PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darren Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjo Hadzija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hadzija has chosen Bos ili Hadžija as his entrance music. Darren Burns has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Burns
vs
Hadzija

182 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

175 cm
22
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darren Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benjo Hadzija!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hadzija.
Hadzija displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hadzija lunges at Burns with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Burns's hand.
Hadzija misses with a two punch combination.
Hadzija will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A slow jab from Hadzija misses its intended target.
Hadzija throws a nice looking combination but Burns bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Burns showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hadzija.
Burns walks into a jab.
Hadzija looks to score with a jab to the body but Burns is just out of range.
Hadzija lands a jab to the nose.
Nice jab there from Hadzija.
Burns dodges the punch combination from Hadzija.
Burns throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burns gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hadzija can't break the clinch.
Hadzija tries to circle away but Burns has him pinned against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hadzija is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hadzija managing to block the knees to the body from Burns.
Hadzija is trying to break free.

Hadzija breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hadzija scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hadzija throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Burns dodges the punch combination from Hadzija.
Hadzija rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Burns moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hadzija fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hadzija swinging wildly here.
Hadzija misses with a body shot.
A combination from Hadzija does no damage.
Hadzija lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hadzija throws a right hand that Burns ducks under and follows up with a left that Burns also avoids with ease.
Hadzija misses the shot to the body.
Burns slips a jab and a cross from Hadzija.
Burns tries to clinch up but Hadzija circles away and keeps his distance.
Hadzija will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Burns avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Hadzija misses.
Burns blocks a head kick by Hadzija.
Hadzija misses with an uppercut. Burns saw that one coming.
Hadzija swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Burns uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hadzija.
Hadzija lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hadzija.
Burns tries to clinch up.
Hadzija pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
No joy there for Burns, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hadzija cracks Burns with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Burns uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hadzija.
Hadzija moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hadzija darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Burns avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hadzija tries to land a front kick but Burns steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hadzija throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Burns counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burns.
Burns is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Burns pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Burns avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hadzija misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hadzija swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Burns moves into the clinch.
Hadzija tries to circle away but Burns has him pinned against the cage.
Hadzija wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Burns has Hadzija pressed against the cage, preventing Hadzija from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hadzija wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Burns looking to throw knees to the head but Hadzija is blocking nicely.
Burns tries to land a knee to the head but Hadzija blocks with his arms.
Burns is looking to break free of the clinch but Hadzija has double underhooks.
Burns is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hadzija is defending well for now.
Hadzija is trying to force a seperation but Burns has the dominant position.
Hadzija is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hadzija breaks from the clinch.
Hadzija misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hadzija scores with a body shot.
Hadzija tries a head kick but it misses.
Hadzija is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Burns had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Hadzija misses with a head kick.
Hadzija ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hadzija darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Burns looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hadzija falls off balance throwing a combination

and Burns decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hadzija's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hadzija lands a slapping body shot.
Burns slips a jab from Hadzija.
A right-left combo lands from Hadzija.
Burns throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hadzija.
Hadzija lands with a right hand.
Hadzija misses with a kick to the body.
Hadzija stalks Burns and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Burns's face. Burns staggers backwards, shaken.

Burns has managed to clinch.
Burns is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Burns keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hadzija's efforts to push away.
Hadzija wants to break the clinch but can't.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Burns.
Hadzija wants to break the clinch but can't.

Hadzija escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hadzija scores with a one two! Burns had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hadzija lands a jab.
Hadzija lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hadzija throws a looping overhand right but Burns ducks down to avoid it.
Burns dodges the punch combination from Hadzija.
Benjo Hadzija seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hadzija.
Hadzija displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hadzija stuns Burns with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hadzija tries to bum rush Burns with a series of wild strikes but Burns uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hadzija wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hadzija throws a sloppy head kick and Burns moves out of range easily.
No joy there for Hadzija, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Burns slips a jab and a cross from Hadzija.
Hadzija scores with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hadzija throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hadzija fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burns is looking to clinch but Hadzija is avoiding it.
Hadzija misses with the combination.
Hadzija lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Burns looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hadzija throws a good cross that connects.
Hadzija misses with a two punch combination.
Hadzija fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Benjo Hadzija is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hadzija throws a series of strikes that have Burns backpedaling.
Hadzija lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Burns backs up against the cage.

Burns is rocked!
Benjo Hadzija seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hadzija swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Burns counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hadzija!
Oh Burns is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
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!
Hadzija wants to get back to his feet.
Burns seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns is trying to control here but Hadzija has managed to regain half guard.
Burns has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Hadzija works to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Burns stops Hadzija from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjo Hadzija showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Burns fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hadzija fails to land with a series of punches.
Burns fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hadzija throws a series of punches but Burns avoids them all with ease.
Benjo Hadzija is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hadzija throws a right and a left that both miss.
Burns walks into a left hand.
Hadzija listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Burns has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hadzija misses with a series of wild punches.
Burns takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hadzija falls off balance throwing a combination
and Burns counters with an outside leg kick.
Burns is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hadzija misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns shoots in for a takedown but Hadzija shows good takedown defense.
Hadzija is working the combinations to good effect here.
Hadzija just misses with a punch to the body.
Hadzija connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hadzija throws a one two combo.
Hadzija scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Burns tries to clinch but Hadzija moves out of range.
Hadzija misses with a wild combination.
A nice combination there by Hadzija.
Burns avoids the head kick by Hadzija.
Hadzija getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hadzija throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Burns.
Hadzija falls off balance throwing a combination

and Burns counters with a shoot takedown. Hadzija fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hadzija pushes Burns off and gets back to his feet.
Burns takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Burns tries to clinch up.
Hadzija throws a series of punches but Burns avoids them all with ease.
Burns is looking to clinch.
Hadzija scores with a punch to the head.
Hadzija throws a combination that misses
and Burns counters with a straight right hand.
Burns tries to clinch but Hadzija is having none of it.
A combination from Hadzija does no damage.
Darren Burns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hadzija misses with the combination.
Hadzija misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hadzija misses with a combination

and Burns counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Hadzija manages to break the clinch.
Hadzija swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hadzija falls off balance throwing a combination

and Burns counters by moving into the clinch.
Burns misses with a knee strike.
Hadzija is looking to break free of the clinch but Burns has double underhooks.
Hadzija is pressed up against the cage. Burns has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hadzija down to the mat. Hadzija avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hadzija looks to land a combination but Burns avoids it well.
Hadzija throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hadzija misses with a double jab

and Burns counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns throws a punch but it's blocked by Hadzija.
Burns looking to stall.
Burns scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hadzija breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hadzija swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Burns tries to clinch there but Hadzija circles away.
Nice jab there from Hadzija.
Danga de danga de dang - Hadzija scores with a four punch combination!
Burns shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hadzija throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Burns on the side of the head.
Hadzija rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Burns moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hadzija just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No joy there for Hadzija, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Burns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hadzija was well out of range. Poor timing from Burns.
Hadzija bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Burns's head backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjo Hadzija comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hadzija winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjo Hadzija!