PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Berdugo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kruci Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Berdugo
vs
Burns

189 cm
19
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

180 cm
24
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Andrei Berdugo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kruci Burns!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Berdugo.
Berdugo looks to score with a jab to the body but Burns is just out of range.
Burns shoots in looking for a takedown. Berdugo tries to sprawl out of it but Burns keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Berdugo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Berdugo.
Andrei Berdugo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berdugo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burns moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Berdugo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Burns manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Berdugo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burns swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Berdugo thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berdugo passes Burns's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Berdugo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Burns does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Berdugo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Berdugo wants to control but Burns is keeping him busy.

Berdugo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Burns defends it well.
Burns has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Berdugo is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown by Berdugo or perhaps it was just good defense by Burns which made him look bad.
Burns tries to clinch up.

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.
Burns takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Berdugo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Burns did well to prevent Berdugo getting side control.
Burns scores with a few weak punches.
Burns is refusing to be controlled, as Berdugo sits in half guard.
Berdugo thows a huge punch but Burns dodges it nicely.
Berdugo is thwarting Burns's attempts to control the position.

Burns actively working from the bottom here.
Berdugo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Berdugo is working for a kimura but Burns is defending it quite comfortably.
Berdugo is looking to take a break and control but Burns is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Berdugo.
Berdugo tries to move to mount but Burns blocks the move with his legs.
Burns sneaks back into half guard.
Burns throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Burns is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Berdugo pulls his head out easily.
Burns wants to get back to full guard.
Burns has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Berdugo is working away from the top position though.
Berdugo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Berdugo with a lazy takedown attempt

so Burns counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Berdugo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Berdugo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burns is aware though and is defending well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Berdugo is on top in guard.
Berdugo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Burns is trying to control the position but Berdugo postures up.
Burns tries to strike from the bottom.
Burns working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Berdugo.
Berdugo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burns swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Berdugo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Berdugo is breathing heavily.
Berdugo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Berdugo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Berdugo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Berdugo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Berdugo throws a big right hand that misses.
Berdugo wants to control from the top but Burns keeps moving.
Burns trying to strike off his back.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Berdugo from controlling successfully.

Burns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Berdugo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Berdugo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burns works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Berdugo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berdugo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Berdugo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Berdugo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Burns has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Burns's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Berdugo tries to advance to mount but can't.
Burns is trying to get back to half guard.
The ground and pound from Berdugo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Berdugo has control of an arm but Burns manages to advance to Berdugo's back!

Burns working for a choke but Berdugo is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Berdugo is looking for a way out.
Berdugo can't escape the position.
Andrei Berdugo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Berdugo is trying to stand back up.
Berdugo manages to reverse the position and now he's in Burns's guard. Nice work there by Berdugo.

Berdugo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Burns has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Berdugo has managed to get both his arms back between Burns's legs - danger averted.
Berdugo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Burns throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Burns is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berdugo wants to control from the top but Burns keeps moving.
Berdugo slips nicely into half guard.
Burns is trying to get back to full guard.

Berdugo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Berdugo is trying to control the action in half guard but Burns is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Berdugo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Burns is just riding it out for now. Berdugo eventually gives up the hold.

Berdugo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four 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.
Burns flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Berdugo looks to land a strike but Burns avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Berdugo passes into half guard.
Burns wants to control but Berdugo is keeping busy.
Burns might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Berdugo kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Burns blocking the ground and pound attempt from Berdugo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Berdugo dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Burns dodges the punch combination from Berdugo.
Burns with a poor takedown
and Berdugo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Burns wants to clinch.
Berdugo tries for a takedown but Burns circles away easily

and Burns counters with a takedown into side control.
Berdugo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Burns is thwarting Berdugo's attempts to control the position.
Berdugo pushes Burns off looking to stand but Burns dives back in and keeps control.
Burns wants to control but Berdugo is keeping him busy.
Burns is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berdugo is trying desperately to improve position.

Burns looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Burns takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Berdugo gets back to half guard.
Burns lands with a punch from half guard.
Berdugo trying to hold on to Burns's head to control him but Burns postures up.

Burns is looking for a kimura here.
Burns trying to control from half guard but Berdugo is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Berdugo gets full guard.
Berdugo is trying to keep Burns in close.
Berdugo is really struggling to control Burns but he's trying to hold on to the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Berdugo is on top in guard.

Berdugo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Burns working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Berdugo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Berdugo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Berdugo stands and throws Burns's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berdugo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Burns is trying to control Berdugo's posture but Berdugo avoids it.

Berdugo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Burns knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Berdugo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Berdugo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Berdugo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Burns, who protects the arm well.
Andrei Berdugo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.

Berdugo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Burns manages to work his way to half guard, despite Berdugo's best efforts.
Burns blocking the ground and pound attempt from Berdugo.

Berdugo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Burns is trying to control but can't.

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 Andrei Berdugo.
Well Berdugo 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Berdugo!