PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ace Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brett Burrows (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ace Popo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Popo
vs
Burrows

168 cm
20
158 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
157 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
World class boxer
Determined

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ace Popo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brett Burrows!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popo closes the distance and clinches up with Burrows, looking for a takedown. Popo pushes Burrows against the ropes but Burrows circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Burrows misses with a body shot.
Burrows bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Popo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Burrows lands a nice shot that snaps Popo's head back.
Burrows looks to score with a jab to the body but Popo is just out of range.
Burrows slips under a jab from Popo.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Burrows!
Popo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Burrows lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Popo circles away quickly and effectively.
Burrows swings for the body but Popo moves out of range.
Burrows throws a one two combo.
Popo moves in looking to clinch but Burrows pushes him off.
Popo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Burrows.
Burrows uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Popo has time to react.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows lands a nice shot to the body.
Burrows throws the left hand but Popo avoids the punch easily.
Burrows is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Popo rather than just go for the knockout.
Popo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Brett Burrows is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters circling - Popo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burrows lands an overhand right.
Burrows moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Burrows misses with an uppercut. Popo saw that one coming.
Popo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Burrows paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Popo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Popo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Good shot there by Burrows.
Burrows is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Burrows listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Burrows throws a hook to the side of Popo's head but Popo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Popo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Burrows paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burrows lands a jab to the head.
Popo doesn't manage to clinch there - Burrows circles away.
A slow jab from Burrows misses its intended target.
Burrows listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Burrows falls off balance throwing a combination
and Popo counters with a left and a right that stings Burrows.
Nice defenses there by Popo.
Popo ducks under a wild hook from Burrows.
Popo defending well as Burrows loads up on a big left hand.
Brett Burrows seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows scores with a shot to the body.
Popo thows a body shot but no joy.
Burrows falls off balance throwing a combination
and Popo counters with a nice uppercut.
Burrows has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Burrows scores with a sloppy right hand. Popo should have avoided that one.
Burrows falls off balance throwing a combination

and Popo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Burrows is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Popo thows a huge punch but Burrows dodges it nicely.
Popo trying to control the action but Burrows is working from the bottom.

Popo is working for a kimura but Burrows is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Popo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Burrows sees it coming and defends easily.
Popo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Popo trying to pass the guard but Burrows defending well.
Popo 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.

Burrows makes his way to full guard, as Popo worked for a kimura.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Popo 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brett Burrows will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Popo takes one to the side of the head.
Burrows throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Burrows throws a nice looking combination but Popo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Burrows misses with a wild combination.
The fighters circling - Burrows throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Popo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popo lands a jab-cross combination.
Burrows misses the shot to the body.
Popo ducks under a wild hook from Burrows.
Popo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burrows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows misses with a body shot

and Popo counters with a single leg into guard. Burrows didn't expect that.
Popo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Popo trying to control but Burrows is working from the bottom.
Popo tries to free his leg and advance position but Burrows is retaining full guard.
Burrows is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Popo 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.
Burrows really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Popo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Popo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Burrows's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Popo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Popo throwing shots but Burrows is blocking nicely.

Popo is looking for a kimura here.

Popo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Burrows sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Popo seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Popo.
Popo wants to pass the guard but Burrows is defending well.
Burrows is trying to control but can't.
Burrows blocking the ground and pound attempt from Popo.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Popo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Burrows is breathing heavily.

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

Burrows is defending against the submission attempts here by Popo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows won't allow Popo to pass to mount.
Burrows is not content to let Popo control the position.

Popo is looking for a kimura but Burrows is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Popo to get the leverage.
Popo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Burrows defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ace Popo dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Popo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A shot to the liver by Burrows. Beautiful body shot.

Popo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Burrows!
Poor strikes thrown by Popo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Popo avoids the attempt from Burrows to control.
Popo looking to finish Burrows with some ground and pound. This is bad for Burrows!
Popo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Burrows is squirming around, avoiding Popo's attempts to control the action.
Popo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Burrows takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Popo is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Burrows has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Burrows is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Burrows tries to reverse the position but Popo maintains control.

Popo moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Burrows has worked his arm free - good work by Burrows!
Burrows is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Popo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Popo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Burrows, who protects the arm well.

Popo tries for a kimura but Burrows is defending well.
Burrows taking a bit of punishment here - Popo scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popo looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Burrows is avoiding damage well.

Popo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Burrows has escaped the position, nice work there.
Popo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Popo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ace Popo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Popo.
Popo scores with a couple of short elbows.

Popo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Burrows defending against the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ace Popo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Popo 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ace Popo!