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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danjie Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Twiggy BigBranch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercado comes to the cage accompanied by Pagsubok. Twiggy BigBranch has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 168 cm
26
147 lbs
15 - 4 - 0 |
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169 cm
24
142 lbs
6 - 0 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danjie Mercado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Twiggy BigBranch!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
BigBranch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mercado manages to avoid it.
Mercado darts in looking for a takedown but BigBranch gets double underhooks and turns Mercado into the cage.
BigBranch stuffs the takedown.
BigBranch scores with the left hand. Mercado knows he should have avoided that one.
Mercado takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Mercado throws a head kick but BigBranch moves out of range.
BigBranch misses with a body shot.
Mercado misses the shot to the body.
BigBranch lands a nice shot to the body.
BigBranch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mercado.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
BigBranch scores with a nice head shot.
Mercado fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
BigBranch feints a counter leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danjie Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercado gets cracked with a nice right hand there by BigBranch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
BigBranch swings widly with a right hand
and Mercado counters with a shoot takedown. BigBranch fights it but they end up in guard.
BigBranch keeping full guard, as Mercado tries to pass.
BigBranch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mercado.
Mercado postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
BigBranch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mercado moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
BigBranch wants to control from the top but Mercado keeps moving.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
BigBranch working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
BigBranch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mercado looking for subs off his back but BigBranch has passed one foot through into half guard.
BigBranch trying to control the pace.
BigBranch is trying to control the action in half guard but Mercado is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but BigBranch pulls his head out easily.
BigBranch prevents Mercado from improving his position.
Mercado looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mercado moves into full guard.
Mercado trying to control the position.
BigBranch connects with a couple of short punches.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
BigBranch looking to sit in guard and control but Mercado gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mercado has gone for a leg lock! BigBranch slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mercado's guard.
Mercado keeping moving, preventing BigBranch from controlling successfully.
Mercado controls BigBranch momentarily but BigBranch frees himself.
BigBranch chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
BigBranch wants to control from the top but Mercado keeps moving.
Mercado manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. BigBranch manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Twiggy BigBranch dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Mercado closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. BigBranch quickly recovers to half guard.
Mercado with the ground and pound but BigBranch uses the opportunity to regain guard.
BigBranch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mercado with a nice head shot there.
BigBranch keeping full guard, as Mercado tries to pass.
We've been hearing that Mercado has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Mercado throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
BigBranch keeping full guard, as Mercado tries to pass.
Mercado wants to control from the top but BigBranch keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
BigBranch is trying to control the position but Mercado postures up.
Mercado connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
BigBranch keeping moving, preventing Mercado from controlling successfully.
BigBranch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mercado fails with a takedown attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
BigBranch slaps away a takedown attempt from Mercado, before circling back to the center of the mat.
BigBranch stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and BigBranch wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danjie Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
BigBranch scores with a leg kick.
Mercado misses with a takedown
letting BigBranch counter with a right hand.
Mercado shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has BigBranch pinned against the cage. BigBranch gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
BigBranch scores with a leg kick.
BigBranch chopping away at his opponent's legs.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
BigBranch lands a glancing blow to the side of Mercado's head.
BigBranch throws a leg kick which misses Mercado's front leg but catches the back leg as Mercado tries to avoid it.
Mercado tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but BigBranch swivels and escapes.
Mercado takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mercado closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mercado lands in his opponent's guard.
Mercado wants to control from the top but BigBranch keeps moving.
BigBranch keeping full guard, as Mercado tries to pass.
BigBranch looking for a sweep. Not yet BigBranch, not yet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado throws a big right hand that misses.
Mercado landing some decent shots from guard.
Mercado trying to control the position from guard on top but BigBranch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
BigBranch is trying to control the position but Mercado postures up.
Mercado stopping the sweep attempt from BigBranch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mercado throws a strike but BigBranch rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercado throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Twiggy BigBranch will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Mercado fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mercado is defended easily by BigBranch.
BigBranch has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Mercado bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mercado 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
BigBranch is trying to improve his position.
Mercado 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.
Mercado tries to advance to mount but can't.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
BigBranch tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mercado wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mercado misses with the ground and pound.
Mercado with the ground and pound but BigBranch regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
BigBranch won't allow Mercado to pass to mount.
Mercado is trying to control. BigBranch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
BigBranch keeping control of the position.
BigBranch tries to get to full guard but Mercado has control of the leg.
That's two 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.
BigBranch avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mercado.
Mercado is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and BigBranch reverses the position - he's now on top in Mercado's guard.
Mercado keeping moving, preventing BigBranch from controlling successfully.
BigBranch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
BigBranch advances position into side control!
Mercado tries to buck BigBranch off but BigBranch is having none of it.
BigBranch wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mercado keeps working.
Mercado manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
BigBranch is taking a breather. Mercado says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
BigBranch's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Mercado is staying active underneath BigBranch, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mercado moves into full guard.
Mercado working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. BigBranch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. BigBranch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
BigBranch wants to control from the top but Mercado keeps moving.
Mercado looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mercado wants to improve his position but instead BigBranch has moved into half guard.
Danjie Mercado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Twiggy BigBranch is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
BigBranch trying to mount his opponent but Mercado defends it.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Danjie Mercado.
I think BigBranch 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Twiggy BigBranch!
Twiggy BigBranch decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
Danjie Mercado spoke after the fight, saying 'Well, what can I say man. He's the better man today. I'll be back. '.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
31% |
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