PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Serbanescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kross Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Serbanescu comes to the cage accompanied by Piano man. The key to victory for Nick Serbanescu has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Serbanescu
vs
Burns

180 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

189 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Serbanescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kross Burns!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns keeps the fight on the outside.
Serbanescu dives in and grabs Burns's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burns pushes down on Serbanescu's head and hops out.

Burns looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Burns moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Serbanescu.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A lull in the action here as Burns stalls from top position.
Serbanescu tries to bench press Burns off him but Burns keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serbanescu is working hard here to advance position.
Burns controls the position.
Let's hope that Burns has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Serbanescu tries to improve position but can't.
Burns controls the position.
Serbanescu sneaks back into half guard.
Burns perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
I looks like Burns might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns prevents Serbanescu from improving his position.
Burns takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kross Burns just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burns swinging wilding here.
Serbanescu lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Burns backs up against the cage.
Burns keeps the fight on the outside.
Burns misses with a combination
and Serbanescu counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Serbanescu shoots and misses

and Burns counters with a takedown into side control.
Serbanescu is breathing heavily.
Burns controlling the position from side mount.
Burns advances nicely into full mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burns controlling from the full mount.
Serbanescu can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kross Burns 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.

Serbanescu with a lazy takedown attempt

and Burns counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Serbanescu's guard now.
Burns controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serbanescu throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burns sitting in guard here, content to control.

Serbanescu throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Burns escapes and throws Serbanescu's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Burns controlling the position from side mount.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kross Burns just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Serbanescu doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Burns decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Serbanescu's guard.
Burns not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Burns showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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.

Burns drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Burns jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Burns is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Burns passes Serbanescu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kross Burns 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Burns looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Serbanescu!
Serbanescu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Burns content just to control the position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kross Burns just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Serbanescu doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Burns counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns wants to clinch up but Serbanescu keeps it at a distance.

Burns looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Serbanescu!
Burns takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Serbanescu is trying to reverse the position but instead Burns has taken his back - oops!
Kross Burns has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burns is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Serbanescu is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serbanescu is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Burns is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Burns controlling the positon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Serbanescu is defending well though. Burns let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four 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.
Serbanescu tries to break free.
Burns controls the action.
Serbanescu wants to escape the position.
Nick Serbanescu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kross Burns is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Burns just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kross Burns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Burns has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 25:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 26:30

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