PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lorick Spana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burke comes to the cage accompanied by Discoboys - I came for you. Lorick Spana struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 187.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. The key to victory for Solomon Burke has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Burke
vs
Spana

188 cm
20
192 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Solomon Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lorick Spana!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burke shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Spana is trying to defend but Burke finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Spana looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Spana actively working from the bottom here.

Burke decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Spana keeps the fight on the outside.

Burke drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Burke preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Spana.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burke is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Spana gets his way!
Spana looks gassed!
Burke manages to reverse the position and now he's in Spana's guard. Nice work there by Burke.

Spana has his foot on Burke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burke works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burke not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Spana keeping moving, preventing Burke from controlling successfully.
Burke might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Burke gets to his feet. Spana looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spana doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Burke counters with a big head kick but Spana shrugs it off.

Burke feints and as Spana raises his hands in defense, Burke changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Spana had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Burke is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Spana Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Burke's back instead.
Burke holding both Spana 's hands and preventing any damage.
Burke tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Burke is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spana goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Burke is on top in guard.
Burke wants to pass the guard but Spana is keeping the position.
Burke controls from within his opponent's guard.
Burke seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Spana for as long as he can get away with.
Spana keeping moving, preventing Burke from controlling successfully.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Spana throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Burke pushing down on Spana's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Spana is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Burke pulls his head out easily.

Spana looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Burke stands up and beckons Spana to join him on the feet.
Burke throws a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Burke dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Burke moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A head kick from Burke lands but Spana takes it in his stride.

Spana shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Burke's guard.

Spana drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Burke dives on top into guard.
Burke forces his way into half guard.
Spana is breathing heavily.
Spana is looking to improve his position.
Burke takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burke is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Burke in particular looking to stall.
Burke has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

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.
Burke controlling from mount.

Burke stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Burke shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Spana is trying to defend but Burke finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Spana actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke is pressing down on Spana's thigh, looking to free his foot. Spana is holding on for now.

Spana actively working from the bottom here.

Spana actively working from the bottom here.
Burke passes the guard and advances to mount!
Spana is looking to improve his position but Burke isn't that keen on the idea.
Burke content just to control the position here.

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.
Spana is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Burke takes Spana's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Spana is in trouble.
Burke controlling well, preventing Spana from escaping the position.
Burke biding his time, controlling Spana.
Spana tries to roll but Burke sticks to his back.

Burke is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Burke 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!

Nice body punch from Burke.
Burke throws a head kick that Spana semi-blocks.
Spana circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick from Burke lands but Spana takes it in his stride.
Spana with a poor takedown

and Burke counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Burke.
Burke sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Spana has an active guard here but Burke has managed to pass into half guard.
Spana takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spana actively working from the bottom here.
Burke stalling.
Spana is not content to let Burke control the position.
Burke seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Burke tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Burke is trying to control. Spana wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Spana tries to roll over but Burke keeps him under control.
Burke trying to control the action but Spana is working from the bottom.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Solomon Burke just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Burke lands a head kick. Spana smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Spana blocks a head kick by Burke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Burke scores with a four punch combination!
Burke lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Spana at a distance.
Burke lands a body shot.
Burke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spana paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burke tries to close the distance and clinch but Spana swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burke throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Spana's head.
Spana avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Burke throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Spana's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Solomon Burke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Spana with a poor takedown
and Burke makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Burke gets a takedown into half guard.
Burke content to control rather than advance.
Lorick Spana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Spana is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Burke pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Solomon Burke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Burke 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Solomon Burke!