PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Canton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donovan Burch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Canton
vs
Burch

176 cm
21
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
134 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Canton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donovan Burch!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Canton with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Burch gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Canton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Burch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Canton is one step ahead there.
Burch keeping moving, preventing Canton from controlling successfully.
Burch trying to control the position.
Canton 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.
Burch keeping full guard, as Canton tries to pass.
Canton slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Canton prevents Burch from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canton tries to free his leg and advance position but Burch is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Canton scores with a takedown into Burch's guard.
Canton sitting in guard here, content to control.
Canton wants to control from the top but Burch keeps moving.

Canton gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Donovan Burch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Canton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Burch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Canton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burch misses with a takedown

and Canton counters with a single leg into guard. Burch didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canton trying to control the position from guard on top but Burch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Canton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Canton sitting in guard here, content to control.
Burch tries to strike from the bottom.
Canton wants to control from the top but Burch keeps moving.
Burch is striking off his back. Canton thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Canton trying to control the action but Burch is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burch wants to improve his position but Canton is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burch with a poor takedown

and Canton counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Burch!
Canton prevents Burch from getting the reversal.
Canton looking to control but Burch is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Canton looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Canton goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Burch turns into him and now he's in Canton's guard.
Canton is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canton trying to control the position.
Burch must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Burch trying to stand up but can't free himself from Canton's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Canton dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Burch shoots and misses

and Canton counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnny Canton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Canton controls the position.

Canton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Burch's face as Canton controls the position.

Canton working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Burch wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Canton working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burch is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Canton has an Americana. Burch didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Canton is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Canton hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Johnny Canton!