PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clifton Burner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Riberio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vitor Riberio is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Burner
vs
Riberio

201 cm
26
275 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

189 cm
19
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clifton Burner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vitor Riberio!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burner doesn't manage to clinch there - Riberio circles away.
Burner is looking to clinch but Riberio is avoiding it.

Burner clinches with his opponent.
Burner keeps control of Riberio as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Burner is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Riberio pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Burner breaks the clinch.
Burner tries to close the distance and clinch but Riberio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burner connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Riberio momentarily.

It looks like Vitor Riberio has been cut.
Burner wants to clinch up but Riberio keeps it at a distance.

Burner gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Riberio has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Burner uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riberio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Riberio wriggles free and stands up.
Riberio stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Riberio wants it to stay on the feet.
Burner tries to clinch up but Riberio circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Riberio.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burner is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Riberio's half guard.
Burner will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Riberio is looking for a sweep. Burner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Riberio manages to get to full guard.
Riberio looks gassed!
Riberio 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Riberio is on top in guard.
Riberio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burner wants to stand and escape but Riberio is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riberio accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Riberio on the ground.
Burner is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Riberio is controlling him.
Burner wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Riberio is now in half guard.
Riberio stops Burner from getting back to his feet.
Riberio is looking to advance position but Burner won't allow it.
Riberio is just content to waste time from the top position. Burner takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Burner doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Riberio counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clifton Burner. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burner kicks Riberio off and gets back to his feet.
Burner tries to clinch

and Riberio counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Riberio.
Riberio tries to pull guard but Burner won't allow it.

Burner has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Riberio clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Burner lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Burner.

Riberio manages to stand up with Burner still on his back. Eventually Burner drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Burner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Riberio moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice sprawl there from Burner as Riberio shoots in.
Burner tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Riberio counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burner throws a right hand that Riberio ducks under and follows up with a left that Riberio also avoids with ease.

Burner bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Burner lands an elbow.
Burner scores with a couple of short elbows.
Riberio is trying to improve his position.
Riberio wants to control but Burner postures up.

Burner stands up and beckons Riberio to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burner tries to clinch up but Riberio circles away and keeps his distance.
Burner closes the distance and clinches up with Riberio, looking for a takedown. Burner pushes Riberio against the cage but Riberio circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clifton Burner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vitor Riberio's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Riberio scores with a kick to the midsection.

Riberio throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Burner was covering up waiting for the punch and Riberio finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Burner on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Burner tries to get out of the position.
Riberio's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Burner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vitor Riberio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Riberio prevents Burner from getting back to his feet.
Riberio trying to control the position from guard on top but Burner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riberio accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riberio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Riberio wants to control from the top but Burner keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Burner tries to clinch there but Riberio circles away.
Burner tries to close the distance and clinch but Riberio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Riberio walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Burner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burner works over Riberio's head and body with a nice combination.
Burner is looking to chop away at Riberio's legs.
Riberio shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burner but Burner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Burner tries to clinch there but Riberio circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burner wants to clinch but Riberio slips to the side

and Riberio counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Burner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Burner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Riberio tries to avoid it but Burner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Riberio to the ground. Riberio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Burner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Burner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Riberio.
Burner fails with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for Burner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Riberio misses the jab.
Riberio swats away the attempt to clinch by Burner.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Riberio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Riberio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Burner stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Burner wants it to stay on the feet.
Clifton Burner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Riberio.
Burner wants to clinch but Riberio slips to the side

and Riberio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Burner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riberio is one step ahead there.

Riberio decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Riberio shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burner pinned against the cage. Burner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burner tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Riberio counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Riberio.
Burner with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Burner is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Riberio is defending well for now.
Riberio wants to break the clinch but can't.
Riberio tries to score a body lock takedown but Burner shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Burner pressing his opponent against the cage.

Burner breaks from the clinch.
The crowd cheers as Burner lands an impressive looking overhand right. Riberio doesn't seem phased though.
Burner is looking to clinch but Riberio is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Riberio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vitor Riberio's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Riberio circles away from the clinch attempt

and Riberio counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Riberio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Burner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Riberio walks away with a smile on his face. Burner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Burner throws a combination. Riberio tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Clifton Burner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Burner shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Riberio napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Riberio is working to avoid the ground and pound but Burner connects with a decent elbow.
You can see the frustration on Riberio's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Burner cracks Riberio with a big elbow.

Burner stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burner lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burner lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Burner tries to clinch up

and Riberio counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Burner!
Riberio tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Riberio wants to control the pace but Burner is squirming around nicely.
Riberio throws a wild left hand from mount and Burner manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.

Riberio is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Burner has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riberio is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Burner is doing well to control the position and prevent Riberio from advancing to side control.
Riberio trying to control the action but Burner is working from the bottom.

Burner is defending against the submission attempts here by Riberio.
Riberio prevents Burner from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burner is staying active underneath Riberio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Burner punching from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Riberio gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Riberio wants to sweep but no luck.
Burner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riberio 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.
Burner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Riberio working for submissions but it's allowed Burner to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riberio is looking to improve his position.
Burner wants to pass to mount but Riberio is defending the position.
Burner throwing shots but Riberio is blocking nicely.

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

Riberio drives through and clinches with Burner against the cage.
Riberio is pressed up against the cage. Burner has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Riberio down to the mat. Riberio avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Burner tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Riberio counters with an outside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riberio tries to clinch
and Burner counters with a left and a right that stings Riberio.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clifton Burner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burner 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clifton Burner!