PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marco Natta (ranked 1675 p4p, 24952 weight class) and Kadyn Mercer (ranked 121 p4p, 313 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Natta
vs
Mercer

170 cm
30
145
22 - 11 - 0

170 cm
27
145
6 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

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 22 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marco Natta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kadyn Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Natta misses.
Natta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercer moves away.
Natta throws a body punch but Mercer moves out of range.

Natta has closed the distance and engaged Mercer in a clinch.
Mercer is trying to pull guard but Natta has him pressed against the cage.
Mercer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Natta walks away with a smile on his face. Mercer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Natta looks to land a left hand but Mercer moved out of range nicely.
Natta misses with a straight right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Natta. Mercer does a little dance to reset his feet.

Natta has managed to clinch.

Natta gets control of Mercer's arms and successfully pulls guard. Natta will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Natta working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer tries to free his leg and advance position but Natta is retaining full guard.
Mercer controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Natta is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mercer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Natta is trying to keep Mercer in close.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Natta is really struggling to control Mercer but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Natta throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two 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.
Mercer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Natta sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mercer somewhat.
Natta seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Marco Natta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kadyn Mercer.
No luck for Mercer with that takedown attempt.
As Mercer tries to get set, Natta tries to push him back and clinch up but Mercer manages to avoid the attempt.

Mercer closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mercer lands in his opponent's guard.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Natta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Natta being controlled here, momentarily.
Natta wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Natta throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Natta is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Natta trying to control the 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 wants to control from the top but Natta keeps moving.

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

Natta clinches up with Mercer and pushes him back against the cage.

Natta pulls guard effortlessly.
Natta trying to keep a closed guard but Mercer is proving a slippery customer.
Mercer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Natta keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Natta dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mercer defending well as Natta loads up on a big left hand.
Mercer shoots in looking for a takedown. Natta tries to sprawl out of it but Mercer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Natta manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mercer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Natta.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown but Natta shows good takedown defense.
Natta is looking to wear down Mercer with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Mercer changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Natta tries to avoid it but Mercer manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Natta to the ground. Natta escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Marco Natta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kadyn Mercer.

Natta rushes Mercer and presses him up against the cage.

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

Natta has gone for a leg lock! Mercer slips out almost immediately though and dives into Natta's guard.

Natta is pulling down on Mercer's head to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Natta continues to stall.
Natta has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Natta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Natta 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.
Mercer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mercer is looking to work some ground and pound but Natta has wrist control.

That's two 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.
Natta keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.

Natta is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mercer defends well.
Mercer wants to control from the top but Natta keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Natta seems keen to control Mercer's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Natta keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mercer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mercer.
Natta throws the left hand but Mercer avoids the punch easily.
Natta throws a body shot but no joy.
Mercer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Natta misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mercer.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown but Natta shows good takedown defense.
Natta seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Natta misses the shot to the body.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice sprawl there from Natta as Mercer shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Natta throws a looping overhand right but Mercer ducks down to avoid it.
Natta looks to land a right hand but Mercer moved out of range.
Natta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercer moves away.
Natta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mercer can do to turn this around?
Mercer defending well as Natta loads up on a big left hand.
Natta just misses with a punch to the body.
Mercer fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Mercer with that takedown attempt.
Mercer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Natta is fending him off so far but Mercer persists. Nope, Natta circles away and we're back to standing.
Natta misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mercer.
Mercer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mercer misses with a takedown

and Natta counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Natta walks away with a smile on his face. Mercer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Natta drives through and clinches with Mercer against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Natta dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Natta stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Natta wants it to stay on the feet.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown but Natta shows good takedown defense.
Mercer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Natta is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mercer.
Marco Natta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kadyn Mercer.
A big right from Natta misses.

Natta moves into the clinch successfully.
Mercer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Natta walks away with a smile on his face. Mercer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A swing and a miss from Natta.

Natta drives through and clinches with Mercer against the cage.
Mercer is trying to pull guard but Natta has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Natta fails to land.

Natta decides to pull guard.
Mercer trying to control but Natta is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Natta is pulling down on Mercer's head. It's preventing any offense from Mercer, at least for the moment.
Kadyn Mercer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mercer wants to pass the guard but Natta is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Natta controlling the position.
Natta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mercer wants to control from the top but Natta keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mercer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mercer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Natta sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mercer somewhat.
Mercer fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Natta is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mercer.
Mercer avoids the body shot from Natta.
Marco Natta is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed right hand from Natta misses the target.
Natta throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mercer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Natta sets himself, and Mercer steps forward looking for the clinch! Natta avoids it this time.
Natta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercer moves away.
A slow jab from Natta misses its intended target.

Natta takes the fight into the clinch.
Mercer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Natta walks away with a smile on his face. Mercer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mercer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer shoots in looking for a takedown. Natta tries to sprawl out of it but Mercer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Natta manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Natta stuffs the takedown.
Mercer moves out of range as Natta strikes.
Natta sets himself, and Mercer steps forward looking for the clinch! Natta avoids it this time.
Natta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Natta throws a body punch but Mercer moves out of range.

Natta moves into the clinch successfully.
Marco Natta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Natta gets control of Mercer's arms and successfully pulls guard. Natta will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Natta has Mercer pulled in close to control his posture.
Natta's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Natta has Mercer pulled in close to control his posture.
Natta has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
More hug and hope from Natta.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Natta showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Natta, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:26
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Natta!
An out of breath Marco Natta thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.