PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karl Van Der Merwe (ranked 2873 p4p, 303 weight class) and Curt Ankle (ranked 2824 p4p, 301 weight class). Van Der Merwe's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Gesaffelstein - Hate or Glory. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Van Der Merwe
vs
Ankle

187 cm
25
235 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
237 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karl Van Der Merwe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Curt Ankle!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Lou da Vinci and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ankle throws the left hand but Van Der Merwe avoids the punch easily.
Ankle changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A big right from Ankle misses.
Van Der Merwe with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ankle counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Karl Van Der Merwe has been cut.

Van Der Merwe scores with a takedown into Ankle's guard.
Van Der Merwe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Der Merwe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Van Der Merwe trying to control the position from guard on top but Ankle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ankle controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ankle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Van Der Merwe trying to control the position from guard on top but Ankle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Der Merwe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe trying to control but Ankle is working from the bottom.
Van Der Merwe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Van Der Merwe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Der Merwe is looking to work some ground and pound but Ankle has wrist control.
Van Der Merwe postures up.
Van Der Merwe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ankle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ankle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Der Merwe wants to control from the top but Ankle keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Van Der Merwe with a poor takedown
and Ankle counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Van Der Merwe shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Van Der Merwe thows a huge punch but Ankle dodges it nicely.
Van Der Merwe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Van Der Merwe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ankle defending well though.
Van Der Merwe perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ankle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Van Der Merwe.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ankle can do anything to dispel that myth.
Van Der Merwe seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ankle looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Van Der Merwe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Van Der Merwe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ankle is looking for a sweep. Van Der Merwe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ankle is not content to let Van Der Merwe control the position.
Van Der Merwe is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Van Der Merwe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ankle does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Van Der Merwe frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Van Der Merwe is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ankle can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Van Der Merwe unloading with bombs!
Van Der Merwe looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Van Der Merwe dominating with strikes here.
Ankle is in a horrible position here. Van Der Merwe smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ankle is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Der Merwe lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Van Der Merwe landing strikes from the mount.
Van Der Merwe cracks Ankle with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The referee warns Ankle that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Ankle is rocked!
Whack. That's a big, big shot from Van Der Merwe! Ankle is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Karl Van Der Merwe!
A victorious Karl Van Der Merwe thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.