PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Burnell (ranked 6328 p4p, 5684 weight class) and Nickita Smirnova (ranked 467 p4p, 443 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Burnell might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Sexy and I know it. Nicolas Burnell looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Burnell
vs
Smirnova

173 cm
18
145
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
145
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nicolas Burnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nickita Smirnova!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burnell throws a right hand that Smirnova ducks under and follows up with a left that Smirnova also avoids with ease.
Burnell tries to bum rush Smirnova with a series of wild strikes but Smirnova uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smirnova tries to clinch but Burnell is having none of it.
Nice uppercut there from Smirnova.
No luck for Burnell with that takedown attempt.
Burnell is breathing heavily.
Smirnova throws a head kick but Burnell moves out of range.
Smirnova lands with a right hand.
Burnell looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Smirnova flicks out a counter leg kick but Burnell steps away.
Smirnova doesn't manage to clinch there - Burnell circles away.
Smirnova keeps the fight on the outside.
Burnell throws a right and a left that Smirnova avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Smirnova.
Burnell has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Shut Up & Train! {$1000} in the buildup to the fight.
Smirnova tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burnell defends well and Smirnova ends up having to push Burnell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Burnell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Burnell takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smirnova closes this distance looking for a takedown but Burnell circles away.
Nicolas Burnell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnell lands a two punch combo.
Burnell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smirnova throws a counter combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smirnova.
Nicolas Burnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickita Smirnova.
Burnell jabs Smirnova to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smirnova shoots in and drives through. Burnell sprawls well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burnell. Smirnova does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smirnova throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Burnell half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Smirnova clinches with his opponent.
Smirnova swings wildly with an uppercut but Burnell uses good head movement to avoid it.

Smirnova breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burnell throws a nice looking combination but Smirnova bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Burnell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Burnell misses with a double jab
and Smirnova counters with a two punch combo.
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!

Smirnova darts in and clinches Burnell up against the cage.

Smirnova breaks from the clinch.
Smirnova tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burnell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smirnova somewhat.
Smirnova fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Burnell fails to land with a series of punches.
Burnell moves out of range as Smirnova throws a body kick.
Burnell misses with a double jab.
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 Nicolas Burnell will probably get the nod.
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.

Smirnova looking to score a takedown here. Burnell is defending well but Smirnova drives through and ends up in Burnell's guard.
Smirnova must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smirnova postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Burnell has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Smirnova off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Horrible takedown attempt by Smirnova or perhaps it was just good defense by Burnell, which made it look bad.
Smirnova will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Burnell instigates a clinch.
Burnell is trying to push Smirnova away but Smirnova has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burnell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smirnova fails with an attempt to clinch.

Smirnova gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Smirnova jumps guard and drags Burnell to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnell is looking to stand up but Smirnova won't let him.
Smirnova trying to keep a closed guard but Burnell is proving a slippery customer.
Smirnova is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Smirnova throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Smirnova had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Burnell defends it easily.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's two 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smirnova trying to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Burnell throws a series of punches but Smirnova moves out of range.
Smirnova will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nicolas Burnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickita Smirnova.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smirnova fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burnell walks into a straight right hand from Smirnova.
Smirnova tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burnell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nicolas Burnell will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Burnell looks to land a combination but Smirnova avoids it well.
Smirnova fails in his attempt to clinch.

Smirnova moves into the clinch.
Smirnova tries to pull guard but Burnell holds him up against the cage and eventually Smirnova drops back down to his feet.
Smirnova prevents Burnell from breaking the clinch.

Smirnova breaks from the clinch.
Burnell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smirnova lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnova tries to clinch there but Burnell circles away.
Burnell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smirnova misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smirnova lunges at Burnell with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Burnell's hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnova tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Burnell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smirnova, pushing him back against the cage.
Smirnova slowing the pace effectively.
Smirnova is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Burnell to keep the fight standing.
Nicolas Burnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickita Smirnova.

Burnell gets control of Smirnova's arms and successfully pulls guard. Burnell will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Smirnova is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smirnova trying to control the position from guard on top but Burnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smirnova lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnova throwing strikes but missing.
Smirnova stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burnell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burnell keeping moving, preventing Smirnova from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Burnell kicks Smirnova off and gets to his feet.
Nickita Smirnova has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nicolas Burnell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burnell lands a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolas Burnell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burnell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nicolas Burnell!