PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Bitnis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Aerts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bitnis
vs
Aerts

186 cm
18
197 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Bitnis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dean Aerts!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bitnis fails to land with a series of punches.
Bitnis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aerts tries to avoid it but Bitnis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aerts to the ground. Aerts escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Aerts tries to clinch but Bitnis moves out of range.
Aerts wants to clinch up but Bitnis keeps it at a distance.
Bitnis's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Bitnis duly obliges.
Aerts is looking to clinch but Bitnis is avoiding it.
Aerts is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bitnis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bitnis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Aerts tries to clinch but Bitnis moves away

and Bitnis counters by clinching up.
Nice elbow from Aerts.

It looks like John Bitnis has been cut.
A knee to the head by Aerts.
Bitnis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Aerts unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bitnis lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bitnis is breathing heavily.
Bitnis takes an elbow to the forehead.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bitnis.
Aerts scores with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Aerts.
Knees to the body from Aerts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aerts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dean Aerts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Aerts moves into range and clinches up with Bitnis.
Aerts landing knees to the body.
Bitnis drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Aerts gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Aerts will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bitnis up against the cage.
Aerts scores a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Aerts.

Aerts turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Aerts manages to end up in side control.

Aerts stands up and beckons Bitnis to his feet.

Aerts gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Aerts connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bitnis's face.
Bitnis trying to control the position but instead, Aerts has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bitnis into the cage.
Aerts landing knees to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aerts with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bitnis jumps guard but Aerts stands there with Bitnis around his waist. Bitnis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Bitnis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bitnis throws a punch but it's blocked by Aerts.
Aerts unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bitnis lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Aerts connects with a knee to the head.
Aerts landing knees to the body.
Bitnis tries to stall but Aerts uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bitnis tries to pull guard but Aerts holds him up against the cage and eventually Bitnis drops back down to his feet.
Aerts jumps guard but Bitnis stands there with Aerts around his waist. Aerts gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Aerts connects with a knee to the head.
Aerts drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bitnis gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Aerts with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aerts lands a knee to the body.
Bitnis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Aerts lands a knee to the head.
Bitnis tries to break the clinch but Aerts is controlling the position.
Aerts throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bitnis is working for takedown but Aerts is calmly controlling the position for now.
Aerts with a knee to the head.
Aerts lands an elbow that stopped Bitnis in his tracks for a moment.
Aerts lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Aerts lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Aerts stalling against the cage.
Bitnis is pressed up against the cage. Aerts has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bitnis down to the mat. Bitnis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bitnis keeps the fight on the outside.
Aerts wants to clinch

and Bitnis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Aerts using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bitnis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bitnis tries to work over Aerts's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bitnis is trying to break free.
Aerts lands a knee to the head.
Bitnis fails to pull guard.
Aerts unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bitnis lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Aerts with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Aerts.
Bitnis tries to score a body lock takedown but Aerts shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Aerts breaks from the clinch.
Bitnis circles away from the clinch attempt

and Bitnis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Aerts crunches a lovely knee into Bitnis's ribcage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bitnis takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bitnis throws an elbow but it misses.
Bitnis is pressed up against the cage. Aerts has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bitnis down to the mat. Bitnis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
No joy there for Bitnis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Aerts dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Bitnis's cut.
That's time! Bitnis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bitnis has closed the distance and engaged Aerts in a clinch.
Bitnis misses with a body punch.
Aerts scores with a knee to the head.
Aerts connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bitnis's face.
Bitnis takes a knee right on the jaw!
Aerts misses with a knee strike.
Bitnis lands a body shot in the clinch.
Bitnis pushes Aerts back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Bitnis tries for a takedown but Aerts manages to get underhooks.
Aerts with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Bitnis.
Aerts lands an elbow inside that Bitnis shrugs off.
Aerts with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aerts is trying to drag Bitnis to the mat but Bitnis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bitnis wants to break free but Aerts has control.
Aerts lands a nice elbow.
Bitnis throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aerts keeps control of Bitnis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aerts scores with a knee to the head.
Bitnis is pressed up against the cage. Aerts has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bitnis down to the mat. Bitnis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aerts tries to clinch but Bitnis moves away

and Bitnis counters by clinching up.
Bitnis leaning his opponent against the cage.

Aerts gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Bitnis regains guard.
Aerts must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bitnis throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Bitnis throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Bitnis has an active guard here but Aerts has managed to pass into half guard.
Bitnis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Aerts tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Bitnis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitnis tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bitnis wants to improve his position but Aerts is controlling well.

Bitnis is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Aerts pulls his head out easily.
Bitnis is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bitnis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aerts is fending him off so far but Bitnis persists. Nope, Aerts circles away and we're back to standing.
Aerts tries for a takedown but Bitnis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
John Bitnis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Aerts.
Aerts is looking to clinch but Bitnis is avoiding it.
Aerts tries to clinch

and Bitnis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aerts is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bitnis pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bitnis is working Aerts over against the cage.
Bitnis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Aerts just stands there and leans against the cage.
The referee calls for Aerts to work.
Aerts throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bitnis blocks it with crossed arms.
Aerts drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Aerts scores with a knee to the head.
Aerts with a knee to the head.
Aerts tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bitnis trying to control the position but instead, Aerts has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bitnis into the cage.
Aerts with a knee to the head.
Bitnis prevents the takedown attempt.
A right hand to the body from Bitnis.

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.
Aerts avoiding damage as Bitnis throws knees to the body.
Aerts unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bitnis lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bitnis'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.
Bitnis prevents the takedown attempt.
Bitnis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Aerts scores with a knee to the head.
Aerts lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bitnis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Aerts is keeping busy.
A knee to the head by Aerts.
Bitnis misses with a punch to the body.
Knees to the body from Aerts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aerts landing knees to the head.
Aerts prevents a body shot from Bitnis.
Bitnis missing with knees to the body.
Aerts with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Aerts gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dean Aerts will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on John Bitnis's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Bitnis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bitnis circles away from the clinch attempt

so Bitnis counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Aerts working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bitnis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bitnis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bitnis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aerts works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Bitnis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bitnis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bitnis passes into half guard.

Bitnis is trying to work for a kimura but Aerts is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bitnis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bitnis trying to control from half guard but Aerts is working away.

Bitnis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Bitnis is trying to work for a kimura but Aerts is defending well.
Bitnis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aerts keeps working.
Bitnis prevents Aerts from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bitnis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Aerts defends it well.

Bitnis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Aerts sees it coming and defends easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aerts looks to clinch

so Bitnis counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bitnis slips nicely into half guard.
Aerts is trying to stand.
Bitnis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aerts defending well though.
Bitnis stops Aerts from getting back to his feet.
Bitnis landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bitnis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Bitnis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aerts doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bitnis.
Aerts keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
John Bitnis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bitnis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dean Aerts is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Bitnis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Bitnis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aerts 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dean Aerts!