PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danjie Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Tallon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Mercado might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Pagsubok. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mercado
vs
Tallon

168 cm
30
147 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

169 cm
30
141 lbs
25 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System

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 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danjie Mercado!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sean Tallon!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercado closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tallon circles away.
Tallon connects with a jab.
Mercado slips a straight right by Tallon.
Tallon misses with a leg kick.
Mercado uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tallon.
Tallon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mercado.
Tallon swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mercado appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado throws a body shot but no joy.
Mercado misses with a takedown
and Tallon counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tallon cracks Mercado with a good jab.
Tallon has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Mercado tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tallon defends well and Mercado ends up having to push Tallon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tallon looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danjie Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tallon lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mercado has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mercado and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A counter left hand to the body from Mercado misses its target.

Mercado looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Tallon has one foot on Mercado's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Tallon throws a looping overhand right but Mercado ducks down to avoid it.

Tallon tries to sprawl but Mercado drives through with a takedown into half guard.
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!
Mercado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tallon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mercado.
Mercado working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tallon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tallon is looking 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.
Tallon regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Mercado.
Mercado throws a big right hand that misses.
Mercado won't allow Tallon to sweep him here.
Mercado throws an elbow that misses. Tallon uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mercado's guard. Nice move by Tallon!

Tallon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mercado wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercado looking for a guillotine here but Tallon defends easily.
Mercado working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercado wants to sweep here but Tallon controlling him for the moment.

Mercado looking for subs off his back but Tallon has passed one foot through into half guard.

Mercado actively working from the bottom here.

That's four 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.
Tallon controlling the action here.
Tallon tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mercado knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Mercado looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Tallon 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 looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Tallon is defending against the submission attempts here by Mercado.
Mercado looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tallon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado misses with a head shot. Tallon uses the momentum to regain guard.
Mercado throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tallon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado preventing the sweep.
Mercado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tallon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tallon keeping moving, preventing Mercado from controlling successfully.
Mercado loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tallon seems keen to control Mercado's posture.
Tallon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mercado is one step ahead there.

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.
Tallon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mercado manages to get himself to full guard.

Mercado working for a triangle but Tallon defends it easily.

Mercado had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tallon defends it easily.
Tallon controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercado throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Tallon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mercado wants to sweep here but Tallon controlling him for the moment.

Mercado escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tallon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four 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.
Mercado manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tallon manages to get himself to full guard.

Mercado is looking to work some ground and pound but Tallon has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tallon is on top in guard.

Tallon is fighting to break Mercado's control of his arms but Mercado is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mercado is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Danjie Mercado will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A lazy left from Tallon finds it's target.
A head kick misses from Tallon.
Mercado shoots for a double leg takedown but Tallon sprawls well. He's pushed Mercado's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tallon wants to slow Mercado down by chopping away at his legs.
Tallon connects with a single shot there.
Tallon darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mercado is defended easily by Tallon.
Sean Tallon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tallon moves into the clinch.
A short right from Tallon.
Tallon gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mercado.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danjie Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercado's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tallon pushes Mercado back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mercado takes a shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tallon.
Mercado jumps guard but Tallon turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A shot in the inside from Tallon.
Tallon lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tallon lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tallon makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Mercado is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A frustrated look appears on Mercado's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Oh Mercado is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Tallon drops Mercado onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Mercado is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Mercado wants to take the fight to the mat but Tallon manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Tallon.
Tallon lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tallon lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mercado is working for takedown but Tallon is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tallon gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mercado.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mercado is working for takedown but Tallon is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tallon lands a body punch.
Mercado seems to have got his legs back now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tallon.
Tallon lands a hook that snaps the head of Mercado backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tallon creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tallon lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nice body punch from Tallon.
Tallon lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tallon creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Mercado with a big uppercut! Mercado tries to clinch up but Tallon pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Mercado to the mat! Mercado covers up and Tallon unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Sean Tallon!
Sean Tallon is the new bantamweight champion!
A relieved looking Sean Tallon thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Danjie Mercado spoke after the fight, saying 'Well, what can I say man. He's the better man today. I'll be back. '.