PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Corey Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Norman
vs
Mercer

185 cm
21
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Bronco Buster Inc

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Corey Norman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryan Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Norman darts in and clinches Mercer up against the cage.

Mercer has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Norman is trying to keep an underhook but Mercer manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Mercer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Norman is looking for a sweep. Mercer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Mercer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mercer is trying to control the action in half guard but Norman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mercer scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Norman trying to control but Mercer postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mercer is looking to take a break and control but Norman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mercer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Norman is defending against the submission attempts here by Mercer.

Mercer is working for a submission of some sort.
Mercer looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer wants to control but Norman is keeping him busy.

Mercer is working for a kimura but Norman is defending it quite comfortably.
Norman tries to roll over but Mercer keeps him under control.

Norman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mercer seems to be looking for submissions.
Norman gets back to full guard.
Mercer throws a strike but Norman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Norman stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norman changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mercer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Norman is looking to take a break and control but Mercer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mercer gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Norman is working for a guillotine from mount but Mercer frees his head quite easily.

Norman moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Mercer has worked his arm free - good work by Mercer!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ryan Mercer will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Norman shoots and misses

and Mercer counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Norman!

Mercer moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Norman has worked his arm free - good work by Norman!

Mercer working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Mercer tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mercer is breathing heavily.
Norman is not content to let Mercer control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mercer working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Mercer goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Norman has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mercer but great work by Norman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Norman tries for a kimura but Mercer is defending well.
Norman is looking to take a break and control but Mercer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Norman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercer can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman controls the position from side control.

Norman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Norman throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Norman trying to control the action but Mercer is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Norman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Norman looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Mercer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Norman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Norman is looking to take a break and control but Mercer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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 Corey Norman will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mercer looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Norman!

Mercer goes for an armbar but Norman turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Norman.
Norman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mercer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Norman trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Normanis looking to pass into half guard but Mercer pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Mercer is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman keeping moving, preventing Mercer from controlling successfully.
Mercer throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mercer works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Mercer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ryan Mercer has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mercer seems to be working for a kimura but Norman defends the submission attempt.

Mercer is working for a kimura but Norman is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Norman actively working from the bottom here.

Mercer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Norman trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer wants to take a breather but Norman is having none of it.

Norman actively working from the bottom here.

Norman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mercer pulls his head out easily.

Mercer is trying to work for a kimura but Norman is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norman controlling the position for now.

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

Mercer is working for a kimura but Norman is defending it quite comfortably.

Mercer is working for an americana but Norman has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Mercer was thinking about the submission.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Mercer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mercer 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Mercer!
Ryan Mercer bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.