PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Jones (ranked 1718 p4p, 4966 weight class) and Kadyn Mercer (ranked 148 p4p, 306 weight class). Caleb Jones has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jones
vs
Mercer

170 cm
28
145
11 - 8 - 1

170 cm
25
145
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

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 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Caleb Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kadyn Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Lou da Vinci and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jones paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jones moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mercer wants to clinch.
Mercer is looking to clinch.
Jones definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Mercer doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mercer is looking to clinch but Jones is avoiding it.

Mercer has closed the distance and engaged Jones in a clinch.
Mercer tries to pull guard but Jones holds him up against the cage and eventually Mercer drops back down to his feet.
A body shot lands from Jones.
Mercer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jones just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer jumps guard but Jones stands there with Mercer around his waist. Mercer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Caleb Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kadyn Mercer.

Jones manages to pull guard.

Jones is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Jones working for a triangle but Mercer defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones being controlled here, momentarily.

Jones has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mercer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jones can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mercer controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mercer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.
Mercer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mercer looking to sit in guard and control but Jones gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jones is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Jones continues to stall.

Mercer working for a triangle but Jones defends it easily.
Jones passes Mercer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mercer trying to control here.
Jones trying to control from half guard but Mercer is working away.

Mercer looking for subs from the bottom but Jones mounts him!
Mercer is trying to escape the mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones manages to capitalize on a mistake by Mercer to take his back!
Mercer trying to control the hands but Jones breaks the grip.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb Jones dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mercer gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mercer is trying to pull guard but Jones has him pressed against the cage.
Jones unloads a knee to the mid-section.

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

Jones has his foot on Mercer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mercer works his way back into a safe position though.
Jones manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mercer manages to get himself to full guard.

Mercer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jones sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercer has his foot on Jones's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jones works his way back into a safe position though.
Jones is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Jones works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mercer wants to improve his position but Jones is controlling well.
Mercer is in trouble now - Jones has advanced to mount!
Mercer is squirming around, avoiding Jones's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jones tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mercer is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Jones has taken his back.
Jones keeps control of the position as Mercer tries to break free.
Jones doesn't have the hooks in and Mercer manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is controlling Mercer's posture.
Jones wants to control the position but Mercer says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Jones looking for submissions off his back.
Jones is refusing to be controlled, as Mercer sits in half guard.

Jones looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mercer wants to pass the guard but Jones is defending well.

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.
Jones is trying to get back to full guard.
Mercer wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones is looking to improve his position.
Mercer looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones is trying to control but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb Jones dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jones keeps the fight on the outside.
Jones is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mercer can do to turn this around?
Mercer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mercer tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.
Kadyn Mercer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jones instigates a clinch.
Mercer is trying to pull guard but Jones has him pressed against the cage.
Mercer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jones just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jones using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mercer has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Jones drags the fight down to the ground.
Caleb Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mercer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mercer wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.

Jones throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
Jones is trying to control the position but Mercer postures up.

Jones is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mercer defends well.
Jones controlling Mercer's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Jones keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Jones clinches up against the cage.
Jones misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mercer.
Mercer fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Caleb Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kadyn Mercer.
Mercer tries to pull guard but Jones won't allow it.
Jones lands an elbow that stopped Mercer in his tracks for a moment.
A hook to the body from Jones.

Jones manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Jones controlling Mercer's posture.

Jones throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mercer pushing down on Jones's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to roll over but Mercer keeps him under control.
Mercer wants to pass to mount but Jones is defending the position.
Jones is trying to get back to full guard.
Caleb Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jones gets back to full guard.
Jones seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four 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 content to stall in guard here.
Jones has control of Mercer's left arm, preventing Mercer from doing any damage.
Jones has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones circles away from the clinch attempt.
Donk. Jones catches Mercer right on the button with a cross.
Mercer wants to clinch but Jones slips to the side
and Jones counters with a nice uppercut.
Kadyn Mercer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mercer misses with a hook
and Jones counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mercer thinking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caleb Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jones has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caleb Jones!