PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Drake Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Riddle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercer comes to the cage accompanied by Fabolous-My Time. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mercer
vs
Riddle

189 cm
25
212 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

189 cm
23
210 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite 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 3 - 1 - 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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chuck Riddle!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Riddle misses

and Mercer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mercer.
Mercer won't allow Riddle to sweep him here.

Mercer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mercer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mercer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mercer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Riddle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Riddle wants to sweep but no luck.
Riddle is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Riddle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer won't allow Riddle to sweep him here.
Mercer advances to half guard.
Mercer is pressing down on Riddle's thigh, looking to free his foot. Riddle is holding on for now.
Ground and pound from Mercer.
Mercer slows the pace down in half guard.

Mercer is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Riddle is just riding it out for now. Mercer eventually gives up the hold.
Mercer passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle taking shots to the head.
Riddle takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mercer cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mercer looking to control but Riddle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mercer misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mercer has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Riddle's face.
Riddle working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mercer cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Riddle can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Mercer looking to control and managing it successfully.
Riddle 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.
Riddle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mercer working away from the top, dropping strikes.
BOOM! Mercer connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Riddle is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mercer cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mercer controlling his opponent.
Mercer wants to control the pace but Riddle is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer with shots to the head and body - Riddle looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mercer controlling from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercer fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Riddle is squirming around, avoiding Mercer's attempts to control the action.
Mercer pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercer controlling the pace for now.

Mercer working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mercer lands a slapping body shot.
Riddle misses with a leg kick
and Mercer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick misses from Mercer.
Mercer throws a right hand that Riddle ducks under and follows up with a left that Riddle also avoids with ease.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A punch combination from Riddle misses.
Drake Mercer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercer fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Riddle. Mercer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riddle is breathing heavily.
Riddle throws a nice looking combination but Mercer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice shot by Mercer.
Mercer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Riddle can do to turn this around?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercer misses the shot to the body.
Mercer misses with a double jab
and Riddle counters with a big head kick but Mercer shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle scores with a shot to the body.
Chuck Riddle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mercer throws a hook but Riddle blocks it.
Mercer throws a series of punches but Riddle avoids them all with ease.
Mercer throws a combination that misses
and Riddle connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Riddle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mercer misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Riddle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Riddle slaps away a takedown attempt from Mercer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch but Riddle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Drake Mercer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercer walks forward, straight into a front kick from Riddle.
Jab by Riddle.

It looks like Drake Mercer has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle throws out a loose jab but Mercer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Riddle tries a head kick but it misses.
Mercer slips a jab and a cross from Riddle.
Riddle misses with the body kick
and Mercer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mercer throws a lazy uppercut
and Riddle counters with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riddle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mercer manages to avoid it.
Mercer throws a push kick but Riddle slaps the foot to one side.
Chuck Riddle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Riddle throws a leg kick which misses Mercer's front leg but catches the back leg as Mercer tries to avoid it.
Mercer has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Riddle.
Mercer dodges the punch combination from Riddle.
Riddle pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mercer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddle lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Mercer tries to clinch up but Riddle circles away and keeps his distance.
Riddle scores with a jab to the jaw.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Riddle enables Mercer to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Riddle manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Riddle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mercer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riddle keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
Riddle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mercer.
Mercer throws a big right hand that misses.
Riddle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mercer is looking to work some ground and pound but Riddle has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is working Riddle over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mercer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mercer controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mercer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mercer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mercer passes Riddle's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riddle is looking for a sweep. Mercer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Riddle is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chuck Riddle will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Drake Mercer's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mercer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Riddle counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mercer on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mercer misses with a takedown attempt
and Riddle counters with a straight right hand.
Riddle throws a body punch but Mercer moves out of range.
Riddle tries to bum rush Mercer with a series of wild strikes but Mercer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mercer moves out of range as Riddle throws a body kick.
Mercer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Riddle throws a looping overhand right but Mercer ducks down to avoid it.
Riddle lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riddle throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Riddle throws a jab but it's blocked by Mercer.
Riddle throws a nice looking combination but Mercer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mercer slips a jab from Riddle.
Riddle throws a leg kick
and Mercer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Riddle throws a head kick that misses.
Mercer misses with a double jab
and Riddle counters with a nice body shot.
Mercer connects with a solid leg kick.
Riddle stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Riddle misses with a jab to the body
and Mercer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mercer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Riddle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Riddle rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mercer counters with a nice leg kick.
Mercer dodges the punch combination from Riddle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer dodges the punch combination from Riddle.
Mercer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Riddle is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mercer.
Mercer fails with the takedown
and Riddle counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drake Mercer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A low kick from Riddle misses
and Mercer counters with a nice uppercut.
Riddle looks to score with a jab to the body but Mercer is just out of range.
Riddle displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mercer throws out the jab.
Riddle throws a series of punches but Mercer moves out of range.
A big right from Riddle misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Riddle wants to land a leg kick but Mercer is out of range.
Mercer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mercer tries a low kick but Riddle avoids it.

Mercer clinches with his opponent.
Riddle wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mercer keeps control of Riddle as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mercer keeps control of Riddle as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Riddle manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mercer doesn't manage to clinch there - Riddle circles away.
Mercer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Riddle is looking to land body kicks.
Mercer misses with a series of wild punches.

Riddle gets caught napping as Mercer dives in and scores a takedown. Riddle manages to retain guard.
Mercer trying to control but Riddle is working from the bottom.
Mercer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riddle wants to get back to his feet but Mercer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mercer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Riddle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Riddle has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!