PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Mera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Armstrong
vs
Mera

188 cm
26
155 lbs
10 - 1 - 1

168 cm
33
150 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 10 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Bruce Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Jose Mera!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Micheangelo Fripello and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mera.

Armstrong drives through and clinches with Mera against the cage.

Armstrong gets control of Mera's arms and successfully pulls guard. Armstrong will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Armstrong is keeping the position for now.
Mera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Armstrong had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mera defends it easily.
Mera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Armstrong is keeping the position for now.
Armstrong lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Armstrong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Armstrong really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Armstrong works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong prevents Mera from improving his position.
Armstrong is thwarting Mera's attempts to control the position.
Mera taking some punishment here, with Armstrong in his half guard.
Mera is looking to improve his position.
Armstrong with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mera works his way to full guard. Good work.
Armstrong missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Armstrong looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Mera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Armstrong throws a big elbow that misses.
Mera keeping moving, preventing Armstrong from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Armstrong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mera is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mera lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Armstrong wants to sweep here but Mera controlling him for the moment.
Mera looking to pass the guard.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Mera from controlling successfully.
Mera looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Armstrong is on top in guard.

Armstrong scoring with some ground and pound.

Armstrong avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong preventing the sweep.
Armstrong cracks Mera with a solid left hand.
Armstrong pushing down on Mera's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Armstrong controlling the action here.
Mera is pressing down on Armstrong's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mera keeping moving, preventing Armstrong from controlling successfully.
Mera is trying to control the position but Armstrong postures up.
Armstrong content to stall in guard here.
Armstrong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mera is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is pushing down on Mera's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mera is fighting to maintain full guard but Armstrong has managed to sneak the leg through.
Armstrong seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mera moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Armstrong working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mera keeping moving, preventing Armstrong from controlling successfully.
Armstrong will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Armstrong with a nice head shot there.
Mera wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Armstrong trying to control but Mera is working from the bottom.
Armstrong throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Armstrong is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Armstrong dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A swing and a miss from Mera.

Armstrong drives through with a takedown into guard.
Armstrong 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.
Armstrong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Armstrong advances position into side control!
Mera manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Mera is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Armstrong sees it coming and defends easily.

Armstrong actively working from the bottom here.
Armstrong wants to control but Mera is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mera is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Armstrong wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera trying to control the pace.
Mera is pressing down on Armstrong's thigh, looking to free his foot. Armstrong is holding on for now.
Armstrong works his way to full guard. Good work.
Armstrong looking to control.
Armstrong wants to sweep but no luck.
Mera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Armstrong swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mera throws a big right hand that misses.
Mera trying to control but Armstrong is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Armstrong clinches up against the cage.

Armstrong pulls guard effortlessly.
Armstrong working a defensive guard here.

Armstrong is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Armstrong has his foot on Mera's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mera works his way back into a safe position though.

Armstrong looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mera landing with the ground and pound.
Mera postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mera looking to pass the guard.
Mera is looking to work some ground and pound but Armstrong has wrist control.
Mera wants to control from the top but Armstrong keeps moving.
Mera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Mera avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Armstrong is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Armstrong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mera is one step ahead there.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mera working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Armstrong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mera trying to control but Armstrong is working from the bottom.
Armstrong keeping full guard, as Mera tries to pass.
Mera looking to sit in guard and control but Armstrong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Armstrong with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mera trying to keep a closed guard but Armstrong is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Armstrong dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mera gets a takedown into half guard.
Armstrong is pressing down on Mera's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Armstrong wants to sweep but no luck.

Mera postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Armstrong is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mera, into his guard.

Mera keeping moving, preventing Armstrong from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Armstrong wants to control from the top but Mera keeps moving.
Mera is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong is looking for a sweep. Mera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Mera wants to work for an arm triangle but Armstrong is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Armstrong works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mera passes into half guard.
Mera is trying to control the action in half guard but Armstrong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Mera is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Armstrong is just riding it out for now. Mera eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are battling for position here. Armstrong manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Jose Mera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Mera from controlling successfully.
Armstrong is trying to keep Mera in close.
Mera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mera wants to pass the guard but Armstrong is keeping the position.
Armstrong working a defensive guard here.
Mera slips nicely into half guard.
Mera is pressing down on Armstrong's thigh, looking to free his foot. Armstrong is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mera is working away from the top position though.
Armstrong gets back to full guard.

Mera got a little sloppy there for a moment and Armstrong has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mera has managed to get both his arms back between Armstrong's legs - danger averted.
Bruce Armstrong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Armstrong keeping full guard, as Mera tries to pass.

Armstrong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Armstrong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mera won't allow Armstrong to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mera trying to control but Armstrong is working from the bottom.
Mera tries to free his leg and advance position but Armstrong is retaining full guard.

Armstrong working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mera doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mera manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Armstrong is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Mera has his hands clasped together but Armstrong extends and breaks Mera's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Armstrong.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bruce Armstrong!
During a confident post fight interview, Bruce Armstrong thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.