PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Randall Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Davidson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Davidson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Randall Mercer's chin.

Mercer
vs
Davidson

169 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Randall Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Davidson!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mercer gets caught napping as Davidson dives in and scores a takedown. Mercer manages to retain guard.
Mercer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Davidson controls the pace.
Davidson stopping the sweep attempt from Mercer.
Davidson advances to half guard.
Davidson trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Davidson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mercer sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davidson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Still in half guard, Davidson seems content to control.
Mercer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Davidson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Davidson is standing up over Mercer. Mercer looks to escape but Davidson dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Davidson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mercer to his feet.
Mercer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

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

Davidson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mercer wants to improve his position but Davidson is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davidson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Davidson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Davidson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Davidson controlling from mount.
Davidson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davidson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mercer wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Davidson.
Davidson controlling the pace for now.
Davidson punching from mount but Mercer doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Davidson thowing shots but they're missing.
Mercer is breathing heavily.
Poor strikes thrown by Davidson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Davidson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Davidson misses with an attempted mid kick.

Davidson pushes Mercer up against the cage in a clinch.
Mercer is trying to pull guard but Davidson has him pressed against the cage.

Davidson has hold of one of Mercer's legs. Mercer is fighting the takedown attempt but Davidson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Davidson throws a big right hand that misses.
Davidson passes into half guard.

Davidson is looking for a kimura but Mercer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Davidson to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Davidson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Davidson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mercer!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Davidson wants to finish this one by submission but Mercer is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Davidson.
Davidson won't let Mercer get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Mercer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Davidson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Mercer because Davidson loaded up on that one.
Davidson misses with a head shot.

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.
Davidson controlling the pace for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Davidson thowing shots but they're missing.
Davidson content just to control the position here.
Davidson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Davidson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Davidson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Davidson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mercer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Davidson looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Davidson misses with a head shot.

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.
Davidson unloads with some shots from mount but Mercer bucks and avoids them well.
Mercer wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Davidson.
Davidson looking to finish with strikes here!
Mercer is trying to escape the mount.
Davidson controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Poor strikes thrown by Davidson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Davidson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice uppercut lands for Davidson. That snapped Mercer's head back.
Mercer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Davidson defends it nicely.

Davidson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mercer scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Davidson manages to mount him!
Davidson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Davidson controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Davidson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Mercer manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Davidson staying calm.

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.
Davidson advances nicely into full mount.
Davidson controlling his opponent.
Davidson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Davidson content just to control the position here.

Davidson goes for an armbar but Mercer turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mercer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Davidson has Mercer pulled in close to control his posture.

Davidson is looking for a triangle but Mercer pushes his legs off easily.
Mercer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Davidson holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mercer tries to stand but Davidson is controlling from the bottom.
Davidson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mercer trying to control but Davidson is working from the bottom.
Mercer is fighting to break Davidson's control of his arms but Davidson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Davidson avoids the head kick by Mercer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mercer blocks the body kick.
Mercer doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Davidson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mercer thinking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Davidson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Davidson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Davidson!