PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Drake Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercer comes to the cage accompanied by Fabolous-My Time. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Mercer
vs
Santana

189 cm
23
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
20
210 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Drake Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Santana!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santana throws a jab but it's blocked by Mercer.
Santana lands a nice shot to the body.
Santana tries to clinch but Mercer is having none of it.
Santana misses with an uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mercer.
Santana throws a nice looking combination but Mercer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Santana lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Drake Mercer has been cut.
Santana throws a jab but it's blocked by Mercer.
Santana tries to clinch there but Mercer circles away.

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

Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santana throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice defenses there by Mercer.
Mercer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Santana.
Santana tries to close the distance and clinch but Mercer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mercer lands with a kick to the temple. Santana shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mercer drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mercer lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Santana down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Mercer creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Santana sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Santana really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mercer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mercer working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Mercer is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Santana has escaped the position, nice work there.
Santana regains half guard there - taking advantage of Mercer's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Mercer is nestled in close to Santana, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mercer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Santana wants to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Santana can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mercer performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Mercer wants to pass the guard but Santana is defending well.
Santana pushes Mercer off looking to stand but Mercer dives back in and keeps control.
Mercer landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mercer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mercer throwing shots but Santana is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is keen to just control but Santana is a slippery customer.
Mercer is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mercer drops an elbow to the side of Santana's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santana keeps working.
Mercer thows a huge punch but Santana dodges it nicely.

Mercer stands up out of the half guard.
Mercer swings for the body but Santana moves out of range.
Mercer throws a jab but it's blocked by Santana.

Mercer shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Santana is trying to defend but Mercer finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Santana is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercer seems to be looking for submissions.
Mercer working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Santana's thigh. Santana counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Mercer passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mercer looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Santana is avoiding damage well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santana wants to get back to his feet.
Mercer misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Mercer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Drake Mercer's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Santana swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Santana uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mercer.
Santana tries to clinch up
and Mercer counters with a series of strikes. Santana will be more careful next time no doubt.
Santana takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mercer throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Santana sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mercer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santana throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mercer counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santana looks to land a combination but Mercer avoids it well.
Drake Mercer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercer moves out of range as Santana strikes.
A big right from Santana misses.
Mercer moves into range and connects with a jab.
A big right from Santana misses.
Mercer takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Santana is breathing heavily.
Mercer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santana.

Mercer drops Santana with a beautiful combination! Santana stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Mercer is looking for the KO!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer slips under a jab.
Mercer is looking to land body kicks.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mercer!
Mercer blocks a jab.
Santana clinches but Mercer breaks the clinch

and Mercer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Mercer breaks from the clinch.
Mercer misses the jab.
Mercer throws a right hand that Santana ducks under and follows up with a left that Santana also avoids with ease.
Santana scores with a nice strike.
Santana tries to clinch
and Mercer counters with a two punch combo.
Santana thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mercer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Santana but Santana pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Santana misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana misses with a series of wild punches.

Mercer darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mercer is looking for a kimura but Santana is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mercer to get the leverage.
Mercer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Santana's head.
Santana keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Santana is staying active underneath Mercer, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mercer prevents Santana from standing back up.
Mercer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Santana's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercer decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Santana falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mercer counters with a stiff right hand.
Santana takes one to the side of the head.
Santana throws out a loose jab but Mercer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercer dodges the punch combination from Santana.

Mercer drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Mercer is working to tighten is grip on Santana's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Santana has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Mercer is really squeezing tight and eventually Santana passes out! Mercer breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Drake Mercer!