PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Poutt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrik Van de Merwe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henrik Van de Merwe has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mike Poutt's chin.

Poutt
vs
Van de Merwe

185 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Canadian Fighter Clothing
Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Poutt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Henrik Van de Merwe !
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van de Merwe changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Poutt looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Poutt is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Van de Merwe trying to control the action but Poutt is working from the bottom.
Van de Merwe tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Van de Merwe throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Poutt works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Van de Merwe is keen to just control but Poutt is a slippery customer.
Well, if Van de Merwe is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Van de Merwe not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van de Merwe working Poutt over with strikes.
Poutt regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Van de Merwe .
Poutt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Van de Merwe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Van de Merwe is looking to work some ground and pound but Poutt has wrist control.
Poutt knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Van de Merwe on the ground.
Van de Merwe cracks Poutt with a solid left hand.
Van de Merwe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Van de Merwe forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van de Merwe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Van de Merwe throwing shots but Poutt is blocking nicely.
Van de Merwe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Poutt's head.
Van de Merwe wants to free his trapped foot but Poutt is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Van de Merwe working over Poutt with some ground and pound. Poutt looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Van de Merwe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Poutt defending well though.
Poutt is refusing to be controlled, as Van de Merwe sits in half guard.
Van de Merwe prevents Poutt from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van de Merwe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Van de Merwe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van de Merwe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Van de Merwe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Van de Merwe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Poutt is breathing heavily.
Van de Merwe wants to free his trapped foot but Poutt is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Van de Merwe is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Van de Merwe thows a huge punch but Poutt dodges it nicely.

That's four 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 de Merwe is keen to just control but Poutt is a slippery customer.
Van de Merwe is stalling here. Poutt is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Van de Merwe seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Poutt has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Van de Merwe is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Poutt off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van de Merwe cracks Poutt with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Poutt from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Van de Merwe thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Van de Merwe missing with strikes from the back.
Van de Merwe missing with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrik Van de Merwe dominated that round.
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.

Poutt stuffs the takedown attempt from Van de Merwe . Van de Merwe gets slowly back to his feet.
Van de Merwe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Poutt but Poutt pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Poutt punishes Van de Merwe 's body with a nice straight punch.
Poutt works Van de Merwe 's body with a nice hook.
Poutt throws the kick towards the body but Van de Merwe avoids it.
Van de Merwe shoots in but Poutt avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mike Poutt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henrik Van de Merwe .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van de Merwe has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Poutt gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Van de Merwe to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Van de Merwe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Poutt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Van de Merwe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Van de Merwe with a nice head shot there.
Van de Merwe cracks Poutt with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van de Merwe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Van de Merwe throws a big right hand that misses.
Van de Merwe looking to pass the guard.
Van de Merwe postures up in Poutt's guard and throws a big left but Poutt blocks it.
Van de Merwe trying to control but Poutt is working from the bottom.
Poutt working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Poutt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Poutt keeping moving, preventing Van de Merwe from controlling successfully.
Van de Merwe lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Van de Merwe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Poutt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Van de Merwe stands up over Poutt, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van de Merwe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Poutt is keeping the position for now.
Van de Merwe landing with the ground and pound.
Van de Merwe slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Van de Merwe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Van de Merwe wants to control from the top but Poutt keeps moving.
Van de Merwe trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Poutt manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrik Van de Merwe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Poutt connects with a body shot.
Van de Merwe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Poutt pinned against the cage. Poutt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Poutt thuds his right hand into Van de Merwe 's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Poutt lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Van de Merwe circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van de Merwe shoots for a double leg takedown but Poutt sprawls well. He's pushed Van de Merwe 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Van de Merwe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Poutt swivels and escapes.
Mike Poutt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henrik Van de Merwe .
Van de Merwe misses with a takedown attempt - Poutt sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Poutt lands with a right hand.
Van de Merwe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Van de Merwe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Van de Merwe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Poutt throws out the jab.
Van de Merwe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poutt lands with a good body shot.
Van de Merwe gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Poutt.
Poutt digs a good hook to Van de Merwe 's body.
Poutt misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Poutt looks to land a combination. Van de Merwe sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Henrik Van de Merwe has been cut.
Poutt lands with a good body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Poutt tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van de Merwe was well out of range. Poor timing from Poutt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poutt lands a jab to Van de Merwe 's midsection.
Poutt throws a half hearted mid kick.
Poutt cracks Van de Merwe with an open hand slap.
Nice straight punches there by Poutt. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Poutt.
Van de Merwe takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Poutt scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mike Poutt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Van de Merwe takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Poutt thuds a left hand into Van de Merwe 's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Poutt. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Poutt.
Poutt throws a body punch but Van de Merwe moves out of range.
Poutt moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Poutt lunges at Van de Merwe with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Van de Merwe 's hand.
Mike Poutt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Van de Merwe takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Poutt jabs at Van de Merwe 's body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poutt lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Henrik Van de Merwe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Van de Merwe ducks right into an uppercut from Poutt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Poutt showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Van de Merwe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!