PBP Commentary

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

Van Der Merwe
vs
Love

190 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
207 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jan Van Der Merwe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Orlando Love!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Love tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Van Der Merwe lands with a cross.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Love manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Der Merwe moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Van Der Merwe shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Love as he avoids it easily.
Van Der Merwe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Love counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Love controlling the action here.
Van Der Merwe is trying to stand up here but Love is controlling him well.
Van Der Merwe trying to control here.
Love 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Van Der Merwe tries to roll over but Love keeps him under control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Love is keen to just control but Van Der Merwe is a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Van Der Merwe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Love fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

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.
Van Der Merwe doesn't manage to clinch there - Love circles away.
Love wants to counter with a clinch but Van Der Merwe pushes him away.
Van Der Merwe shoots in for a double leg but Love sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Love tries to counter by closing the distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Van Der Merwe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Der Merwe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Love appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Van Der Merwe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Love breaks the clinch.
Van Der Merwe swats away the attempt to clinch by Love.
Van Der Merwe moves in looking to clinch but Love pushes him off.
Van Der Merwe falls off balance throwing a combination

and Love counters with a single leg into guard. Van Der Merwe didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Der Merwe thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Love got a little sloppy there for a moment and Van Der Merwe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Love has managed to get both his arms back between Van Der Merwe's legs - danger averted.
Love working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Van Der Merwe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Van Der Merwe looking for subs off his back but Love has passed one foot through into half guard.
Van Der Merwe is breathing heavily.
Van Der Merwe is trying to control but can't.

That's four 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.
Van Der Merwe is trying to stand.
Love thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Van Der Merwe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Love.
Love controlling the pace.
Love wants to control but Van Der Merwe is keeping him busy.
Van Der Merwe wants to improve his position but Love is controlling well.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Love is looking for a kimura here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Der Merwe darts in looking for a takedown but Love gets double underhooks and turns Van Der Merwe into the cage.
Love tries to counter by closing the distance.
Love dives in for a single leg takedown but Van Der Merwe sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Orlando Love will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A head kick misses from Love.

Van Der Merwe instigates a clinch.
Love lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Van Der Merwe has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Love uses from the top position.
Van Der Merwe is looking to stand up but Love isn't so interested in that idea.
Love distracts Van Der Merwe with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Love postures up and lands a big shot to Van Der Merwe's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Der Merwe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Love stands up over Van Der Merwe, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Van Der Merwe has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Love off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Van Der Merwe clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Love jumps guard but Van Der Merwe stands there with Love around his waist. Love gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Van Der Merwe's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Love tries to pull guard but Van Der Merwe won't allow it.
Love drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Van Der Merwe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jan Van Der Merwe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Orlando Love.
Van Der Merwe is looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Van Der Merwe will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Love up against the cage.

Love drags the fight down to the ground.
Love keeping full guard, as Van Der Merwe tries to pass.
Love keeping moving, preventing Van Der Merwe from controlling successfully.
Love is looking to stand up but Van Der Merwe isn't so interested in that idea.
Love trying to keep a closed guard but Van Der Merwe is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe landing with the ground and pound.
Van Der Merwe's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Van Der Merwe decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Love, up you get!

Love fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Van Der Merwe to the ground. Love is now in Van Der Merwe's guard.
Van Der Merwe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Van Der Merwe is controlling Love's posture.
Love wants to control from the top but Van Der Merwe keeps moving.
Van Der Merwe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Love manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Love looking to hit a scissor sweep but Van Der Merwe is one step ahead there.
Love being controlled here, momentarily.

Love is looking for a triangle here but Van Der Merwe uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Van Der Merwe dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Van Der Merwe pushes Love up against the cage in a clinch.

Van Der Merwe wants the takedown. Love is fighting it off but Van Der Merwe persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Love's guard against the cage.

Van Der Merwe gets to his feet. Love looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Love shoots in for a takedown but Van Der Merwe shows good takedown defense.
It looked like Van Der Merwe was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Love.

Van Der Merwe rushes Love and presses him up against the cage.
Van Der Merwe tries to pull guard but Love holds him up against the cage and eventually Van Der Merwe drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Love's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Der Merwe cracks Love with a right hand to the side of the head.

Van Der Merwe shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Love napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Der Merwe wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Love, who protects the arm well.
Love is trying to improve his position.
Love keeps trying to improve his position.
Van Der Merwe controlling the position.
Love is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Van Der Merwe staying calm.
Love tries to bench press Van Der Merwe off him but Van Der Merwe keeps the position.

Van Der Merwe has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Love shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Van Der Merwe sprawls well. Van Der Merwe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Love gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe walks into a left hand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van Der Merwe is defended easily by Love.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Der Merwe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Der Merwe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Love gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Van Der Merwe to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Love keeping full guard, as Van Der Merwe tries to pass.
Van Der Merwe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Love is trying to control the position but Van Der Merwe postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Der Merwe engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Van Der Merwe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Van Der Merwe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jan Van Der Merwe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Van Der Merwe has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jan Van Der Merwe!