PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and August Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aaron Sanchez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sanchez
vs
Mercado

182 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aaron Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, August Mercado!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mercado gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercado is retaining full guard.
Mercado is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sanchez trying to control but Mercado is working from the bottom.
Sanchez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mercado wants to get back to his feet but Sanchez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sanchez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mercado on the ground.
Mercado tries to land a sweep but no joy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Mercado is keeping the position.
Mercado wants to sweep here but Sanchez controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mercado tries to bum rush Sanchez with a series of wild strikes but Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanchez.
Sanchez fails with the takedown.
Sanchez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mercado sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanchez somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercado swings for the body but Sanchez moves out of range.
Mercado is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

It looks like August Mercado has been cut.
Mercado has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mercado there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mercado stuffs the takedown attempt from Sanchez. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.

Mercado changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sanchez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercado happy to just control the position for now.
Mercado lands a few punches from side control.
Sanchez regains half guard.
Sanchez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mercado scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mercado content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado winds up and cracks Sanchez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mercado has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Mercado postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Sanchez to stand up.

Mercado shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mercado tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Mercado has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
I looks like Mercado might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

August Mercado dominated that round.
The cut man is working on August Mercado's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sanchez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mercado counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sanchez is in trouble now - Mercado has advanced to mount!
Mercado takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mercado is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Sanchez is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). August Mercado!