PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Murray (ranked 313 p4p, 648 weight class) and Lester Burnham (ranked 45 p4p, 83 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Burnham's choice of entrance music: All Star Chuck Taylors. Lester Burnham has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Murray
vs
Burnham

170 cm
25
140
14 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
143
13 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

UnderGround Supplements
Aspire Clothing

Conviction
Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Murray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lester Burnham!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murray throws a lazy right hand but Burnham sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Burnham shoots for a double leg takedown but Murray sprawls well. He's pushed Burnham's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Burnham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Murray circles away.

Burnham drives through with a takedown into guard.
Burnham prevents Murray from getting back to his feet.
Murray is wriggling around but Burnham manages to pass to half guard.
Burnham not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Burnham wants to pass to mount but Murray is defending the position.
Burnham missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murray pushes Burnham off looking to stand but Burnham dives back in and keeps control.

Burnham is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Murray sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray is trying to stand.
Murray has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burnham seems to be looking for submissions.
Burnham stops Murray from getting back to his feet.

Burnham is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Murray is just riding it out for now. Burnham eventually gives up the hold.

Burnham is looking for a kimura but Murray is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Burnham to get the leverage.
Murray is looking to get back to is feet but Burnham passes into side control.

Murray throws Burnham to one side and escapes!
A low kick lands for Murray.
Murray lands with a right hand.
Murray bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Burnham closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Murray to the mat! Murray manages to get full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murray wants to stand up but Burnham is controlling him.
Murray keeping full guard, as Burnham tries to pass.
Burnham won't allow Murray to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burnham trying to control but Murray is working from the bottom.
Burnham passes into half guard.
Murray is staying active underneath Burnham, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Burnham is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Murray sees it coming and defends easily.

Murray pushes Burnham off and gets back to his feet.
Burnham keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murray.
Murray missing with a left hand there. Burnham was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Burnham is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Burnham uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Murray.
Burnham is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Burnham shoots for a takedown but Murray saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Alex Murray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lester Burnham.
Murray throws a hook but Burnham blocks it.
Murray digs a good hook to Burnham's body.
Burnham shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Murray but Murray pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Murray scores with a crisp jab that stopped Burnham in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murray forces Burnham back against the cage and clinches.
Burnham lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Murray displaying some good clinch control by pressing Burnham up against the cage.
Murray slowing the pace effectively.
Burnham softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Murray lands a shot to the body.
Murray landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Burnham lands a right hand that snaps the head of Murray backwards.
Burnham dodges an elbow strike from Murray.
A body shot lands from Murray.
Murray trying to control the position but instead, Burnham has worked for underhooks and has pushed Murray into the cage.
Burnham lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Burnham makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nice elbow from Murray.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burnham working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Burnham scores with a nice short uppercut.
Burnham prevents a body shot from Murray.
Burnham has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Murray avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Burnham swings wildly with an uppercut but Murray uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murray blocking some punches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Murray avoiding damage.
Murray lands an elbow just above Burnham 's eye.
Nice elbow from Murray.

Murray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Burnham shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Murray as he jumps to the side.
Burnham is trying hard to land a takedown here. Murray sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Burnham shoots in but no luck this time.
Burnham gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Murray counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Murray dominated that round.
That's time! Murray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Burnham with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Murray to counter with a crisp jab.
Burnham shoots in looking for a takedown but Murray manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Burnham's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No luck for Burnham with that takedown attempt.
Alex Murray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lester Burnham.
Burnham has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Burnham there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Murray darts in and clinches Burnham up against the cage.
Burnham fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Burnham wants a takedown.
A short right from Murray.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Murray just misses with a elbow thrown towards Burnham's brow.
Murray creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Burnham's defenses.
Murray lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murray'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.

Burnham gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Murray makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burnham shoots in and drives through. Murray sprawls well.
Murray lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Burnham has his takedown stuffed
letting Murray counter with a right hand.
Burnham is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnham closes the distance and clinches up with Murray, looking for a takedown. Burnham pushes Murray against the cage but Murray circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Murray throws a hook but Burnham avoids it easily.
A big left from Murray misses.
Burnham misses with a takedown attempt - Murray sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Murray connects with a right hand. Burnham shakes it off.
Burnham misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Murray looks to land a combination but Burnham avoids it well.
Murray turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Murray stuffs the takedown attempt from Burnham. Burnham gets slowly back to his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Murray misses the target.
Burnham shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Murray connects with a body shot.
Burnham shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Murray cracks Burnham with a right hand to the side of the head.

Burnham is rocked!
Burnham takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Burnham is still on wobbly legs! Can Murray finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burnham takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burnham takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Burnham takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Horrible takedown attempt by Burnham or perhaps it was just good defense by Murray, which made it look bad.
A slow jab from Murray misses its intended target.
Murray throws a right and a left that both miss.
Murray looks to land a right hand but Burnham moved out of range.
Burnham fails with a takedown attempt.
Burnham seems to have recovered his senses.
Burnham with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Murray to score with a decent uppercut.
Alex Murray is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burnham takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Murray lands a jab-cross combination.
Lester Burnham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murray throws a lazy right hand but Burnham sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Burnham drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Murray defends it well.

Burnham shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murray has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Burnham off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Murray's corner calls for a 1-2. Murray obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Murray fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Burnham on the side of the head.
Burnham moves out of range of the body kick.
Burnham drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Murray defends it well.
Burnham shoots in looking for a takedown. Murray tries to sprawl out of it but Burnham keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murray manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
It looked like Murray wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Murray scores with a shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Burnham.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Burnham.
Murray swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Burnham changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Burnham tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Murray swivels and escapes.
It looked like Murray wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Burnham with a poor takedown
and Burnham takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice straight punches there by Murray. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Murray.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murray scores with a hook to the body. Burnham takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray lands a jab to the nose.
Murray sizes up Burnham with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Murray lands a glancing blow to the side of Burnham's head.

Murray moves into the clinch successfully.
Nice elbow from Murray.
Burnham has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Burnham misses with a hook from the clinch.
Murray throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Murray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murray's corner calls for a 1-2. Murray obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Murray darts in and clinches Burnham up against the cage.

Murray's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Burnham darts in looking for a takedown but Murray gets double underhooks and turns Burnham into the cage.

Murray gets caught napping as Burnham dives in and scores a takedown. Murray manages to retain guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Murray has his feet on Burnham's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burnham with a poor takedown
and Murray counters with a straight right hand.
Murray jabs Burnham to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Jab by Murray.
Burnham takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Murray uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Burnham has time to react.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Murray dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Murray drops Burnham with a naaaaasty hook - Burnham is in real trouble here! Murray dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alex Murray!
A very excited looking Alex Murray made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.