PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Burns (ranked 2547 p4p, 2558 weight class) and Victor Braddock (ranked 288 p4p, 289 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Burns
vs
Braddock

179 cm
25
164
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
165
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Braddock!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Braddock as he jumps to the side.
Braddock tries to clinch there but Burns circles away.

Burns gets a clinch.
Burns jumps guard but Braddock turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Burns has hold of one of Braddock's legs. Braddock is fighting the takedown attempt but Burns gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Burns is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Braddock not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Braddock throws his legs up looking for a submission but Burns uses it to pass to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns is staying tight to Braddock's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Braddock is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braddock has one of Burns's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Braddock can't do much from the bottom here.
Burns tries to advance to mount but can't.
Braddock can't do much from the bottom here.
Burns tries to move to mount but Braddock blocks the move with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Burns cracks Braddock with a big right hand but Braddock just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Burns is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Braddock has escaped the position, nice work there.

Burns thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Burns tries for a kimura but Braddock is defending well.
Braddock is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Burns off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns can't escape the position.

Burns is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burns trying to control the position but Braddock manages to sink in the hooks.
Braddock is looking to control Burns but Burns is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Braddock controls the position.
I really don't envy Burns right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Braddock looking to break Burns's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Burns remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Braddock will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Braddock controlling the positon.
Braddock misses with a punch to the head.
Burns wants to escape the position.
Braddock throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Burns!
Burns tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burns keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Burns slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Steve Burns will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice sprawl there from Burns as Braddock shoots in.

Braddock pushes Burns up against the cage in a clinch.

Burns manages to pull guard.

Burns has his feet on Braddock's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Braddock shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burns sprawls well. Burns wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Braddock gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Braddock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns takes a swing at Braddock's ribcage but misses.
Braddock tries to counter with a clinch but Burns shakes him off and moves away.

Burns shoots in and gets a takedown into Braddock's guard.

Braddock has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Burns off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
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!
No luck for Burns with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braddock shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burns sprawls well. Burns wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Braddock gets slowly back to his feet.
Steve Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Braddock.
Burns stuffs the takedown attempt from Braddock. Braddock gets slowly back to his feet.
Braddock looks for a takedown but Burns sprawls well.
Steve Burns is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burns throws a shot from downtown. Braddock moves away and avoids it.

Burns throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Braddock tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Burns is in Braddock's guard.
Burns landing some decent shots from guard.

Braddock has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burns can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns trying to control the position from guard on top but Braddock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Braddock is trying to keep Burns in close.
Burns slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Braddock pulls Burns in close to prevent any damage.
Burns slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Braddock is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Braddock has escaped and now he's on top!

Braddock slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Burns is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Braddock sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Burns keeping full guard, as Braddock tries to pass.
Braddock trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Burns looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Burns dominated that second round.
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!

Braddock has a takedown stuffed.
Braddock is looking to clinch.
Braddock throws a solid leg kick but Burns takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Braddock.
Braddock shoots in for a takedown but Burns shows good takedown defense.
Braddock defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Burns.
Braddock lands a body shot.

Burns changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Braddock looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Braddock is looking to get back to his feet here but Burns is keeping cool and he's managed to take Braddock's back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braddock trying to control but not successfully.
Braddock rolls, trying to escape but Burns keeps control of the position.
Burns looking to hold on to the position here but Braddock rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Burns trying to control but Braddock is working from the bottom.

Burns stands and steps away. Braddock gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Burns changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Braddock tries to avoid it but Burns manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Braddock to the ground. Braddock escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Braddock throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Braddock.
Steve Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Braddock.
Burns fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Burns wants to clinch up but Braddock keeps it at a distance.
Braddock is looking to clinch but Burns is avoiding it.
Braddock shoots in for a takedown but Burns shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Burns clinches with his opponent.
Braddock is trying to pull guard but Burns turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Burns jumps guard and drags Braddock to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Burns trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Braddock is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Burns looking to control but Braddock passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Braddock shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Burns defends it nicely.
Braddock looks for a takedown but Burns sprawls well.

Burns drives through and clinches with Braddock against the cage.
Burns is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Braddock to keep the fight standing.

Burns drags the fight down to the ground.
Steve Burns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns is trying to keep Braddock in close.
Braddock controlling from the top position.
Burns wants to stand but Braddock is controlling the position.

Burns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Braddock gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Burns is pulling down on Braddock's head to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Burns showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Burns has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Burns!