PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Petrovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wikus Van Der Merwe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aleksander Petrovich has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Petrovich
vs
Van Der Merwe

175 cm
24
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

215 cm
20
145 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Petrovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wikus Van Der Merwe!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Petrovich closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Der Merwe prevents a takedown attempt there.
Van Der Merwe tries a body shot but Petrovich blocks it.
Petrovich can't break the clinch.
Petrovich is working for takedown but Van Der Merwe is calmly controlling the position for now.
Petrovich misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Van Der Merwe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Van Der Merwe.
Van Der Merwe tries to work over Petrovich's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Van Der Merwe has a couple of punches blocked by Petrovich.
Petrovich blocks a body shot from Van Der Merwe.
Van Der Merwe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Petrovich's elbow.

Petrovich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Petrovich moves into the clinch.
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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petrovich tries to work over Van Der Merwe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Petrovich blocks a body shot from Van Der Merwe.
Petrovich is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksander Petrovich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Der Merwe misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrovich drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Van Der Merwe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Van Der Merwe is trying to maintain a safe position but Petrovich gets an underhook and turns Van Der Merwe into the cage.
Petrovich managing to block the knees to the body from Van Der Merwe.
Van Der Merwe taking a breather.
Van Der Merwe misses with a body punch.
Petrovich is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Van Der Merwe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Van Der Merwe is trying to stall.

Petrovich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Petrovich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Petrovich manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Der Merwe looks to land a right hand but Petrovich moved out of range.
Wikus Van Der Merwe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Petrovich closes the distance and clinches up with Van Der Merwe, looking for a takedown. Petrovich pushes Van Der Merwe against the cage but Van Der Merwe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Van Der Merwe tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Petrovich counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Van Der Merwe wants to get back to his feet but Petrovich drags him back down.
Petrovich scoring with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Van Der Merwe's face as Petrovich controls the position.
Van Der Merwe is trying to buck Petrovich off.
Van Der Merwe regains half guard, as Petrovich was trying to land strikes.
Van Der Merwe is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe pushes Petrovich off looking to stand but Petrovich dives back in and keeps control.
Van Der Merwe regains full guard. Nicely done.
Petrovich postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petrovich trying to control but Van Der Merwe is working from the bottom.
Van Der Merwe wants to stand but Petrovich is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich postures up.
Petrovich prevents Van Der Merwe from getting back to his feet.
Petrovich looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Van Der Merwe getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Der Merwe wants to clinch

and Petrovich counters by moving into the clinch.
Van Der Merwe working aggressively here.
Van Der Merwe trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but 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.

Van Der Merwe doesn't manage to clinch there - Petrovich 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.
Aleksander Petrovich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Petrovich is looking to clinch.
Van Der Merwe closes the distance but Petrovich moves to the side

and Petrovich counters with a takedown into side control.
Van Der Merwe takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The strikes coming from Petrovich are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Petrovich lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Van Der Merwe down.
Petrovich prevents Van Der Merwe from escaping the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Der Merwe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Petrovich's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Van Der Merwe is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrovich thows a huge punch but Van Der Merwe dodges it nicely.
Petrovich is thwarting Van Der Merwe's attempts to control the position.
Van Der Merwe is trying to stand.
Petrovich lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Petrovich working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Van Der Merwe's thigh. Van Der Merwe counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Petrovich prevents Van Der Merwe from getting back to his feet.
Petrovich trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Petrovich prevents Van Der Merwe from getting back to his feet.
Van Der Merwe looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Der Merwe, not yet.
Petrovich has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich distracts Van Der Merwe with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Petrovich lands a couple of elbows.
Van Der Merwe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Petrovich controls from within his opponent's guard.
Van Der Merwe looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Petrovich puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Petrovich trying to control the pace.
Petrovich stops Van Der Merwe from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Merwe wants to get back to full guard.
Van Der Merwe works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Petrovich distracts Van Der Merwe with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Van Der Merwe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Petrovich loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Der Merwe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Petrovich's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Petrovich dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Der Merwe closes the distance but Petrovich moves to the side
and Petrovich counters with a body kick.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Petrovich counters with a shoot takedown. Van Der Merwe fights it but they end up in guard.
Van Der Merwe looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Der Merwe, not yet.
Petrovich seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Petrovich wants to control from the top but Van Der Merwe keeps moving.
Petrovich controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aleksander Petrovich wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch up but Petrovich circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Petrovich gets a takedown into half guard.
Van Der Merwe wants to control but Petrovich is keeping busy.
Van Der Merwe is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Petrovich.
Petrovich looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Petrovich working the head and body with strikes.
Nice strikes from Petrovich there.
Petrovich with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Petrovich thows a huge punch but Van Der Merwe dodges it nicely.
Petrovich looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Van Der Merwe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich content to control rather than advance.
Van Der Merwe trying to control here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Aleksander Petrovich has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Van Der Merwe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Der Merwe tries to clinch but Petrovich is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich tries to score a power double leg takedown but Van Der Merwe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Petrovich somewhat.
Van Der Merwe lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Van Der Merwe is looking to clinch but Petrovich is avoiding it.
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.
Van Der Merwe misses with a body shot.

Petrovich shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Van Der Merwe is trying to defend but Petrovich finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Petrovich working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Van Der Merwe's thigh. Van Der Merwe counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Van Der Merwe is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksander Petrovich showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Petrovich has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

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