PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Motor Martino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Velcrow Mercades (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercades has chosen The Baddest- Krispy Kreme as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Martino
vs
Mercades

150 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Motor Martino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Velcrow Mercades!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercades lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Martino circles away quickly and effectively.

Martino looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Martino thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Martino missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Martino in particular looking to stall.
Martino throws a strike but Mercades avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Martino throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martino sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Martino throwing strikes from guard but Mercades blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martino trying to control but Mercades is working from the bottom.
Martino is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Motor Martino just wasn't active enough.
No joy there for Mercades, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Martino really is a fat lump.
Mercades shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Martino but Martino pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mercades looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercades thows a left - swing and a miss!
Martino dodges the punch combination from Mercades.
Velcrow Mercades seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martino shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mercades pinned against the cage. Mercades gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Martino avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Martino shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mercades but Mercades pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Martino shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mercades as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Motor Martino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martino shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mercades sprawls well. Mercades wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Martino gets slowly back to his feet.
Mercades tries a head kick but it misses.
Mercades looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martino closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Mercades's face as Martino controls the position.
Martino has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Martino throws an elbow but Mercades slips to the side and avoids it well.
Martino is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Martino in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martino lands an elbow.
Martino lands an elbow.
Mercades is not content to let Martino control the position.
Mercades is letting Martino control him for a moment.
Mercades is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martino seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mercades for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martino trying to control the position but Mercades is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Motor Martino dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A combination from Mercades does no damage.

Martino throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mercades tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Martino is in Mercades's guard.
Martino wants to control from the top but Mercades keeps moving.
Motor Martino overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Martino missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mercades working a defensive guard here.
Mercades keeping moving, preventing Martino from controlling successfully.
Martino is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Martino 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Motor Martino.
Mercades leaves Martino with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mercades misses with a few strikes there.
Sloppy strikes from Mercades. Those never looked like landing.
Mercades leaves Martino with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mercades throws a nice looking combination but Martino bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mercades tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Martino fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Motor Martino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martino checks a low kick from Mercades.

Martino shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martino controlling the position easily from mount.
Mercades takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Martino fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Martino controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercades can't escape the position.
Martino landing strikes from the mount.
Mercades is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Martino landing strikes from the mount and Mercades is in trouble!
Martino tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Martino unloading with bombs!
Mercades is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martino breaks from Mercades's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Martino breaks from Mercades's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Martino content just to control the position here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Martino has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mercades's face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martino controlling from the full mount.
A nice elbow there by Martino.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Motor Martino dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Martino checks a leg kick.

Martino looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Martino content to stall in guard here.
Martino wants to control from the top but Mercades keeps moving.
Mercades wants to stand and escape but Martino is having none of it.
Martino controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Motor Martino has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Mercades lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mercades.
Mercades thows a body shot but no joy.

Martino shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mercades napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Martino working the ground and pound.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Mercades manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martino wants to pass to mount but Mercades is defending the position.
Mercades keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martino moves nicely into side control.
Velcrow Mercades has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martino slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martino's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Martino throws a strike aimed at the side of Mercades's head but Mercades avoids it well.
Mercades is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercades is trying to escape the position but Martino is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Motor Martino showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Martino, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Motor Martino!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Motor Martino!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Motor Martino!

Motor Martino wins by unanimous decision!