PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danjie Mercado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Moses Ohchooto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercado comes to the cage accompanied by Pagsubok. Moses Ohchooto has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Mercado
vs
Ohchooto

168 cm
31
147 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

167 cm
30
145 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Museum of Monsters & Madmen
KAISER

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 - 9 - 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 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Moses Ohchooto!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ohchooto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Mercado counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mercado throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mercado is just content to waste time from the top position. Ohchooto takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ohchooto keeping moving, preventing Mercado from controlling successfully.
Mercado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ohchooto swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ohchooto pushes Mercado off and gets back to his feet.
Donk. Ohchooto catches Mercado right on the button with a cross.
Nice sprawl there from Ohchooto as Mercado shoots in.
Ohchooto swings widly with a right hand
and Mercado counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ohchooto misses with an uppercut.
Mercado ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ohchooto. Mercado shrugs it off though.
Ohchooto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mercado.
Ohchooto throws a lazy right hand but Mercado sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mercado drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ohchooto sprawls and moves away.
Mercado shoots for a takedown but Ohchooto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ohchooto displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mercado.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danjie Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ohchooto misses with a series of wild punches.
Mercado drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ohchooto sprawls and moves away.
Mercado darts in looking for a takedown but Ohchooto gets double underhooks and turns Mercado into the cage.
Ohchooto lands a head kick. Mercado smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Mercado is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ohchooto cracks Mercado with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ohchooto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ohchooto lands with a shot to the body.
Moses Ohchooto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mercado shoots in for a takedown but Ohchooto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Moses Ohchooto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercado misses with a looping right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ohchooto pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ohchooto has managed to clinch.
Ohchooto is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ohchooto stops a takedown attempt from Mercado.
A shot in the inside from Ohchooto.
Ohchooto scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A shot in the inside from Ohchooto.
Ohchooto utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Mercado takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ohchooto walks away with a smile on his face. Mercado gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ohchooto wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mercado fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ohchooto scores with a sloppy right hand. Mercado should have avoided that one.
Mercado fails with a takedown attempt.
Ohchooto lands a jab to the head.
Ohchooto connects with a body shot that sends Mercado's belly button to the back.
Mercado with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ohchooto counters with a head kick.

Mercado is rocked!
Ohchooto ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Oh Mercado is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ohchooto scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice sprawl there from Ohchooto as Mercado shoots in.
Mercado seems to have got his legs back now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercado uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ohchooto.
Ohchooto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ohchooto jabs at Mercado's body.
Ohchooto connects with a single shot there.
Ohchooto lands a nice shot to the body.
Mercado walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mercado doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ohchooto fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ohchooto misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Ohchooto dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mercado takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ohchooto digs a good body shot into Mercado's ribs.
A head kick by Ohchooto misses

and Mercado counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mercado throws a big elbow that misses.
Mercado in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mercado missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mercado in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mercado working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mercado throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ohchooto keeping moving, preventing Mercado from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mercado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mercado postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mercado scores with a couple of short elbows.
Ohchooto tries to buck Mercado off but Mercado is having none of it.

Mercado wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ohchooto, who protects the arm well.
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 wants to control but Ohchooto is keeping him busy.
Ohchooto is looking to regain half guard here but Mercado keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Ohchooto's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ohchooto is not content to let Mercado control the position.
Mercado working the ground and pound.
Mercado cracks Ohchooto with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ohchooto dodges the ground and pound from Mercado.

Mercado is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ohchooto knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Mercado goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ohchooto rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Mercado's guard! Nice work there by Ohchooto!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado trying to keep a closed guard but Ohchooto is proving a slippery customer.
Ohchooto is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mercado looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ohchooto is one step ahead there.
Mercado looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ohchooto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Mercado is looking to improve his position.
Mercado is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ohchooto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mercado knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mercado moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Mercado is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mercado wants to improve his position but instead Ohchooto has moved into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mercado actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danjie Mercado dominated that second 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.

Ohchooto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mercado.
Ohchooto throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ohchooto tries to clinch but Mercado is having none of it.
Mercado half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ohchooto digs a good hook to Mercado's body.
Ohchooto with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ohchooto connects with a nice looking jab.
Ohchooto is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mercado goes for a double leg but Ohchooto avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ohchooto continues to drive forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ohchooto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mercado drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ohchooto sprawls and moves away.
Ohchooto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Ohchooto throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mercado changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ohchooto ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ohchooto lands with a nice body punch.
Mercado shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ohchooto but Ohchooto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danjie Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercado shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ohchooto as he avoids it easily.
Ohchooto moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mercado shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ohchooto defends it nicely.
Mercado walks into a stiff left hand from Ohchooto.
Ohchooto throws a quick inside leg kick.
Moses Ohchooto seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ohchooto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mercado.
Ohchooto misses with a head kick.
Mercado drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ohchooto sprawls and moves away.
Ohchooto misses with a double jab.
Nice shot lands for Ohchooto.
Mercado uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ohchooto.
Mercado closes the distance and clinches up with Ohchooto, looking for a takedown. Mercado pushes Ohchooto against the cage but Ohchooto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ohchooto scores with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch combination from Ohchooto misses.
Mercado avoids the head kick by Ohchooto.
Mercado is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ohchooto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mercado takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ohchooto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ohchooto wants it to stay on the feet.
Mercado shoots in and drives through. Ohchooto sprawls well.
Ohchooto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ohchooto cracks Mercado with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mercado misses with a takedown attempt - Ohchooto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ohchooto.
Nice cross by Ohchooto.
Mercado misses with a wild body shot.
Ohchooto is looking to land body kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado shoots in for a double leg but Ohchooto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Mercado throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ohchooto tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mercado is in Ohchooto's guard.

Ohchooto wriggles free and stands up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ohchooto lands a nice looking body shot.
Mercado fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Ohchooto really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mercado looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ohchooto is fending him off so far but Mercado persists. Nope, Ohchooto circles away and we're back to standing.
Ohchooto lands a really nice looking cross but Mercado seems unphased.
Ohchooto uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mercado has time to react.
Mercado takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mercado gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ohchooto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ohchooto lands the left hand.
Mercado looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Ohchooto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercado moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ohchooto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mercado shoots for a takedown but Ohchooto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danjie Mercado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ohchooto is looking to clinch.
Ohchooto lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ohchooto throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Mercado shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ohchooto's guard.
Ohchooto seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercado is looking to work some ground and pound but Ohchooto has wrist control.
Ohchooto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ohchooto 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.
Mercado throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercado tries to free his leg and advance position but Ohchooto is retaining full guard.
Mercado wants to control from the top but Ohchooto keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mercado tries to free his leg and advance position but Ohchooto is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mercado shoots in for a takedown but Ohchooto shows good takedown defense.
Mercado shoots in but no luck this time.

Mercado drives through with a takedown into Ohchooto's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mercado trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mercado trying to control but Ohchooto is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ohchooto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ohchooto wants to stand and escape but Mercado is having none of it.
Mercado postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mercado throwing strikes from guard but Ohchooto blocks nicely.
Mercado advances to half guard.
Mercado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nice strikes from Mercado there.
Ohchooto is doing well to control the position and prevent Mercado from advancing to side control.
Mercado wants to pass to mount but Ohchooto is defending the position.
Ohchooto felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ohchooto is not content to let Mercado control the position.
Mercado is thwarting Ohchooto's attempts to control the position.
Mercado is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Ohchooto reverses the position - he's now on top in Mercado's guard.

Mercado looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Ohchooto dominated that fourth 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 hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mercado shoots in but Ohchooto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ohchooto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ohchooto cracks Mercado with an open hand slap.
Ohchooto throws a left and a right that both miss

and Mercado counters with a shoot takedown. Ohchooto fights it but they end up in guard.
Mercado passes into half guard.
Mercado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercado is looking to take a break and control but Ohchooto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mercado is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mercado has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ohchooto wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mercado.
Ohchooto is desperately trying to improve his position but Mercado has a good base and remains in mount.
Ohchooto tries to hold on but Mercado postures up.
Mercado landing strikes from the mount.
Mercado unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercado throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Ohchooto tries to hold on but Mercado postures up.
Ohchooto is bucking up trying to escape but Mercado cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Mercado unloads with some shots from mount but Ohchooto bucks and avoids them well.
Mercado breaks from Ohchooto's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mercado with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Ohchooto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Mercado is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ohchooto has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ohchooto!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercado not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado keeping moving, preventing Ohchooto from controlling successfully.
Mercado has a closed guard, preventing Ohchooto from standing up.
Ohchooto not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mercado is trying to control the position but Ohchooto postures up.
Ohchooto not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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.

Mercado is looking for a triangle here but Ohchooto uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Mercado gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Mercado looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mercado controlling the position well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danjie Mercado showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ohchooto 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 46:48
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 47:48
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 46:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Moses Ohchooto! Moses Ohchooto retains his bantamweight title!
A relieved looking Moses Ohchooto thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Danjie Mercado stepped up to the mic, saying 'Well, what can I say man. He's the better man today. I'll be back. '.