PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Goss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burke comes to the cage accompanied by Let it Rock. Goss has chosen Absolute Zero: Define Neutral as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Burke
vs
Goss

180 cm
24
175 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

180 cm
24
180 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joseph Goss!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Goss has managed to clinch.
Burke has a couple of punches blocked by Goss.
Burke letting Goss take a breather here.
Burke throws a punch but it's blocked by Goss.
Burke swings wildly with an uppercut but Goss uses good head movement to avoid it.
Goss comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Goss tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Goss throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Burke blocks it with crossed arms.
Goss with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Burke creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Goss fails to land.
Burke tries for a takedown. No joy.
Goss throws a knee to the head but misses.
Burke avoiding damage as Goss throws knees to the body.
Goss misses with a knee strike.
Burke wants to break free but Goss has control.
Burke has a couple of punches blocked by Goss.
Goss looking to throw knees to the head but Burke is blocking nicely.
Goss throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Goss blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burke avoids a wild elbow strike from Goss.
Goss just leaning against Burke, taking a breather.
Goss throws a knee to the head but misses.
Burke misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Burke creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Goss wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Goss looking to throw knees to the head but Burke is blocking nicely.
Goss tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Burke misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goss is struggling to control the position.
Goss misses with a knee strike.
Burke lands a right hand that snaps the head of Goss backwards.

Burke ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Burke no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Burke keeping moving, preventing Goss from controlling successfully.
Burke 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.
Burke looking to control.
Goss is looking to work some ground and pound but Burke has wrist control.
Burke is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Goss is controlling him.
Goss trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Burke is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Goss is controlling him.

That's two 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Burke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Burke closes the distance looking to clinch

and Goss counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Goss lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goss is just content to waste time from the top position. Burke takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

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

Burke closes the distance and clinches.
Burke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A knee to the head by Goss.
Burke blocks an elbow strike.
Goss pushes off an throws an elbow but Burke leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Goss tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Goss tries to land a knee to the head but Burke blocks with his arms.
Burke lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goss blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Goss taking a breather.
Burke is trying to break the clinch but Goss is controlling him.
Goss's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Burke lands an uppercut.
Goss lands an elbow inside.
Goss misses with a knee strike.
Burke working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Goss misses with a knee to the head.
Goss looks gassed!
Burke misses with a punch on the inside.
Goss looking to throw knees to the head but Burke is blocking nicely.
Goss with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Goss blocks an uppercut.

Burke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Goss clinches with his opponent.
Burke looking for a takedown.
Goss lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Goss with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Goss with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Burke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burke wants to clinch.
Goss throws a hook to the side of Burke's head but Burke sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

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.
Burke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Goss paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Burke has taken the fight to the clinch.

Goss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Goss instigates a clinch.
Burke wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Goss has him pressed against the cage.
Goss lands a hook that snaps the head of Burke backwards.
Goss wants to stall.
Goss blocks an uppercut.
Burke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Goss throws a knee to the head but misses.
Goss with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Burke misses with a hook from the clinch.
Goss throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Burke blocks it with crossed arms.
Burke throws a head punch that misses.
Goss misses with a knee strike.
Goss tries a knee to the head but Burke blocks it.
Burke fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Burke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Goss tries to land knees in the clinch but Burke avoids the damage to the body.
Goss tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Burke scores with a nice hook to the head.
Burke drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Goss dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Goss is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Goss tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burke paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice shot lands for Burke.
Joseph Goss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goss tries to close the distance and clinch but Burke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Goss rushes Burke and presses him up against the cage.
Burke throws a head punch that misses.
Goss with a knee to the head.
Goss throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Burke blocks it with crossed arms.
Goss tries to break the clinch but Burke is controlling the position.
Burke has a couple of punches blocked by Goss.
Burke tries to pull guard but Goss holds him up against the cage and eventually Burke drops back down to his feet.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Burke.
Goss is breathing heavily.
Burke lands with a light punch inside.
Goss is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Goss blocking some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Burke gets through Goss's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Goss tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goss wants a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Burke fails to land.
Burke lands with a left to the head.
Burke lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Burke has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Burke lands a shoulder strike.
Goss with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch on the inside from Burke fails to land.
Goss using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Burke has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Burke misses with a hook from the clinch.
Burke misses with some punches.
Goss looking to throw knees to the head but Burke is blocking nicely.
Burke lands a nice shot to the body.
Goss blocks an uppercut.
Burke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Goss with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Goss using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Burke has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Burke misses with the head strike.
Burke lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Burke can't get the takedown.
Burke lands a nice uppercut.
Burke misses with a short punch on the inside.
Burke lands with a left to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Burke creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Goss throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Burke blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goss with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Goss looking to throw knees to the head but Burke is blocking nicely.
Goss tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Burke avoids it.
Burke lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Goss.
Goss blocking some punches.
Burke makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Burke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Goss wants to clinch.
Burke lands an overhand right.
Burke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burke closes the distance looking to clinch

and Goss counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Goss.
A right hand to the body from Burke.
Goss with a knee to the head.
Goss tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Goss wants to stall.
Goss looking to throw knees to the head but Burke is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Burke drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Burke. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Goss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Goss gets a clinch.
Burke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Goss tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Burke keeps control of Goss as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Goss throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Burke has a couple of punches blocked by Goss.
Burke lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Goss stalls.
Burke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Burke lands with a right to the head.
Burke lands a hook that snaps the head of Goss backwards.
Burke swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Burke manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Goss throwing strikes from guard but Burke blocks nicely.
Goss is looking to work some ground and pound but Burke has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goss is looking to stand up but Burke won't let him.
Burke wants to get back to his feet but Goss is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Goss wants to control from the top but Burke keeps moving.
Burke has momentary wrist control but Goss slips an elbow through the middle.
Goss trying to control the position from guard on top but Burke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Burke dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Goss moves into the clinch.
Goss throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Burke blocks it with crossed arms.
Goss tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Burke decides to pull guard.
Goss working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burke keeping moving, preventing Goss from controlling successfully.
Burke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Goss throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goss works over Burke with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Goss stands up and waves to Burke to follow him.
Burke tries to clinch up but Goss circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burke gets a clinch.
Goss using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Goss connects with a nasty looking knee right to Burke's face.
Goss cracks Burke with a nice body shot.
Goss tries to land a knee to the head but Burke blocks with his arms.
Knees to the body from Goss.
Goss misses with a knee strike.
Burke lands a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Goss.
A right handed body shot lands from Burke.
Goss landing knees to the head.
Goss throws a knee to the head but misses.
Goss using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Burke has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Goss blocks an uppercut.

Burke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Goss pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Goss swats away the attempt to clinch by Burke.
Burke tries to close the distance and clinch but Goss swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goss circles away from the clinch attempt.

Goss has Burke up against the cage in a clinch.
Goss blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Goss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Goss tries to close the distance and clinch but Burke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Goss moves into range and clinches up with Burke.
Goss misses with a knee strike.
Burke throws a punch but it's blocked by Goss.
Goss tries to land a knee to the head but Burke blocks with his arms.
Burke misses with a short punch on the inside.
Goss landing knees to the head.
Burke swings wildly with an uppercut but Goss uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Burke.
Burke lands with a short shot to the head.
Goss throws a knee to the head but misses.
Goss is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Burke lands with a left to the head.
Goss takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Goss lands an elbow just above Burke 's eye.
Goss trying to land knees to the body.
Burke lands a hook to the side of the head.
Goss with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Burke lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Goss backwards.
Paul Burke has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Burke lands a right hand that snaps the head of Goss backwards.

Goss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Goss fails with an attempt to clinch.
Goss is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Burke clinches with his opponent.
Goss has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Burke avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Burke swings wildly with an uppercut but Goss uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burke lands a hook to the side of the head.
Burke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Burke fails to land.
Burke lands a nice uppercut.
Burke lands an uppercut.

Burke breaks from the clinch.
Goss shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burke but Burke pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Burke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Goss paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Goss closes the distance and pushes Burke back into the cage.
Goss tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Burke avoids it.
Goss blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Burke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Burke tries to clinch up.
Burke takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Goss closes the distance but Burke moves to the side

and Burke moves into the clinch.
Goss tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Burke throws a head punch that misses.
Goss drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Paul Burke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Goss.
Burke misses with some punches.
Burke lands a right hand.
Goss looking to throw knees to the head but Burke is blocking nicely.
Burke scores with a shot to the side of Goss's head.

Goss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paul Burke.
I think Burke has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

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