is looking for a sweep.

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.
Mercer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Banks keeps working.
Banks can't do much from the bottom here.
Mercer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Banks keeps working.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mercer is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

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

Mercer moves into range and clinches up with Banks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banks pulls guard.
Mercer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Banks is looking for a triangle but Mercer pushes his legs off easily.
Mercer wants to control from the top but Banks keeps moving.

Banks working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mercer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mercer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Banks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.

Banks working for a triangle but Mercer defends it easily.
Mercer controls from within his opponent's guard.
Banks controls Mercer momentarily but Mercer frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mercer has Banks up against the cage in a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kadyn Mercer dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mercer gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Mercer pulls guard effortlessly.
Banks trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mercer looking for a guillotine here but Banks defends easily.
Mercer is trying to control the position but Banks postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mercer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Banks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Banks content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer seems keen to control Banks's posture.
Mercer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Mercer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Banks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

Mercer looking for a guillotine here but Banks defends easily.

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.

Mercer has his foot on Banks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Banks works his way back into a safe position though.

Mercer looking for a guillotine here but Banks defends easily.

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

Mercer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Banks jumps into guard, dragging Mercer to the mat.
Banks working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer stays in close to Banks's body and controls the position.
Banks is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Banks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mercer wants to control from the top but Banks keeps moving.
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.
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.
Banks is trying to keep Mercer in close.

Banks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mercer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Banks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mercer defends it easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mercer has managed to clinch.

Mercer jumps guard and drags Banks to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Banks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mercer is keeping the position for now.
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! This is the final round!

Mercer takes the fight into the clinch.

Mercer gets control of Banks's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mercer will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Mercer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Banks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mercer looking to control but Banks passes into half guard.
Banks works his way into full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks prevents Mercer from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer tries to lock up and control but Banks gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kadyn Mercer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mercer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mercer keeps trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mercer is trying to maintain the position but Banks is very close to passing his half guard.
Mercer tries to get to full guard but Banks has control of the leg.
Mercer wants to control but Banks is keeping busy.
Mercer tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Banks has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Banks controlling his opponent.
Banks prevents Mercer from getting the reversal.

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 tries to hold on but Banks postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Banks prevents Mercer from getting the reversal.
Caiden Banks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kadyn Mercer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mercer tries to hold on but Banks pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caiden Banks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mercer 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

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