PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Moses Ohchooto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danjie Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercado is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pagsubok. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ohchooto
vs
Mercado

167 cm
28
145 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

168 cm
30
147 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Moses Ohchooto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danjie Mercado!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mercado manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ohchooto on his heels. He'll look to pass Ohchooto's guard now, I'm sure.

Ohchooto pushes Mercado off and scrambles back to his feet.
Mercado looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Mercado fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Ohchooto misses the target.
A jab from Mercado misses.
Mercado changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mercado.
Mercado fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ohchooto avoids it really well and circles away.
Ohchooto throws a quick counter kick to the body but Mercado avoids it.
Moses Ohchooto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danjie Mercado.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado shoots for a double leg takedown but Ohchooto sprawls well. He's pushed Mercado's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mercado misses with a takedown attempt
and Ohchooto counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Donk. Ohchooto catches Mercado right on the button with a cross.
Mercado tries for a takedown but Ohchooto circles away easily
and Ohchooto counters with an inside leg kick.
Ohchooto looks to land a left hand but Mercado moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ohchooto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ohchooto connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Moses Ohchooto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ohchooto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mercado.
Mercado shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ohchooto defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado darts in looking for a takedown but Ohchooto gets double underhooks and turns Mercado into the cage.
An attempted straight right counter from Ohchooto misses the target.
Mercado fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ohchooto looks to score with a jab to the body but Mercado is just out of range.
Mercado tries for a takedown but Ohchooto circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Mercado shoots for a takedown but Ohchooto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Ohchooto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ohchooto takes a swing at Mercado's ribcage but misses.
Mercado shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercado bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mercado is looking to take a break and control but Ohchooto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mercado landing a few strikes.
Mercado landing strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ohchooto is not content to let Mercado control the position.
Mercado tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ohchooto's legs.

Mercado is trying to get an arm triangle but Ohchooto is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Ohchooto dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mercado fails with a takedown attempt.
Mercado fails with the takedown
and Ohchooto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ohchooto misses with a right hand

and Mercado counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado is pressing down on Ohchooto's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ohchooto is holding on for now.
Mercado has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ohchooto is looking to escape.
Nice strikes from Mercado there.
Danjie Mercado has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mercado throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mercado lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ohchooto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mercado can do to turn this around?
Mercado throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mercado thows a huge punch but Ohchooto dodges it nicely.
Ohchooto wants to get back to his feet.
Mercado thows a huge punch but Ohchooto dodges it nicely.
Mercado winds up and cracks Ohchooto with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mercado sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ohchooto defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercado scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mercado slips a nice elbow through Ohchooto's hands, connecting with Ohchooto's forehead.

Mercado is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ohchooto defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercado sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ohchooto defending well though.
Mercado trying to control the action but Ohchooto is working from the bottom.
Ohchooto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mercado being controlled here momentarily.
Mercado throwing strikes from guard but Ohchooto blocks nicely.
Ohchooto is controlling Mercado's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado throws a big elbow that misses.
Mercado looking to sit in guard and control but Ohchooto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mercado wants to sweep here but Ohchooto controlling him for the moment.

Ohchooto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ohchooto postures up.

Mercado is looking for a triangle but Ohchooto pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercado had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ohchooto defends it easily.
Mercado looking to control.
Ohchooto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ohchooto has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mercado is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mercado is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danjie Mercado showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mercado dives in for a single leg takedown but Ohchooto sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A little feinted left hand from Ohchooto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mercado with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ohchooto counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ohchooto throws a big shot that misses.
Mercado changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ohchooto connects with a leg kick. Mercado looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Mercado shoots in looking for a takedown. Ohchooto tries to sprawl out of it but Mercado keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ohchooto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Moses Ohchooto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danjie Mercado.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ohchooto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ohchooto swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ohchooto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mercado drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ohchooto defends it well.
Ohchooto misses with a wild body shot.
Mercado with a poor takedown
and Ohchooto counters with a straight right hand.
Mercado tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ohchooto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mercado somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ohchooto misses with an uppercut. Mercado saw that one coming.
Mercado drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ohchooto defends it well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mercado.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Ohchooto slaps away a takedown attempt from Mercado, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ohchooto feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Ohchooto leaves Mercado with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ohchooto is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Mercado misses with a takedown attempt
and Ohchooto counters with a stiff right hand.
Mercado tries for a takedown but Ohchooto circles away easily
and Ohchooto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Mercado drives through with a takedown into Ohchooto's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ohchooto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mercado.
Mercado won't allow Ohchooto to sweep him here.
Mercado postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mercado slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ohchooto is trying to control Mercado's posture but Mercado avoids it.
Ohchooto tries to improve position but can't.
Mercado tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ohchooto's legs.
Ohchooto is not content to let Mercado control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mercado connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ohchooto some visible discomfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Ohchooto clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mercado avoids the body shot from Ohchooto.
Mercado looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mercado shoots in looking for a takedown. Ohchooto tries to sprawl out of it but Mercado keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ohchooto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
It looked like Ohchooto wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mercado misses with a lunging right hand
and Ohchooto counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ohchooto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mercado somewhat.
Ohchooto throws a big counter combination but Mercado scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ohchooto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mercado changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mercado shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ohchooto pinned against the cage. Ohchooto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ohchooto appears to be looking for a big counter.
Moses Ohchooto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danjie Mercado.
Mercado displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ohchooto throws out the jab.
Mercado feints the counter takedown.
Ohchooto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Moses Ohchooto is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mercado looks to land a right hand but Ohchooto moved out of range.
Mercado tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ohchooto defends well and Mercado ends up having to push Ohchooto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Ohchooto misses the target.

Mercado scores with a takedown into Ohchooto's guard.
Ohchooto looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mercado throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ohchooto wants to stand up but Mercado is controlling him.
Ohchooto keeping moving, preventing Mercado from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado wants to pass the guard but Ohchooto is keeping the position.
Mercado with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mercado passes Ohchooto's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Mercado is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ohchooto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Mercado looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mercado is looking for a kimura here.

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.
Ohchooto wants to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mercado throwing shots but Ohchooto is blocking nicely.

Mercado is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ohchooto defends it well.
Mercado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Danjie Mercado will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ohchooto gets caught flat footed, as Mercado shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mercado scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mercado pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ohchooto is keeping the position for now.
Ohchooto can't keep his opponent in guard - Mercado advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mercado looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ohchooto wants to improve his position but Mercado is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercado is trying for a kimura here. Ohchooto looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Mercado wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Danjie Mercado!
Danjie Mercado is the new bantamweight champion!
Danjie Mercado made sure to mention his sponsor, FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) in his post fight interview.