PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark The Hammer (ranked 4926 p4p, 4164 weight class) and Branson Burt (ranked 501 p4p, 468 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Burt's choice of entrance music: Got the Life. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

The Hammer
vs
Burt

183 cm
21
170
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
155
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Â© Trap House
Conviction

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark The Hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Branson Burt!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burt moves into the clinch successfully.
The Hammer can't get the takedown.
The Hammer has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Burt after a bit of a struggle.

The Hammer works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The Hammer prevents Burt from getting back to his feet.
Burt is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The Hammer cracks Burt with a solid left hand.
The Hammer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Hammer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burt is keeping the position for now.
The Hammer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The Hammer won't allow Burt to get back to his feet.

Burt manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Burt obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Hammer is trying to pull guard but Burt turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark The Hammer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for The Hammer.
The Hammer is trying to pull guard but Burt turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The Hammer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Burt's coach down at Gold Samurai's Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Burt's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

The Hammer jumps guard and drags Burt to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Burt preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The Hammer looking for a guillotine here but Burt defends easily.
Burt tries to stand but The Hammer is controlling from the bottom.
Burt is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Burt decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on The Hammer, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burt has The Hammer up against the cage in a clinch.
The Hammer tries to pull guard but Burt holds him up against the cage and eventually The Hammer drops back down to his feet.
Burt looking to throw knees to the head but The Hammer is blocking nicely.

The Hammer pulls guard.
Burt wants to stand and escape but instead The Hammer has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

The Hammer trying to control but Burt is working from the bottom.
Burt wants to get back to his feet but The Hammer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The Hammer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The Hammer tries to free his leg and advance position but Burt is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burt wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and The Hammer manages to pass to side control.
The Hammer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The Hammer is keen to just control but Burt is a slippery customer.

The Hammer is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Burt sees it coming and defends easily.
The Hammer wants to pass to mount but Burt is defending the position.
The Hammer controlling the action here.
Burt is trying to escape back to his feet but The Hammer uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burt is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The Hammer tries to move to mount but Burt blocks the move with his legs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The Hammer trying to control the position but Burt is working away.
Burt is pushing The Hammer's head away, looking to escape. The Hammer manages to hold on to the position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark The Hammer dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burt is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burt tries to clinch but The Hammer is having none of it.
Burt is looking to clinch but The Hammer is avoiding it.
Burt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Burt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. The Hammer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The Hammer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Burt as he jumps to the side.
A little jabbing left from Burt on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Burt gets caught napping as The Hammer dives in and scores a takedown. Burt manages to retain guard.
Burt keeping moving, preventing The Hammer from controlling successfully.
Burt is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Hammer throwing strikes but missing.
The Hammer won't allow Burt to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Burt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burt wants to stand but The Hammer is controlling the position.
The Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Burt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The Hammer is really struggling to control Burt but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The Hammer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burt can do to turn this around?

Burt clinches with his opponent.
Burt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The Hammer is working for takedown but Burt is calmly controlling the position for now.
The Hammer lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Burt backwards.
Burt connects with a knee to the head.
Burt pushes off an throws an elbow but The Hammer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
I was talking to The Hammer's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burt misses with a knee to the head.
Burt trying to stall but The Hammer improves his position.
Burt misses with a knee strike.
The Hammer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Burt just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark The Hammer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The Hammer fails to pull guard.
The Hammer jumps guard but Burt turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
The Hammer fails to pull guard.

The Hammer jumps guard and drags Burt to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Burt tries to stand but The Hammer is controlling from the bottom.
The Hammer wants to sweep but no luck.
The Hammer has a closed guard, preventing Burt from standing up.

The Hammer looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Burt has picked The Hammer up and slammed him! The Hammer can't keep hold of the triangle and Burt manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burt tries to stand but The Hammer is controlling his head.
The Hammer tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Burt wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mark The Hammer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burt tries to stand but The Hammer is controlling his head.
The Hammer trying his best to control but Burt has mounted him.
The Hammer is in all sorts of trouble here.
The Hammer reaches up to try and control the position but Burt seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! The Hammer rolls and tries to escape and now Burt has his back!
The Hammer rolls, trying to escape but Burt keeps control of the position.
Burt tries to keep control of the position but The Hammer is staying busy.

What's going on here? Burt has decided to give up on the ground game despite having his opponent's back!
The Hammer tries to close the distance and clinch but Burt swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burt uses good head movement to avoid the hook from The Hammer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burt getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The Hammer circles away from the clinch attempt.
The Hammer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Burt clinches up against the cage.
Burt is stalling here.
Burt putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has The Hammer in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from The Hammer.
Burt throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burt tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Burt misses with a knee to the head.
Burt misses with a knee strike.
Burt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The Hammer tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Burt smiles and moves away.
The Hammer doesn't manage to clinch there - Burt circles away.
The Hammer shoots in for a takedown but Burt shows good takedown defense.
The Hammer moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBurt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Branson Burt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Burt gets a clinch.
Burt misses with a knee to the head.
Burt tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Burt taking a breather.

The Hammer gets control of Burt's arms and successfully pulls guard. The Hammer will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The Hammer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Burt wants to stand but The Hammer has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The Hammer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Burt gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The Hammer has a closed guard, preventing Burt from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Hammer has Burt pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burt decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on The Hammer, up you get!
Burt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. The Hammer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The Hammer shoots for a double leg takedown but Burt sprawls well. He's pushed The Hammer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for The Hammer with that takedown attempt.
The Hammer fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark The Hammer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but The Hammer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

The Hammer tries to keep at a distance but Burt has taken the fight into the clinch.
The Hammer is looking to take this one to the mat.
Burt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The Hammer jumps guard but Burt stands there with The Hammer around his waist. The Hammer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Burt tries a knee to the head but The Hammer blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Hammer is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Burt pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Burt throws a knee to the head but misses.
Burt connects with a nasty looking knee right to The Hammer's face.
Burt misses with a knee strike.
Burt misses with a knee strike.

The Hammer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burt wants to clinch.
The Hammer has a takedown stuffed.

Burt drives through and clinches with The Hammer against the cage.
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!
The Hammer tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Burt content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The Hammer tries to circle away but Burt has him pinned against the cage.
The Hammer jumps guard but Burt turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

The Hammer has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Burt uses from the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burt tries to stand but The Hammer is controlling from the bottom.
The Hammer trying to control the position here.

The Hammer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Burt doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Burt manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four 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 Hammer is trying to control the position but Burt postures up.
The Hammer has a closed guard, preventing Burt from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burt tries to clinch up.
The Hammer shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Burt moves in looking to clinch but The Hammer pushes him off.

The Hammer closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The Hammer works his foot free and advances to mount.
Burt is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Branson Burt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Burt has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Branson Burt!