PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wikus Van Der Merwe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Petrovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aleksander Petrovich has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Wikus Van Der Merwe's chin.

Van Der Merwe
vs
Petrovich

215 cm
19
145 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
24
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 3 - 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Petrovich!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Der Merwe looks to score with a jab to the body but Petrovich is just out of range.

Petrovich manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Van Der Merwe on his heels. He'll look to pass Van Der Merwe's guard now, I'm sure.
Van Der Merwe being controlled here, momentarily.
Petrovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Der Merwe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Petrovich is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Van Der Merwe trying to keep a closed guard but Petrovich is proving a slippery customer.

Petrovich gets to his feet - Van Der Merwe follows without any prompting.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrovich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Petrovich fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch but Petrovich swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Petrovich shoots in looking for a takedown but Van Der Merwe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Petrovich's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Petrovich stuffs the takedown attempt from Van Der Merwe. Van Der Merwe gets slowly back to his feet.
Van Der Merwe avoids the head kick by Petrovich.
Petrovich shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Van Der Merwe but Van Der Merwe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wikus Van Der Merwe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Petrovich.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch there but Petrovich circles away.

Petrovich looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Petrovich content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich prevents Van Der Merwe from improving his position.
Petrovich prevents Van Der Merwe from standing back up.
Petrovich looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Van Der Merwe gets full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petrovich throws a strike but Van Der Merwe rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Van Der Merwe would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Petrovich really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Der Merwe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe is standing up over Petrovich. Petrovich looks to escape but Van Der Merwe dives into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrovich can't do much from the bottom here.
Van Der Merwe is looking to take a break and control but Petrovich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Van Der Merwe decides to stand back up. Van Der Merwe steps back and let's Petrovich get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Petrovich.
Petrovich tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Der Merwe swivels and escapes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Van Der Merwe looking to slow down the pace here.
Petrovich managing to block the knees to the body from Van Der Merwe.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Der Merwe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Van Der Merwe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Van Der Merwe seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Petrovich is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aleksander Petrovich will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Van Der Merwe is looking to clinch.
Petrovich has a takedown stuffed.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up but Petrovich circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch

and Petrovich counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Petrovich.
Van Der Merwe wants to stand up but Petrovich is controlling him.
Van Der Merwe looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Petrovich with a nice head shot there.
Van Der Merwe is looking to stand up but Petrovich isn't so interested in that idea.
Aleksander Petrovich has got the better of the ground game so far.
Petrovich sitting in guard here, content to control.
Petrovich won't allow Van Der Merwe to sweep him here.
Petrovich postures up and lands a big shot to Van Der Merwe's brow.
Petrovich controlling from the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Petrovich looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Petrovich shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Petrovich was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Van Der Merwe tries to lock up and control but Petrovich gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Petrovich lands a heavy elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Der Merwe tries to hold on but Petrovich postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Der Merwe wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich controlling from mount.
Van Der Merwe is bucking up trying to escape but Petrovich cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Petrovich controlling the pace for now.
Van Der Merwe regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe trying to control here.

Petrovich is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Van Der Merwe sees it coming and defends easily.
Van Der Merwe wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Petrovich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Petrovich shoots for a double leg takedown but Van Der Merwe sprawls well. He's pushed Petrovich's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Petrovich drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Petrovich must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Van Der Merwe wants to sweep but no luck.

Van Der Merwe looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Van Der Merwe wants to get back to his feet but Petrovich is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Van Der Merwe is trying to control the position but Petrovich postures up.
Petrovich stops Van Der Merwe from standing up.
Petrovich's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Van Der Merwe wants to get back to his feet but Petrovich is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Van Der Merwe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Petrovich moves into the clinch.
Petrovich is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Van Der Merwe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Petrovich blocks an elbow strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Van Der Merwe is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Wikus Van Der Merwe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Petrovich.
Petrovich has Van Der Merwe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Van Der Merwe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Petrovich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Petrovich prevents a body shot from Van Der Merwe.
Van Der Merwe tries to stall but Petrovich uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Van Der Merwe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Petrovich is defending well for now.
Petrovich on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Der Merwe lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Petrovich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Petrovich fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Van Der Merwe avoids it really well and circles away.
Van Der Merwe moves in looking to clinch but Petrovich pushes him off.
Van Der Merwe doesn't manage to clinch there - Petrovich circles away.
Petrovich keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch but Petrovich slips to the side

so Petrovich counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petrovich is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Petrovich throws an elbow that misses. Van Der Merwe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Petrovich's guard. Nice move by Van Der Merwe!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petrovich scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Van Der Merwe moves to clinch but Petrovich breaks away

and Petrovich counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Petrovich throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Van Der Merwe is on top in guard.
Petrovich is looking to stand up but Van Der Merwe isn't so interested in that idea.
Van Der Merwe would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe passes Petrovich's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Van Der Merwe is looking for a kimura but Petrovich is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Van Der Merwe to get the leverage.
Petrovich punching from the bottom.
Petrovich tries to kick Van Der Merwe off but Van Der Merwe keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Van Der Merwe gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Wikus Van Der Merwe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aleksander Petrovich is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Der Merwe misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksander Petrovich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Petrovich 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksander Petrovich!