PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Van Merde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus J Whyte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Van Merde
vs
J Whyte

200 cm
20
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Van Merde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcus J Whyte!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Merde scores with a takedown into Whyte's guard.
Van Merde is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Whyte keeping moving, preventing Van Merde from controlling successfully.
Van Merde stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Whyte swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Whyte is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Whyte can't keep his opponent in guard - Van Merde advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Van Merde is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Whyte doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Van Merde.

Van Merde is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whyte has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Van Merde is working away from the top position though.

Whyte actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Whyte manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Van Merde passes Whyte's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Whyte is defending against the submission attempts here by Van Merde.
Van Merde wants to free his trapped foot but Whyte is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Van Merde is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Merde is working for a submission of some sort.
Whyte really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Merde. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Van Merde tries to pass to full mount but Whyte defends it.

Van Merde is looking for a kimura but Whyte is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Van Merde to get the leverage.
Van Merde will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Whyte is pressing down on Van Merde's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Whyte is controlling Van Merde's posture.
Van Merde wants to pass the guard but Whyte is keeping the position.
Whyte working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whyte wants to stand but Van Merde is controlling the position.
Van Merde wants to control from the top but Whyte keeps moving.

Van Merde thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Van Merde engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Van Merde is looking to pass into half guard but Whyte pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Whyte is in guard.

Van Merde looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Van Merde has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Whyte is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Van Merde.
Van Merde is breathing heavily.
Van Merde is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whyte tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Van Merde tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Whyte wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Van Merde gets back to half guard.
Van Merde flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Van Merde looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Whyte is pressing down on Van Merde's thigh, looking to free his foot. Van Merde is holding on for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Merde tries to get to full guard but Whyte has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Van Merde dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Whyte has managed to clinch.
Whyte stalling in the clinch.

Whyte lands a takedown into guard.

Van Merde had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Whyte defends it easily.
Van Merde looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Van Merde has momentary wrist control but Whyte slips an elbow through the middle.
Whyte is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Van Merde keeping moving, preventing Whyte from controlling successfully.
Simon Van Merde overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Van Merde is trying to control the position but Whyte postures up.

Van Merde is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Merde manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Whyte manages to get himself to full guard.
Whyte is trying to keep Van Merde in close.
Van Merde pushing down on Whyte's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Van Merde is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Whyte trying to hold on to Van Merde's head to control him but Van Merde postures up.
Whyte throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Whyte looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Merde is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Van Merde is looking to take a break and control but Whyte is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Whyte is trying to maintain the position but Van Merde is very close to passing his half guard.
Van Merde is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Van Merde is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Van Merde trying to pass the guard but Whyte defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whyte pushes Van Merde off looking to stand but Van Merde dives back in and keeps control.
Whyte is trying to control but can't.
Van Merde tries to pass to full mount but Whyte defends it.
Van Merde passes to side control.
Whyte is breathing heavily.

Van Merde thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Merde tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Van Merde has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Whyte wants to control but Van Merde postures up.
Whyte regains half guard.
Van Merde slows the pace down in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whyte trying to control from the bottom.
Van Merde is looking to stall here but Whyte recovers full guard.
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 Simon Van Merde will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Van Merde shoots in looking for a takedown. Whyte tries to sprawl out of it but Van Merde keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Whyte manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Van Merde or perhaps it was just good defense by Whyte which made him look bad.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Van Merde.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Van Merde. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Whyte throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Van Merde was covering up waiting for the punch and Whyte finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Van Merde manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Whyte stops Van Merde from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Merde looking to secure an arm triangle but Whyte defends it well.

Van Merde is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Whyte to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Whyte shrugs it off.
Whyte tries to hold on but Van Merde postures up.

Van Merde looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Whyte prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Whyte wants to hold on but Van Merde pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whyte is looking to get to half guard.
Van Merde with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Whyte wants to control but Van Merde is having none of it.
Whyte might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Van Merde kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

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

Van Merde has hold of Whyte's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Whyte seems comfortable defending it but Van Merde has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Whyte is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Whyte is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Van Merde couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Simon Van Merde!