PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Len Mercedes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Tait (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Len Mercedes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mercedes
vs
Tait

178 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Len Mercedes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, George Tait!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Summer Carpenter and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mercedes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tait did well to prevent Mercedes getting side control.
Tait has hold of Mercedes's hands but Mercedes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tait works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mercedes tries to free his leg and advance position but Tait is retaining full guard.
Mercedes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tait looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mercedes is one step ahead there.
Tait looking to control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tait holds on and takes a little breather.
Mercedes preventing the sweep.
Mercedes looking to sit in guard and control but Tait gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tait advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tait seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercedes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mercedes tries to get to full guard but Tait has control of the leg.
Mercedes is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tait perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by George Tait.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mercedes.
Tait stuffs the takedown attempt from Mercedes. Mercedes gets slowly back to his feet.
Mercedes closes the distance and clinches up with Tait, looking for a takedown. Mercedes pushes Tait against the cage but Tait circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Len Mercedes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercedes is breathing heavily.
Tait tries for a takedown but Mercedes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mercedes slaps away a takedown attempt from Tait, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mercedes doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tait counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tait.

Tait turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Tait decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Tait shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tait throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tait clinches up with Mercedes and pushes him back against the cage.
Mercedes avoids a wild elbow strike from Tait.

Tait turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Tait trying to control the action but Mercedes is working from the bottom.

Tait working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Tait stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tait darts in and clinches Mercedes up against the cage.

Tait ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tait no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Tait looking for a guillotine here but Mercedes defends easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tait is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tait moves nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tait dives in and grabs Mercedes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mercedes pushes down on Tait's head and hops out.
Tait tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mercedes swivels and escapes.
Tait fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Len Mercedes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Tait.

Tait closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tait seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mercedes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mercedes is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Tait jumps into side control!
The ground and pound from Tait seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Mercedes is looking for a sweep.
Tait is breathing heavily.

Tait is trying to get an arm triangle but Mercedes is defending well.
Mercedes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tait on the ground.
Mercedes is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tait is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mercedes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mercedes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mercedes tries to get out of the position.
Mercedes is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Tait politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Tait prefers to stall for the moment though.
Tait's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by George Tait.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mercedes.
You can see the frustration on Tait's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mercedes tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Tait manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Tait thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tait lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tait is trying to control the action in half guard but Mercedes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Tait.
Tait wants to control but Mercedes is keeping him busy.
Tait passes the guard and advances to mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tait has isolated one of Mercedes's arms. Mercedes looking to fight him off but Tait twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). George Tait!