PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Trond Asmundsen (ranked 840 p4p, 577 weight class) and Dimitri Buriak (ranked 128 p4p, 87 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Dimitri Buriak enters the cage!

Asmundsen
vs
Buriak

188 cm
33
190
22 - 17 - 0

187 cm
34
202
25 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Trond Asmundsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dimitri Buriak!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asmundsen shoots in for a takedown but Buriak shows good takedown defense.
A lazy left from Asmundsen finds it's target.
Asmundsen throws a jab when Buriak was well out of range.
Asmundsen throws a body shot but no joy.
Buriak shapes to counter with a head kick.
Asmundsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Buriak was well out of range. Poor timing from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Asmundsen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Buriak.
Buriak scores with a punch to the head.
Buriak misses with an uppercut. Asmundsen saw that one coming.
An attempted straight right counter from Asmundsen misses the target.
Trond Asmundsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Asmundsen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Asmundsen needs to keep his hands up - Buriak had a free shot at his head there.
Asmundsen misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buriak lands a head kick. Asmundsen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Asmundsen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Trond Asmundsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buriak blocks a head kick by Asmundsen.
Asmundsen checks a leg kick nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An inside leg kick from Asmundsen misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asmundsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Buriak was well out of range. Poor timing from Asmundsen.
Buriak is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Asmundsen looks for a takedown but Buriak sprawls well.
Buriak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Asmundsen throws out the jab.
Buriak slips a jab from Asmundsen.
Buriak has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Buriak takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A nice leg kick from Buriak, right into the meat of the thigh.
Buriak waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Asmundsen.
Asmundsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Buriak was well out of range. Poor timing from Asmundsen.
Buriak scores with a jab to the head.
Asmundsen motions for Buriak to come forward. Asmundsen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Buriak slips under a jab.
Asmundsen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Buriak.
Asmundsen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Buriak.
Asmundsen was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Buriak misses with a body punch
and Asmundsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Asmundsen 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.
Asmundsen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Buriak but Buriak pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buriak blocks a head kick by Asmundsen.
Asmundsen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Buriak takes a swing at Asmundsen's ribcage but misses.
Asmundsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Buriak was well out of range. Poor timing from Asmundsen.
Buriak scoring well with a low kick there.
Buriak scores with a decent looking hook.
Buriak jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Asmundsen moves out of range as Buriak throws a body kick.
Asmundsen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Buriak throws a shot from downtown. Asmundsen moves away and avoids it.
Buriak fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Asmundsen on the side of the head.
Buriak slips under a jab from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Asmundsen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Buriak at a distance.
Asmundsen misses with a body shot.
Buriak takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Asmundsen thuds a left hand into Buriak's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen throws a leg kick which misses Buriak's front leg but catches the back leg as Buriak tries to avoid it.
Asmundsen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Asmundsen misses with an uppercut
and Buriak counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A big right from Asmundsen misses.
Buriak cracks Asmundsen with an open hand slap.
Dimitri Buriak is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Asmundsen drives through with a takedown into Buriak's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Buriak is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Asmundsen tries to roll over but Buriak keeps him under control.
Buriak perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Asmundsen is trying to get back to full guard.
Well, if Buriak is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buriak wants to stand up but Asmundsen is controlling the position.
Asmundsen trying to control from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Buriak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Asmundsen keeps working.
Buriak performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Let's hope that Buriak has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Buriak seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Asmundsen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dimitri Buriak will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice defenses there by Buriak.
Asmundsen misses with a hook. Buriak ducked under it nicely.
Asmundsen scoring well with a low kick there.
Buriak takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Buriak swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Buriak blocks a leg kick.
Buriak attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Buriak misses with a low kick.
Asmundsen throws a poor cross that misses
and Buriak counters with a nice leg kick.
Buriak with the inside leg kick.
Asmundsen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Buriak swings widly with a right hand
and Asmundsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asmundsen connects with a nice looking jab.
Buriak avoids the body shot from Asmundsen.
Some wild striking there from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen just misses with a punch to the body.
Buriak misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asmundsen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Buriak counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Buriak throws an overhand right that lands on Asmundsen's shoulder, as Asmundsen tries to avoid the shot.
Asmundsen misses the jab.
Asmundsen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Buriak looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Buriak lands a nice hook to Asmundsen's body. Asmundsen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Buriak turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Asmundsen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Asmundsen misses with a low kick.
Buriak throws a leg kick which misses Asmundsen's front leg but catches the back leg as Asmundsen tries to avoid it.
Asmundsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Buriak was well out of range. Poor timing from Asmundsen.

Asmundsen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Asmundsen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Buriak tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Asmundsen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Asmundsen goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Buriak rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Asmundsen's guard! Nice work there by Buriak!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buriak not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Asmundsen wants to sweep here but Buriak controlling him for the moment.
Buriak not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Buriak wants to pass the guard but Asmundsen is keeping the position.
Buriak engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Buriak wants to control from the top but Asmundsen keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen being controlled here, momentarily.
Asmundsen trying to keep a closed guard but Buriak is proving a slippery customer.
Asmundsen being controlled here, momentarily.

Asmundsen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Asmundsen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Asmundsen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Buriak.
Buriak clobbers Asmundsen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Asmundsen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Buriak tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Asmundsen was well out of range. Poor timing from Buriak.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Buriak lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Asmundsen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Asmundsen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
No joy there for Asmundsen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Buriak uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Asmundsen.
Buriak throws a body punch but Asmundsen moves out of range.
Asmundsen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Buriak counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Asmundsen shoots in looking for a takedown. Buriak tries to sprawl out of it but Asmundsen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Buriak manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dimitri Buriak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Asmundsen.
Buriak swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Buriak lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Asmundsen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Buriak can pounce on him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Buriak. Asmundsen does a little dance to reset his feet.
A counter left hand to the body from Asmundsen misses its target.
Buriak misses with a low kick.
Buriak throws a right hand that Asmundsen ducks under and follows up with a left that Asmundsen also avoids with ease.
Asmundsen throws a right hand that Buriak ducks under and follows up with a left that Buriak also avoids with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Asmundsen. Buriak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Asmundsen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Buriak can pounce on him.
Buriak throws a leg kick which misses Asmundsen's front leg but catches the back leg as Asmundsen tries to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buriak keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Buriak throws out a counter right but Asmundsen avoids it with no problem.
Asmundsen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Buriak throws a hook but Asmundsen blocks it.
Buriak checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Buriak throws out a counter right but Asmundsen avoids it with no problem.
Asmundsen throws a shot to the body.
Buriak just misses with a punch to the body.
Asmundsen is looking to wear down Buriak with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Asmundsen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Asmundsen. Buriak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Buriak swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Asmundsen lands a leg kick that knocks Buriak off balance momentarily.
Asmundsen blocks a head kick by Buriak.
Buriak keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Asmundsen.
Buriak takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Buriak ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Asmundsen throws a hook but Buriak avoids it easily.
Asmundsen clobbers Buriak with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Asmundsen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Buriak defends well and Asmundsen ends up having to push Buriak into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Asmundsen misses with a punch to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Asmundsen.
Asmundsen wants to stall.
Asmundsen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Dimitri Buriak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Asmundsen misses with some punches.
Asmundsen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Buriak up against the cage.
Asmundsen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The referee is keeping an eye on Asmundsen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Buriak lands with a left to the head.
Trond Asmundsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

It looks like Trond Asmundsen has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Buriak as Asmundsen tries to tie him up.
Asmundsen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Trond Asmundsen.
A shot to the body from Asmundsen misses
and Buriak counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Asmundsen thinking.
Buriak fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Asmundsen is out of range.
Buriak throws a body shot but no joy.
Buriak lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Buriak ducks under a wild hook from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Buriak swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice defenses there by Buriak.
Buriak is looking for the big counter here.
Asmundsen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Buriak.
Buriak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Asmundsen throws a body punch but Buriak moves out of range.
Buriak throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Asmundsen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Buriak lands a leg kick that knocks Asmundsen off balance momentarily.
Asmundsen tries to bum rush Buriak with a series of wild strikes but Buriak uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Asmundsen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Buriak's waist but Buriak gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Asmundsen off to one side.
Buriak sizes up Asmundsen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen looks to land a right hand but Buriak moved out of range.
Asmundsen backing away here, and Buriak unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Buriak uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Asmundsen.
Buriak feints and then cracks Asmundsen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Asmundsen down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Buriak tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Asmundsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Buriak manages to avoid it.
Asmundsen shoots in for a takedown but Buriak shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Trond Asmundsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice defenses there by Asmundsen.
An attempted straight right counter from Asmundsen misses the target.
Buriak on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Asmundsen. Asmundsen obviously looking to wear him down.
Buriak misses with a straight right.
Buriak avoids a kick to the body.
Asmundsen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Buriak.
Asmundsen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Asmundsen just misses with a punch to the body.
Asmundsen just misses with a punch to the body.
Buriak lands with an overhand left.
Buriak misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dimitri Buriak.
I've got Buriak winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dimitri Buriak!
Dimitri Buriak thanked the fans post fight for their support.