PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tyrese Mercado (ranked 2546 p4p, 2627 weight class) and Troy Knight (ranked 276 p4p, 288 weight class). Troy Knight is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mercado
vs
Knight

194 cm
25
155
2 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
160
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Black Lab Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tyrese Mercado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Troy Knight!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight scoring well with a low kick there.
Knight moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Knight scoring well with a low kick there.
Knight keeps the fight on the outside.

Mercado clinches up against the cage.

Knight manages to break the clinch.
Troy Knight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knight fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Knight throws a jab when Mercado was well out of range.
Knight pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mercado clinches up with Knight and pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knight.
Knight tries to circle away but Mercado has him pinned against the cage.
Mercado throws a punch but it's blocked by Knight.
Knight's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Knight tries to land knees in the clinch but Mercado avoids the damage to the body.
Mercado misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mercado pushes Knight back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mercado really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knight blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knight takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mercado misses with some punches.

Knight's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mercado moves out of range of the body kick from Knight.
Mercado fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knight's coach down at Shut Up & Train! was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Knight's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A jab from Knight misses.

Mercado rushes Knight and presses him up against the cage.
Mercado softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mercado throws a head punch that misses.

Knight's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Mercado drives through and clinches with Knight against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Knight's face as he tries to break the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mercado creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Knight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters circling a little - Knight finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Mercado misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Knight.
Mercado moves in looking to clinch but Knight pushes him off.
Knight pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Mercado.
Mercado is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knight throws out a loose jab but Mercado uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good work by Mercado as he checks the leg kick.
Knight doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Mercado has managed to clinch.
Knight trying to stall but Mercado improves his position.
Knight blocking some punches.
Mercado misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mercado misses with the head strike.
Knight is trying to push Mercado away but Mercado has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mercado swings wildly with an uppercut but Knight uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercado lands a right hand.

Mercado escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercado wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercado showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Knight.
Mercado keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Knight.
Mercado on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Knight. Knight obviously looking to wear him down.
Knight lands a leg kick that knocks Mercado off balance momentarily.
Knight is looking to chop away at Mercado's legs.
An attempted straight right counter from Mercado misses the target.
Knight keeps the fight on the outside.
Knight swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Knight loads up on a big right hand but Mercado slips the punch.
Decent striking displayed by Knight there.
Mercado tries to clinch but Knight moves out of range.
A low kick from Knight is predictable there
and Mercado counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mercado tries to close the distance and clinch but Knight swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big right from Knight misses.
Mercado takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mercado lands with a nice body punch.
Mercado scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Knight doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knight throws a right and a left that Mercado avoids nicely.
Mercado is looking for a counter combo.
Mercado lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Knight circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercado connects with a body shot that sends Knight's belly button to the back.
Mercado takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mercado stuns Knight with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Knight throws a series of punches but Mercado avoids them all with ease.
Mercado avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Knight avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick misses from Knight.
Mercado throwing a counter right hand but Knight manages to avoid it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mercado.
Mercado misses with the head strike.
Mercado swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knight working hard to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Mercado fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Mercado fails to land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercado has Knight pressed against the cage, preventing Knight from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mercado misses with a jab, cross combination.
Knight is looking to slow Mercado down with leg kicks.
Mercado doesn't manage to clinch there - Knight circles away.
Good work by Mercado as he checks the leg kick.
Mercado tries to clinch but Knight is having none of it.
Mercado sizes up Knight with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mercado showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Knight.
Mercado blocks a head kick by Knight.
Mercado tries to close the distance and clinch but Knight swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mercado moves out of range of the strikes.
Knight swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mercado closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mercado misses with a body shot.
Mercado tries to clinch up but Knight circles away and keeps his distance.
Knight misses with a few strikes there.
Knight misses with a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercado takes a swing at Knight's ribcage but misses.
Mercado lands with a good body shot.
Troy Knight seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Knight changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight throws a head kick but Mercado moves out of range.
Mercado tries to clinch up.
Mercado stuns Knight with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Knight dodges the punch combination from Mercado.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Knight in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Knight fails to land with a series of punches.
Mercado's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Mercado duly obliges.
Knight on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mercado on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Knight. Knight obviously looking to wear him down.
Knight throws out a loose jab but Mercado uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercado fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Knight looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tyrese Mercado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knight takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Knight connects with a solid leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knight throws a poor cross that misses
and Mercado counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mercado lands a nice looking body shot.
Knight pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Mercado pushes Knight up against the cage in a clinch.
Knight is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knight misses with an uppercut.

Mercado pushes Knight up against the cage in a clinch.
Knight wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Knight breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mercado fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Knight looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mercado is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Knight can do to turn this around?
Mercado tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knight paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knight circles away from the clinch attempt.
Knight keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mercado is looking to wear down Knight with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Knight connects with a leg kick.
Knight wants to slow Mercado down by chopping away at his legs.
Knight avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knight buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mercado avoids the body shot from Knight.
A counter left hand to the body from Mercado misses its target.
Mercado is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Mercado blocks a head kick by Knight.
Knight needs to keep his hands up - Mercado had a free shot at his head there.
Mercado tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercado closes the distance and clinches.
Mercado throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mercado.

Mercado breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knight misses with a low kick.
Knight tries a head kick but it misses.

Mercado moves into the clinch.
Knight blocks an uppercut.

Knight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercado is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Knight misses the target.
Knight throws a body shot but no joy.
Mercado fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mercado throws a nice looking combination but Knight bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mercado lands a jab to Knight's midsection.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Knight 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.
Knight misses the shot to the body.
Mercado swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Mercado has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mercado tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knight swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mercado lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big right from Knight misses.
Mercado lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Knight circles away quickly and effectively.
A punch combination from Knight misses.
Mercado shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Knight eats them both and turns towards Mercado to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Mercado is looking to clinch.
Knight uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mercado has time to react.
Mercado avoids a punch combination nicely.
Knight looks to score with a jab to the body but Mercado is just out of range.
Knight throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercado scores with a nice right hand.
Mercado bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Knight looks to land a left hand but Mercado moved out of range nicely.
Mercado is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Mercado misses with the combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tyrese Mercado dominated that second round.
That's time! Mercado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Knight throws a body shot but no joy.
Mercado is looking to clinch but Knight is avoiding it.
Knight swings for the body but Mercado moves out of range.
Knight is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Mercado on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Knight. Knight obviously looking to wear him down.
Mercado connects with a nice looking jab.
Mercado steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Knight.

Mercado has managed to clinch.
Mercado misses with a hook from the clinch.
Knight blocking some punches.

Knight breaks the clinch.
Mercado lands with a nice combination. Knight backs away looking to recover.
Knight circles away from the clinch attempt.
Knight misses with an uppercut. Mercado saw that one coming.
A solid leg kick lands there for Knight.
Knight misses with a wild body shot.
Mercado tries to clinch but Knight is having none of it.
Mercado defending well as Knight loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knight keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Knight looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Knight throws a sloppy head kick and Mercado moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Knight misses the target.
Mercado dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mercado digs a good hook to Knight's body.
Mercado scores with a one two! Knight had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mercado lands a jab.
Mercado bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Knight chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Knight throws a right hand that Mercado ducks under and follows up with a left that Mercado also avoids with ease.
Knight closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Knight is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knight misses with a hook.

Mercado fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knight, pushing him back against the cage.
Mercado lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mercado.
Knight is still on wobbly legs! Can Mercado finish him?

Knight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercado throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Knight seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mercado gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mercado has a couple of punches blocked by Knight.
Mercado throws a punch but it's blocked by Knight.
Mercado throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Knights head.
Mercado tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tyrese Mercado has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mercado swings wildly with an uppercut but Knight uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knight.
Mercado misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knight tries to circle away but Mercado has him pinned against the cage.
Knight wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mercado breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mercado changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mercado tries to bum rush Knight with a series of wild strikes but Knight uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight throws a body punch but Mercado moves out of range.
Mercado throwing a counter right hand but Knight manages to avoid it.
Mercado lands a nice looking body shot.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Knight. Mercado shrugs it off though.
Knight misses with a body kick.
Mercado seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mercado tries to close the distance and clinch but Knight swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knight throws a head kick that misses.
Knight has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mercado slips under a jab from Knight.
Knight looks to land a right hand but Mercado moved out of range.
A head kick misses from Knight.
Knight takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mercado forces Knight back against the cage and clinches.
Knight blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Knight breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knight throws a leg kick but Mercado moved away.
Mercado cracks Knight with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercado bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Knight's head backwards.
Mercado doesn't manage to clinch there - Knight circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight throws a leg kick but Mercado moved away.
Mercado thuds his right hand into Knight's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Knight throws a head kick that misses.
Knight bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mercado's head.

Mercado moves into range and clinches up with Knight.
Knight has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mercado.

Knight breaks the clinch.
Mercado cracks Knight with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Mercado connects with a looping right hand.
Knight with the inside leg kick.
Mercado with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Knight to score with a decent uppercut.
A bone on bone clash there as Mercado blocks the leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knight throws a series of punches but Mercado moves out of range.
It looked like Mercado wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Knight misses with an uppercut.

Mercado darts in and clinches Knight up against the cage.
Mercado scores with a nice hook to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tyrese Mercado clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Knight throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Knight tried to score with a low kick but Mercado checks it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mercado looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knight has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Knight misses with a double jab.

Mercado forces Knight back against the cage and clinches.
Mercado has a couple of punches blocked by Knight.

Mercado breaks from the clinch.
Mercado ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Knight moves away.
A slow jab from Knight misses its intended target.
A solid body kick from Knight.
Knight swats away the attempt to clinch by Mercado.
Knight was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knight throws a push kick but Mercado slaps the foot to one side.
Knight throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Knight scores with a one two! Mercado had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Knight swings for the body but Mercado moves out of range.
Knight throws the kick towards the body but Mercado avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Mercado there.
Knight throws a jab when Mercado was well out of range.
Knight throws a shot from downtown. Mercado moves away and avoids it.
Mercado lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Knight lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mercado's sensitive parts.
Knight throws a head kick that misses.
Knight is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Mercado lands a nice shot to the body.
Mercado fails with an attempt to clinch.
Knight on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Knight tries to keep at a distance but Mercado has taken the fight into the clinch.

Knight manages to break the clinch.

Mercado closes the distance and clinches.
Mercado tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mercado misses with a punch on the inside.

Knight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knight swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Knight throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mercado seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mercado looks to land a combination but Knight avoids it well.
Mercado lands a two punch combo.
Mercado avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mercado tries to clinch but Knight is having none of it.
Knight throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mercado counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A jab from Knight misses.
Mercado wants to clinch up but Knight keeps it at a distance.
Knight with the counter takedown but Mercado avoids it easily.
Knight tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mercado scores with a sloppy right hand. Knight should have avoided that one.
Mercado lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Mercado lands a jab-cross combination.
Mercado scores with the left hand. Knight knows he should have avoided that one.
Knight takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Knight thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A big right from Knight misses.
Mercado appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Mercado has taken the fight to the clinch.
Knight is trying to break the clinch but Mercado has him pressed against the cage.

Knight manages to break the clinch.

Mercado rushes Knight and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mercado working aggressively here.

Knight manages to break the clinch.
Knight looks to land a left hand but Mercado moved out of range nicely.
Mercado swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Mercado clinches up with Knight and pushes him back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mercado.

Mercado breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A leg kick checked by Mercado.

Mercado closes the distance and clinches.
Mercado lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercado breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercado scores with a nice head shot.
Mercado misses the shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Knight. Those never looked like landing.
Mercado fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knight throws a lazy uppercut
and Mercado counters with a series of strikes. Knight will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mercado drops his hands momentarily and Knight takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Mercado blocks a head kick by Knight.
Mercado thuds a left hand into Knight's body.
Knight pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Knight rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mercado counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mercado tries to clinch there but Knight circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knight rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mercado counters with a nice uppercut.

Mercado clinches up against the cage.

Knight breaks the clinch.
Knight throws out a loose jab but Mercado uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tyrese Mercado had his way with Troy Knight in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Knight throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Knight with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mercado to score with a decent uppercut.
Knight with a nice calf kick.
Knight throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mercado.
Knight pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mercado tries to clinch but Knight moves out of range.
Mercado tries to clinch up but Knight circles away and keeps his distance.
Knight lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mercado's sensitive parts.
Knight misses the shot to the body.
Knight circles away from the clinch attempt.
Knight wants to slow Mercado down by chopping away at his legs.
Knight drops his hands momentarily and Mercado takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knight does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Knight circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Knight. Those never looked like landing.
Mercado displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Mercado takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Knight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercado lunges at Knight with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Knight's hand.

Mercado forces Knight back against the cage and clinches.
Knight blocks an uppercut.

Knight breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knight throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Knight lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mercado scores with a sloppy right hand. Knight should have avoided that one.
Knight lands a nice looking body kick.
Mercado feints a jab promting Knight to slip. Mercado then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Knight slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A nice leg kick lands there from Knight.
Knight with a nice calf kick.
Knight fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercado keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Mercado misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mercado has taken the fight to the clinch.
Knight blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Knight manages to break the clinch.
Knight throws a hook but Mercado avoids it easily.
Knight is looking to score with low kicks.
Mercado walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Knight throws a jab but it's blocked by Mercado.
Knight tries a head kick but it misses.
Knight throws a leg kick which misses Mercado's front leg but catches the back leg as Mercado tries to avoid it.
Knight is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Knight throws a head kick that Mercado semi-blocks.

Mercado has managed to clinch.
Mercado lands a hook to the side of the head.
Knight wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mercado has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mercado.
Knight is trying to break the clinch but Mercado is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight blocks an uppercut.
Mercado tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Knight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knight rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mercado counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Knight motions for Mercado to come forward. Knight throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mercado lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Mercado slips a jab from Knight.
Knight throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Mercado jabs at Knight's body.
Knight swings widly with a right hand
and Mercado connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick misses from Knight.
Mercado changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Knight keeps the fight on the outside.
Knight shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knight tries to land a leg kick but Mercado saw it coming and moves away.
Mercado scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercado fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knight, pushing him back against the cage.
Mercado misses with some punches.
Mercado throws a punch but it's blocked by Knight.
Mercado lands a shoulder strike.

Knight breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A big right from Knight misses.
Mercado appears to be looking for a big counter.
A head kick misses from Knight.
Knight takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Mercado doesn't manage to clinch there - Knight circles away.

Mercado moves into range and clinches up with Knight.

Knight breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knight avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knight tries to land a front kick but Mercado steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Knight misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Troy Knight has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tyrese Mercado is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knight tries a head kick but it misses.

Mercado clinches with his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tyrese Mercado.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mercado, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 50:45
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyrese Mercado!