PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Taran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Mera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rico Mera acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Taran
vs
Mera

200 cm
25
206 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

182 cm
19
210 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alexander Taran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rico Mera!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taran fails with the takedown.
Mera tries to counter with a clinch but Taran shakes him off and moves away.

Mera moves into the clinch.
Taran takes an elbow to the temple.
Taran has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mera after a bit of a struggle.
Taran tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mera smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Taran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taran fails with a takedown attempt.

Taran clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taran dodges an elbow strike from Mera.
Mera gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mera lands an elbow inside that Taran shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taran blocks the elbow strike.
Mera lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Taran jumps guard but Mera stands there with Taran around his waist. Taran gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Taran takes an elbow to the temple.
Taran avoids the elbow strike from Mera, against the cage.
Taran looking for a takedown.
Mera told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Taran blocks an elbow strike.
Taran tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mera smiles and moves away.
Taran fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mera avoids it really well and circles away.
Mera wants to counter the offense by Taran and move into the clinch position.
Mera connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Taran gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mera creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Taran's defenses.
Taran drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mera lands an elbow that stopped Taran in his tracks for a moment.
Mera lands an elbow inside that Taran shrugs off.
Mera misses with an elbow over the top.
This has been an exciting period of action!
With the fighters up against the cage, Mera throws an elbow but misses.

Taran decides to pull guard.
Mera has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Taran is proving hard to escape from.
Mera sitting in guard here, content to control.
Taran looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taran is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mera is controlling him.
Taran will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Taran trying to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Taran is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mera looks to land a left hand but Taran moved out of range nicely.
Mera throws an overhand right that lands on Taran's shoulder, as Taran tries to avoid the shot.
Taran swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Mera closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mera lands an elbow inside.
Mera gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Mera.
Our sources have told us that Taran has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Taran takes an elbow to the temple.
Taran is trying to maintain a safe position but Mera gets an underhook and turns Taran into the cage.

Taran manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

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

Mera avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Taran wants to stand and escape but Mera is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Mera dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A bone on bone clash there as Taran blocks the leg kick.
Mera fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Taran is out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taran is defended easily by Mera.

Mera has Taran up against the cage in a clinch.
Mera looks to throw an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taran takes an elbow to the forehead.
Taran takes an elbow to the temple.
Mera throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Taran blocks the elbow strike.
Taran takes an elbow to the forehead.

Taran jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera forces his way into half guard.
Mera slows the pace down in half guard.
Taran tries to kick Mera off but Mera keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mera is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mera wants to free his trapped foot but Taran is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Taran is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mera's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mera's back!
Mera breaks Taran's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Taran not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mera wants to stand but Taran has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mera stays in close to Taran's body and controls the position.
Mera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taran is keeping the position for now.
Taran looking to control but Mera passes into half guard.
Mera tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Taran.

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.
Mera wants to pass the guard but Taran is defending well.
Mera not doing much here.
Taran is pressing down on Mera's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taran is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mera controlling from the top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Mera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Taran uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mera.
Taran half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Taran blocks the leg kick.
Taran shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alexander Taran is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mera throws a hook to the side of Taran's head but Taran sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A good leg kick by Mera.

Mera clinches.
Mera should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Taran is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mera can't fight it off and eventually Taran manages to take the fight to the floor. Mera looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mera is trying to keep Taran in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mera keeping moving, preventing Taran from controlling successfully.
Taran throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taran looking to sit in guard and control but Mera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Taran is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taran is really struggling to control Mera but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Mera stands and steps away. Taran gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rico Mera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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.
Mera slips a jab and a cross from Taran.
Mera wants to counter the offense by Taran and move into the clinch position.
Taran looks to land a combination but Mera avoids it well.

Mera has taken the fight to the clinch.
Taran wants a takedown.
Mera comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Taran drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mera pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Taran. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mera has managed to clinch.
Mera creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Taran's defenses.
Taran is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mera is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taran has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mera after a bit of a struggle.
Mera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Taran tries for a takedown but Mera manages to get underhooks.
Taran takes an elbow to the temple.
Taran effectively controlling the action here.
Taran drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mera gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Taran.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taran avoids a wild elbow strike from Mera.
Mera is pressed up against the cage. Taran has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mera down to the mat. Mera avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mera throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taran sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mera throws a low kick but it's checked well by Taran.
Taran tries to counter with a takedown but Mera is quick to defend against it.
Taran is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mera wants to counter the offense by Taran and move into the clinch position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mera throws a front kick aimed at Taran's knee but Taran avoids it well.
Mera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mera throws a low kick but Taran moves out of range easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mera. That's going to slow Taran down.
Alexander Taran has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taran misses with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Mera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mera 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 David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Mera!