PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Merlin (ranked 1352 p4p, 164 weight class) and Cholo Van Gaal (ranked 1062 p4p, 127 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Merlin
vs
Van Gaal

170 cm
27
162 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

177 cm
44
158 lbs
30 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

HGH Nutrients Q160 Tycoons Best Quality supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xavier Merlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cholo Van Gaal!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merlin moves away from the strike by Van Gaal.
Van Gaal swings widly with a right hand
and Merlin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Merlin lands a really nice looking cross but Van Gaal seems unphased.
Merlin shoots for a double leg takedown but Van Gaal sprawls well. He's pushed Merlin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Van Gaal defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Merlin.
Cholo Van Gaal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Gaal misses with a low kick.
Merlin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Van Gaal circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Merlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merlin checks a low kick from Van Gaal.
Van Gaal connects with a solid leg kick.
Merlin throws a jab when Van Gaal was well out of range.
Merlin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Van Gaal misses with a hook. Merlin ducked under it nicely.
Merlin appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Van Gaal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Van Gaal tries to sprawl but Merlin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but Van Gaal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Van Gaal tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.

Merlin is looking for submissions but instead, Van Gaal has regained full guard.
Van Gaal controlling Merlin's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin is pushing down on Van Gaal's leg trying to pass to half guard. Van Gaal is fighting to maintain full guard but Merlin has managed to sneak the leg through.

Van Gaal is defending against the submission attempts here by Merlin.

Merlin is looking for a kimura here.

Merlin seems to be working for a kimura but Van Gaal defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Van Gaal is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Merlin passes to side control.

Merlin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Van Gaal rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Merlin's guard! Nice work there by Van Gaal!
Merlin wants to sweep here but Van Gaal controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin is working hard here to advance position.
Merlin looking to control but Van Gaal passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to maintain the position but Van Gaal is very close to passing his half guard.
Merlin is trying to get back to full guard.
Van Gaal tries to stand but can't do so whilst Merlin controls his leg.

Merlin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Merlin tries to get to full guard but Van Gaal has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Van Gaal gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Merlin scores with a takedown into Van Gaal's guard.
Van Gaal keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Van Gaal is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Gaal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cholo Van Gaal will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Merlin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Van Gaal thows a leg kick but Merlin checks it

and Merlin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Van Gaal is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Merlin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Merlin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Van Gaal has him pressed against the cage.
Van Gaal prevents a body shot from Merlin.
Van Gaal goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Van Gaal struggles to land a body shot inside as Merlin controls his hands.
Van Gaal tries to work over Merlin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Merlin blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Merlin fails to land.
Merlin tries for a takedown but Van Gaal manages to get underhooks.
Van Gaal can't find room to land a body shot as Merlin controls the action.
The referee calls for Van Gaal to work.
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!
Merlin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Gaal can't find room to land a body shot as Merlin controls the action.
Van Gaal stops a takedown attempt from Merlin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Gaal misses with a body punch.
Merlin is trying to push Van Gaal away but Van Gaal has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Van Gaal misses with a body punch.
Van Gaal is stalling here.
Van Gaal working aggressively here.
Merlin blocks a body shot from Van Gaal.

Merlin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Van Gaal feints and then cracks Merlin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Merlin down.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Merlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Merlin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Van Gaal is trying to defend but Merlin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Van Gaal is trying to control but Merlin manages to pass to mount!

Merlin is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Van Gaal has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Merlin working for a guillotine from mount but Van Gaal is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Merlin goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Van Gaal turns into him and now he's in Merlin's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Merlin looking for a guillotine here but Van Gaal defends easily.

Merlin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Van Gaal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Merlin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Van Gaal passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Gaal decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Merlin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Merlin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Van Gaal stuns Merlin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Van Gaal lands a right hook to the body.
Van Gaal lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Merlin swings for the body but Van Gaal moves out of range.
Merlin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Merlin fails with the takedown
and Van Gaal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cholo Van Gaal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Gaal throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cholo Van Gaal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van Gaal stuns Merlin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Van Gaal lands with an uppercut that bounces Merlin off the cage and back into range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Gaal listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Van Gaal darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Merlin is rocked!
Van Gaal has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Van Gaal stuffs the takedown attempt from Merlin. Merlin gets slowly back to his feet.
Oh Merlin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Van Gaal drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Merlin right on the button. Merlin goes down! Van Gaal follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Van Gaal gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cholo Van Gaal!
A victorious Cholo Van Gaal thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.