PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wikus Van Der Merwe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atlan Starseed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Van Der Merwe
vs
Starseed

215 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wikus Van Der Merwe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Atlan Starseed!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starseed tried to score with a low kick but Van Der Merwe checks it.
Van Der Merwe loads up on a big right hand but Starseed slips the punch.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch there but Starseed circles away.

Starseed fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Van Der Merwe sprawls well initially but Starseed persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Starseed wants to free his trapped foot but Van Der Merwe is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Starseed looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Starseed tries to pass the half guard into mount. Van Der Merwe knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Starseed is working for a kimura but Van Der Merwe is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starseed works his foot free and advances to mount.
Starseed looking to control and managing it successfully.
Van Der Merwe is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Der Merwe stops Starseed from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Starseed is working for a guillotine from mount but Van Der Merwe frees his head quite easily.

Starseed wants to finish this one by submission but Van Der Merwe is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Starseed.

Starseed swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Van Der Merwe is now in Starseed's guard. A big mistake from Starseed there, giving up the dominant position!

Starseed is looking for a triangle but Van Der Merwe pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe trying to control but Starseed is working from the bottom.

Van Der Merwe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Starseed has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Van Der Merwe has managed to get both his arms back between Starseed's legs - danger averted.
Van Der Merwe trying to control the position from guard on top but Starseed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Der Merwe really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Starseed looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Van Der Merwe passes into half guard.

Starseed is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Van Der Merwe pulls his head out easily.
Van Der Merwe will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Starseed looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe passes the guard and advances to mount!
Starseed is desperately trying to improve his position but Van Der Merwe has a good base and remains in mount.
Starseed wants to control but Van Der Merwe is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Starseed looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atlan Starseed dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up
and Starseed counters with a nice low kick that buckles Van Der Merwe's knee momentarily.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Van Der Merwe fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Starseed looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Starseed moves out of range of the body kick from Van Der Merwe.

Starseed dives in and scores a takedown into Van Der Merwe's guard.
Van Der Merwe is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Starseed is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Starseed content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Starseed passes Van Der Merwe's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Starseed is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Van Der Merwe defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Starseed looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Starseed sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Starseed is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Van Der Merwe defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starseed missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Starseed is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Van Der Merwe is just riding it out for now. Starseed eventually gives up the hold.
Van Der Merwe moves into full guard.
Van Der Merwe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Starseed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starseed forces his way into half guard.

Starseed is looking for a kimura but Van Der Merwe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Starseed to get the leverage.
Van Der Merwe looks like he's trying to stand up.
Starseed stalling.
Van Der Merwe throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Starseed wants to work for an arm triangle but Van Der Merwe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe trying to control from the bottom.
Van Der Merwe tries to roll over but Starseed keeps him under control.
Van Der Merwe is pressing down on Starseed's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Starseed looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Van Der Merwe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Starseed drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Van Der Merwe manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Starseed has Van Der Merwe in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atlan Starseed 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. And we move into the final round!

Van Der Merwe shoots for a double leg takedown but Starseed sprawls well. He's pushed Van Der Merwe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Van Der Merwe is looking to clinch.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch but Starseed swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Van Der Merwe misses with a takedown attempt
and Starseed counters with a nice low kick that buckles Van Der Merwe's knee momentarily.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch but Starseed swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Starseed throws the left hand but Van Der Merwe avoids the punch easily.
Van Der Merwe throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Van Der Merwe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch but Starseed slips to the side

and Starseed counters with a shoot takedown. Van Der Merwe fights it but they end up in guard.
Starseed trying to control but Van Der Merwe is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starseed passes into half guard.
Starseed lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Starseed seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Van Der Merwe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Starseed is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Van Der Merwe is just riding it out for now. Starseed eventually gives up the hold.
Starseed is pressing down on Van Der Merwe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Van Der Merwe is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Starseed looking for a submission but Van Der Merwe manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Van Der Merwe wants to stand and escape but Starseed is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Starseed forces his way into half guard.
Van Der Merwe on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Starseed seems to be working for a kimura but Van Der Merwe defends the submission attempt.
Atlan Starseed has got the better of the ground game so far.

Starseed is working for a kimura but Van Der Merwe is defending it quite comfortably.
Starseed lands with a punch from half guard.

Starseed is working for a kimura but Van Der Merwe is defending it quite comfortably.

Starseed is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Van Der Merwe defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Starseed is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Van Der Merwe has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Atlan Starseed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Starseed 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Atlan Starseed!