PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robin Van Laere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robin Van Laere has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fitch
vs
Van Laere

184 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

168 cm
18
137 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Brandon Fitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Robin Van Laere!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitch shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Van Laere sprawls well. Van Laere wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fitch gets slowly back to his feet.

Van Laere shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Van Laere showed some decent athleticism there.
Fitch is trying to stand.
Van Laere tries to pass to full mount but Fitch defends it.
Van Laere blocks the strikes from Fitch.
Fitch pushes Van Laere off but Van Laere dives into side control.
Van Laere is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Fitch is trying to get back to his feet.

Van Laere tries for a kimura but Fitch is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Van Laere gets a clinch.

Van Laere breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van Laere throws the kick towards the body but Fitch avoids it.
Fitch bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Van Laere's head.
Fitch tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Van Laere counters with a single leg into guard. Fitch didn't expect that.
Van Laere preventing the sweep.
Van Laere is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Van Laere stops Fitch from standing up.

Fitch is working an open guard so Van Laere takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Fitch closes the distance looking to clinch

and Van Laere counters with a single leg into guard. Fitch didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitch not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Laere won't allow Fitch to get back to his feet.

Van Laere stands up from Fitch's guard - Van Laere perhaps looking for a knockout.
Van Laere circles away from the clinch attempt

and Van Laere counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Laere looks gassed!
Fitch wants to get back to his feet.
Fitch wants to control but Van Laere is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fitch is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Fitch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fitch wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch is looking to control Van Laere's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fitch avoid being mounted?
Fitch tries to kick Van Laere off but Van Laere keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fitch throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Fitch misses with a takedown attempt
and Van Laere counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Fitch really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Van Laere clinches up against the cage.

Van Laere escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Laere misses with a wild combination.
Fitch gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Van Laere counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Fitch. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Van Laere manages to break the clinch.
Fitch falls off balance throwing a combination

and Van Laere counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fitch won't be happy with that.
Fitch is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Laere decides to stand up, so the ref orders Fitch to his feet.

Van Laere moves into the clinch.

Van Laere gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Laere wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fitch keeps working.
Fitch moves into full guard.
Fitch is trying to keep Van Laere in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Van Laere is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robin Van Laere dominated that round.
That's time! Fitch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fitch looks to clinch

and Van Laere counters with a shoot takedown. Fitch fights it but they end up in guard.

Van Laere stands up and waves to Fitch to follow him.
Fitch tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Van Laere counters by moving into the clinch.

Fitch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fitch dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Van Laere. That did some damage!
Van Laere shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fitch pinned against the cage. Fitch gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fitch tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Van Laere counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fitch won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fitch struggling a bit here.
Fitch manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fitch is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Van Laere.
Fitch wants to control but Van Laere is keeping busy.

Fitch is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Van Laere pulls his head out easily.

Van Laere decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Fitch lands with a shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Fitch darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Van Laere tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Fitch is able to avoid easily.
Fitch tries to clinch up.
Van Laere keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Laere defending well as Fitch loads up on a big left hand.
Fitch slaps away a takedown attempt from Van Laere, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch tries to clinch up but Van Laere circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Laere circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Laere throws a sloppy head kick and Fitch moves out of range easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fitch.
Van Laere swats away the attempt to clinch by Fitch.
Fitch tries to clinch there but Van Laere circles away.
Fitch is looking to land body kicks.
Some wild striking there from Van Laere.
Van Laere avoids the head kick by Fitch.
Fitch with a poor takedown

and Van Laere holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Fitch has had enough of the clinch but Van Laere keeps him there for the moment.
Van Laere misses with a punch on the inside.

Van Laere's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Laere avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Laere showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fitch.
Van Laere keeps Fitch at a distance using the push kick.
Fitch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fitch looks to clinch

and Van Laere counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fitch's guard now.
Fitch controls Van Laere momentarily but Van Laere frees himself.
Van Laere thows a big elbow that misses.
Fitch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Van Laere controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Van Laere trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fitch seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Van Laere is aware though and is defending well.
Fitch looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Van Laere puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Fitch actively working from the bottom here.
Van Laere is taking a breather. Fitch says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fitch wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robin Van Laere showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Fitch shoots and misses
and Van Laere counters with a two punch combo.
Fitch darts in trying to clinch

and Van Laere counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Fitch!
Van Laere takes Fitch's back, avoiding a couple of desperation strikes from the bottom.
Fitch trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Fitch is in bad spot here.
Fitch looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Van Laere looking for the RNC.
Van Laere biding his time, looking for the opening.
Van Laere has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch is trying to stand back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Fitch's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Van Laere not allowing Fitch to control his hands.
Fitch is trying to break free.
Fitch looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Fitch is trying to stand back up.

Van Laere is persistently looking for the submission but Fitch is defending it well.
Fitch wants to control his opponent's hands but Van Laere gets his hands free.
Fitch looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Fitch turns into Van Laere and is now in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fitch tries to clinch

and Van Laere counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fitch lands a right hand.
Fitch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fitch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Van Laere breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice sprawl there from Fitch as Van Laere shoots in.
Fitch with a lazy takedown attempt

and Van Laere counters by moving into the clinch.
Brandon Fitch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fitch has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fitch is trying to force a seperation but Van Laere has the dominant position.

Van Laere breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Van Laere changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fitch looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Van Laere taking a breather here.
Fitch can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Laere tries to score with some ground and pound. Fitch controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Fitch struggling a bit here.
Fitch is looking for a sweep.
Fitch can't do much from the bottom here.

Fitch bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Robin Van Laere is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fitch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Van Laere paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robin Van Laere comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Van Laere winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robin Van Laere!