PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Islam Rafiq (ranked 3992 p4p, 4521 weight class) and Martin Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Rafiq
vs
Burns

182 cm
22
170
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
16
170
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Hates pizza

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Islam Rafiq!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Martin Burns!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rafiq's waist but Rafiq gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Burns off to one side.

Rafiq shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rafiq showed some decent athleticism there.
Rafiq is trying to control the action in half guard but Burns is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Burns tries to roll over but Rafiq keeps him under control.
Rafiq controlling the action here.
Burns is refusing to be controlled, as Rafiq sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burns is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rafiq pulls his head out easily.

Rafiq is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Burns doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rafiq.

Burns is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rafiq pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafiq tries to stand and escape but Burns is controlling the position.
Rafiq thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Burns's head.
Rafiq thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Burns's head.

Burns looking for submissions off his back.
Rafiq tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Burns is looking for a sweep. Rafiq is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Burns wants to control but Rafiq is keeping busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Burns manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rafiq trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Burns wants to control but Rafiq passes easily into half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rafiq lands a nice short elbow.
Rafiq seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Burns wants to get back to his feet.

Burns looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rafiq is nestled in close to Burns, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rafiq content to control rather than advance.

Rafiq seems to be working for a kimura but Burns defends the submission attempt.
Burns is looking for a sweep. Rafiq is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rafiq wants to take a breather but Burns is having none of it.
Rafiq sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Rafiq is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Burns wants to control but Rafiq is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Burns wants to control the action here but instead Rafiq manages to pass to full mount!
Burns working to try and regain half guard.
Rafiq avoids the attempt from Burns to control.
Burns keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rafiq can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Burns is looking to escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Islam Rafiq dominated that 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.

Burns misses with a takedown attempt - Rafiq sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Rafiq is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Burns's half guard.

Rafiq is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Burns is refusing to be controlled, as Rafiq sits in half guard.

Burns looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rafiq wants to take a breather but Burns is having none of it.
Burns is controlling Rafiq's trapped leg to prevent Rafiq from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafiq wants to control but Burns is keeping him busy.
Burns has his hands clasped together around Rafiq's back. He's all about the action.
Burns missing with punches from the bottom.

Burns looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burns is looking to improve his position.
Rafiq trying to pass the guard but Burns defending well.

Burns looking for submissions off his back.

That's two 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.
Burns is looking to improve his position.

Burns looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rafiq slows the pace down in half guard.

Burns looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burns wants to get back to his feet.
Rafiq sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Burns with the active half guard here but Rafiq passes nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns is trying to control Rafiq's posture but Rafiq avoids it.
Islam Rafiq overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burns tries to bench press Rafiq off him but Rafiq keeps the position.
Rafiq tries to move into full mount but can't pass Burns's legs.
Rafiq wants to stand but Burns is controlling his arm.
Rafiq moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Burns is not content to let Rafiq control the position.

That's four 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.
You can see the frustration on Burns's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Burns gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Burns is trying to maintain the position but Rafiq is very close to passing his half guard.
Rafiq wants to control but Burns is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burns wants to control but Rafiq is keeping busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rafiq lands a right hook to the body.

Burns scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Islam Rafiq dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rafiq gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Burns to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Burns won't allow Rafiq to sweep him here.
Burns tries to free his leg and advance position but Rafiq is retaining full guard.
Rafiq has his hands on Burns's head, controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns is looking to advance position but Rafiq has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Rafiq tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Burns working to try and regain half guard.
Burns tries to hold on but Rafiq pushes him away.
Burns is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns reaches up to try and control the position but Rafiq seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Burns rolls and tries to escape and now Rafiq has his back!
Burns is trying to break free.
Rafiq controls the position.
Rafiq controlling well, preventing Burns from escaping the position.
Burns trying to control the position but Rafiq manages to sink in the hooks.
Burns is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Rafiq is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Burns is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rafiq.
Rafiq not allowing Burns to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafiq controlling from the back.
Burns is trying to break free.
Burns keeps trying to improve his position.

Burns defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Burns showing good submission defense here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rafiq avoiding Burns 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Burns tries to hold on but Rafiq postures up.
Burns is looking to improve his position but Rafiq isn't that keen on the idea.
Burns tries to hold on but Rafiq postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Islam Rafiq showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rafiq 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Islam Rafiq!