PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wikus Van Der Merwe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Messner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Van Der Merwe
vs
Messner

215 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

174 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 2 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Messner!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messner connects with a right hand. Van Der Merwe shakes it off.
Van Der Merwe closes the distance looking to clinch
and Messner counters with a three punch combo that has Van Der Merwe backing up. Van Der Merwe nods at Messner to acknowledge the strikes.
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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Van Der Merwe.
Messner scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Van Der Merwe shoots for a takedown but Messner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Messner scores with a three punch combo!
Messner looks to land a combination but Van Der Merwe avoids it well.
Messner lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Messner lands a jab-cross combination.
Messner feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Van Der Merwes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Messner throws a chopping leg kick but Van Der Merwe manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch up but Messner keeps it at a distance.
Messner throws a series of punches but Van Der Merwe avoids them all with ease.
Van Der Merwe doesn't manage to clinch there - Messner circles away.
Messner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Messner tries to bum rush Van Der Merwe with a series of wild strikes but Van Der Merwe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Van Der Merwe takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Messner sprawls well. Messner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Van Der Merwe gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wikus Van Der Merwe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messner throws a right and a left that Van Der Merwe avoids nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Messner. No joy for Van Der Merwe on that attempt.
Messner scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Messner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Van Der Merwe circles away quickly and effectively.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch.
A combination from Messner does no damage.
Van Der Merwe moves to clinch but Messner breaks away
and Messner counters with a left and a right that stings Van Der Merwe.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but Messner is having none of it.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but Messner moves out of range.
Messner avoids the head kick by Van Der Merwe.
Van Der Merwe fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe fails with a takedown attempt.
Messner keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up.
Messner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Der Merwe.
Messner circles away from the clinch attempt
and Messner counters with a stiff right hand.
Messner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van Der Merwe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mike Messner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Messner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van Der Merwe is looking to clinch.
Messner does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch there but Messner circles away.
Messner misses with a low kick.
Van Der Merwe doesn't manage to clinch there - Messner circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Messner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Messner fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Messner throws a series of punches but Van Der Merwe avoids them all with ease.
Van Der Merwe looks to land a right hand but Messner moved out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up but Messner circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch there but Messner circles away.
Messner throws a low kick but it's checked well by Van Der Merwe.
Messner is working the combinations to good effect here.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch but Messner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but Messner is having none of it.
Van Der Merwe misses with a takedown attempt - Messner sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch there but Messner circles away.
Messner swinging wildly here.
Van Der Merwe darts in trying to clinch
and Messner counters with a one-two to the body.
Van Der Merwe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Messner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Der Merwe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Messner throws a shot to the body.
Messner scores with a jab. Van Der Merwe acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Messner looks winded!
Messner throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Van Der Merwe shoots in for a takedown but Messner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Messner.
Van Der Merwe is looking to clinch.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch but Messner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch but Messner slips to the side
and Messner counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up but Messner circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch up but Messner keeps it at a distance.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Messner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Messner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Der Merwe tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Messner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Messner keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Messner will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Messner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Der Merwe.
Messner misses the shot to the body.
Messner keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch there but Messner circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Messner. Van Der Merwe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up but Messner circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Der Merwe walks into a stiff left hand from Messner.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch
and Messner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jab from Messner.
Mike Messner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Messner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Messner swinging wildly here.
Messner circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe looks for a takedown but Messner sprawls well.
Messner keeps the fight on the outside.
Messner is looking to chop away at Van Der Merwe's legs.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch but Messner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Messner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van Der Merwe darts in trying to clinch
and Messner counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Van Der Merwe pivots, looking for a leg kick but Messner is out of range and Van Der Merwe settles back down.
Messner connects with a single shot there.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Messner circles away from the clinch attempt.
A decent looking cross lands there for Messner.
Messner misses with a wild body shot.
Messner throws a combination that misses
and Van Der Merwe makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Van Der Merwe is looking to clinch but Messner is avoiding it.
Messner wants to land a leg kick but Van Der Merwe is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Van Der Merwe doesn't manage to clinch there - Messner circles away.
Wikus Van Der Merwe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van Der Merwe throws out a loose jab but Messner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Messner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but Messner moves out of range.
A punch combination from Messner misses.
Messner fails to land with a series of punches.
Messner is breathing heavily.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Van Der Merwe moves to clinch but Messner breaks away
letting Messner counter with a right hand.
Messner keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Der Merwe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Messner.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Der Merwe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Der Merwe is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messner fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Van Der Merwe is out of range.
Van Der Merwe blocks a jab.
Van Der Merwe moves out of range of the leg kick from Messner.
Van Der Merwe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Messner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch there but Messner circles away.
Van Der Merwe dodges the punch combination from Messner.
Van Der Merwe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Messner.
Van Der Merwe misses with a two punch combination.
Messner throws a leg kick that misses.
Van Der Merwe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Messner was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Der Merwe.
Messner tests Van Der Merwe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Messner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch but Messner slips to the side
and Messner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Der Merwe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Der Merwe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Messner was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Der Merwe.
Messner misses with a few strikes there.
Messner throws out a leg kick but Van Der Merwe moves out of range and Messner only half commits.
Messner throws a chopping leg kick but Van Der Merwe manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Van Der Merwe moves in looking to clinch but Messner pushes him off.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch but Messner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Messner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but Messner is having none of it.
Van Der Merwe doesn't manage to clinch there - Messner circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Messner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Der Merwe connects with the punch.
A jab from Messner misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Messner throws a series of punches but Van Der Merwe moves out of range.
Messner keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Wikus Van Der Merwe will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Messner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Messner moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Messner misses.
Messner fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Van Der Merwe is out of range.
A slow jab from Van Der Merwe misses its intended target.
Messner scores with a jab.
Some wild striking there from Van Der Merwe.
Sloppy strikes from Messner. Those never looked like landing.
Van Der Merwe is looking to clinch.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Messner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but Messner moves out of range.
Messner swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Der Merwe.
Messner tries to work over Van Der Merwe's front leg with a kick but Van Der Merwe checks it.
Messner misses with a hook.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch up but Messner keeps it at a distance.
A right-left combo lands from Messner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Messner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Messner throws a chopping leg kick but Van Der Merwe manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Messner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Van Der Merwe moves in looking to clinch but Messner pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Der Merwe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch up but Messner keeps it at a distance.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Messner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Der Merwe moves to clinch but Messner breaks away
and Messner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Messner digs a good body shot into Van Der Merwe's ribs.
Messner slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Messner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Messner avoids a punch combination nicely.
Messner misses with a low kick.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Messner counters with a series of strikes. Van Der Merwe will be more careful next time no doubt.
Messner swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Der Merwe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Der Merwe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Messner is looking to chop away at Van Der Merwe's legs.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up but Messner circles away and keeps his distance.
Messner circles away from the clinch attempt
and Messner counters with a straight right hand.
Messner finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Van Der Merwe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Messner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Messner throws a nice looking combination but Van Der Merwe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but Messner is having none of it.
Messner throws a chopping leg kick but Van Der Merwe manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Messner tries a low kick but Van Der Merwe avoids it.
Nice defenses there by Messner.
Van Der Merwe throws an overhand right that lands on Messner's shoulder, as Messner tries to avoid the shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Der Merwe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Messner swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Messner.
Messner swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Der Merwe.
Messner fails to land with a series of punches.
Messner tries to work over Van Der Merwe's front leg with a kick but Van Der Merwe checks it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Van Der Merwe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Van Der Merwe wants to stall.
Van Der Merwe misses with a knee to the head.
Van Der Merwe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Messner wants to break free but Van Der Merwe has control.
Van Der Merwe looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Van Der Merwe misses with a punch to the body.
Van Der Merwe is trying to maintain a safe position but Messner gets an underhook and turns Van Der Merwe into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messner on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Der Merwe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Messner blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Messner is trying to break free.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Messner as Van Der Merwe tries to tie him up.
Van Der Merwe missing with knees to the body.
Messner being controlled against the cage.
Messner avoiding damage as Van Der Merwe throws knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Wikus Van Der Merwe.
Messner swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Der Merwe.
Messner misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wikus 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wikus Van Der Merwe!
Wikus Van Der Merwe thanked the fans post fight for their support.