PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burke comes to the cage accompanied by Discoboys - I came for you. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Burke
vs
Ross

188 cm
25
192 lbs
19 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
190 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Solomon Burke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rick Ross!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ross moves out of range as Burke throws a body kick.
Ross slips a straight right by Burke.
Ross scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Burke is looking to clinch but Ross is avoiding it.
Ross throws a combination that misses
and Burke counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Burke wants to slow Ross down by chopping away at his legs.
Ross misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Burke counters with a nice body kick.
Burke throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ross counters with a left and a right that stings Burke.
Ross missing with a left hand there. Burke was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Burke connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ross checks a low kick from Burke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross fails to land with a series of punches.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Burke.
Burke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burke feints and then cracks Ross's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ross down.
Ross fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ross falls off balance throwing a combination
and Burke finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Ross tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Burke throws a nice inside leg kick.
Burke connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ross's hands.
Burke cracks Ross with an open hand slap.

Ross looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
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!
Burke wants to control but Ross is keeping busy.
Burke is looking to escape.
Burke gets back to full guard.
Burke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ross is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross throwing strikes but missing.
Ross throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Burke knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ross on the ground.
Ross throws and elbow that misses. Burke uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ross's guard. Nice move by Burke!
Burke wants to stand and escape but instead Ross has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Burke is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ross is in close to Burke's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ross is working Burke over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ross keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Burke's head.
Burke wants to stand but Ross is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ross is looking to advance position but Burke has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Solomon Burke will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The crowd cheers as Ross lands an impressive looking overhand right. Burke doesn't seem phased though.
Ross shoots in for a takedown but Burke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Burke. That's going to slow Ross down.
Ross throws a series of punches but Burke moves out of range.

Burke closes the distance and pushes Ross back into the cage.
Burke throws a punch but it's blocked by Ross.
Ross can't break the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Burke.
Burke struggles to land a body shot inside as Ross controls his hands.
Ross's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Burke tries to land knees in the clinch but Ross avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke works on Ross's body with a couple of short punches.
Ross is trying to break free.
Burke tries to land knees in the clinch but Ross avoids the damage to the body.
Burke misses with a body punch.
Burke misses with a punch to the body.
Burke struggles to land a body shot inside as Ross controls his hands.
Ross blocks a body shot from Burke.
Ross blocks a body shot from Burke.
Burke lands a hook that snaps the head of Ross backwards.
Ross prevents a body shot from Burke.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Burke digs a right hand into Ross's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ross's gas tank.

Ross escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burke lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ross's sensitive parts.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Burke.
Burke doesn't manage to clinch there - Ross circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Burke. That's going to slow Ross down.
Solomon Burke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ross tries to keep at a distance but Burke has taken the fight into the clinch.
Burke scores with a hook to the body.
Ross's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Burke scores with a knee to the head.
Burke struggles to land a body shot inside as Ross controls his hands.
Ross working hard to break the clinch.
Burke tries a body shot but Ross blocks it.
Burke tries a body shot but Ross blocks it.
Ross wants to break free but Burke has control.
Burke lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Burke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Burke with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke pushes Ross back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Burke.
Ross tries to break the clinch but Burke is controlling the position.
Burke misses with a hook from the clinch.

Ross breaks the clinch.
Rick Ross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ross tries for a takedown but Burke sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ross is breathing heavily.
Burke is looking to land body kicks.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ross checks a leg kick.
Ross misses with a lunging right hand
and Burke counters with a leg kick.
Solomon Burke is winning the standup battle so far.
Burke thumps Ross with a low kick.
Ross misses with a left hand
and Burke counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Burke throws a head kick that misses.
Burke feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ross's calf.
Burke throws a quick inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Burke. That's going to slow Ross down.
Burke throws a head kick that misses.
Ross chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Burke can pounce on him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burke lands with a thumping leg kick.
Burke fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Burke dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Burke bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Ross connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Burke looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Burke lands with a kick to the temple. Ross shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Burke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Burke wants to clinch up but Ross keeps it at a distance.
Ross takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Burke throws a leg kick but Ross sees it coming and moves out of range.
Burke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Burke lands with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross looks to throw the jab but Burke is out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Burke.
Solomon Burke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burke tries to clinch there but Ross circles away.
No joy there for Ross, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ross avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Burke.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ross rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

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.
Burke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ross paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ross ducks under a wild hook from Burke.
Burke's corner calls for a 1-2. Burke obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Burke is looking to clinch.
Ross attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Burke tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ross misses with an uppercut
and Burke counters with a body kick that stops Ross in his tracks momentarily.
Crunch! Burke slams his shin into Ross's torso.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ross paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ross on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Burke is looking to clinch.
Burke tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ross is defended easily by Burke.
Ross takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burke lands a leg kick that knocks Ross off balance momentarily.
Burke tries to clinch but Ross moves out of range.

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.
Ross checks a low kick from Burke.
Ross wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ross shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burke lands with a kick to the temple. Ross shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Burke throws a wild body kick that Ross sees coming a mile off.
Ross moves into range and connects with a jab.
Burke tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Burke keeps Ross at a distance using the push kick.
Ross missing with a left hand there. Burke was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Burke clearly takes that round.
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.

Ross checks the leg kick.
Ross dives in and grabs Burke's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burke pushes down on Ross's head and hops out.
Burke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Burke throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ross.
Burke does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Burke throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burke moves into range and clinches up with Ross.
Burke misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ross.
Burke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ross's elbow.
Burke misses with a hook from the clinch.
Burke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke works on Ross's body with a couple of short punches.
Burke throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ross wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Burke misses with a hook to the ribs.
Burke misses with some punches.
A hook to the body from Burke.
Burke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ross has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Burke.
Ross is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Burke is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ross is defending well for now.
Burke tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Burke presses Ross against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Good body shot from Burke.
Ross is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Burke lands a shot to the body.
Burke lands with a right to the head.
Burke throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke can't find room to land a body shot as Ross controls the action.
Ross is trying to break free.
Ross is trying to break the clinch but Burke has him pressed against the cage.
Burke unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ross lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Burke struggles to land a body shot inside as Ross controls his hands.
Burke lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Burke working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Burke lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ross or not.
Burke working Ross over with knees to the body.
Ross's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Burke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ross's elbow.
Burke lands a hook that snaps the head of Ross backwards.
A body shot lands from Burke.
Burke tries a body shot but Ross blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Burke fails to land.
A hook to the body from Burke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke is working Ross over against the cage.
Burke is working Ross over against the cage.
Burke lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Burke lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Burke - that landed with a thud.
Burke presses Ross against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A right hand to the body from Burke.
A short left from Burke.
Burke lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Burke lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Burke working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Solomon Burke has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ross is trying to push Burke away but Burke has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A right hand to the body from Burke.
A body shot lands from Burke.
Burke misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Burke.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Burke.
Burke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ross can do to turn this around?
Burke misses with some punches.
Burke presses Ross against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Burke.
Nice body punch from Burke - that landed with a thud.
Burke has a couple of punches blocked by Ross.
Burke scores with a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burke lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ross or not.
Burke lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ross or not.
Burke lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ross's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Burke lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Burke lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Burke had his way with Rick Ross in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Burke lands with a kick to the temple. Ross shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Burke throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ross circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ross with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ross throws a leg kick
and Burke counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Burke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ross swats away the attempt to clinch by Burke.
Ross tries to land a body kick
and Burke makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Good leg kick by Burke there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross swinging wildly here.
Ross is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Ross circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ross throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burke's waist but Burke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ross off to one side.
Ross checks a leg kick.
Burke scores with a head kick. Ross tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Burke tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ross manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters circling a little - Burke finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Solomon Burke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burke moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Burke fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ross takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Burke forces Ross back against the cage and clinches.
Burke misses with some punches.
Burke tries to land a knee to the head but Ross blocks with his arms.
Burke swings wildly with an uppercut but Ross uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ross's elbow.
Burke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Burke lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ross avoids it.
Burke lands a nice shot to the body.
Burke misses with a hook to the ribs.
Burke lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Burke swings wildly with an uppercut but Ross uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Burke lands a nice uppercut.
Ross wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ross looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ross managing to block the knees to the body from Burke.
Burke keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ross's efforts to push away.
Ross blocks a body shot from Burke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Burke with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ross wants to break the clinch but can't.
Burke lands with a left to the head.
Burke swings wildly with an uppercut but Ross uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burke lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ross.
Burke lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Burke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ross's elbow.
Ross tries to break free but Burke pushes him back against the cage.
Burke lands a body shot.
Burke lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ross backwards.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burke lands with a left to the head.
Rick Ross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Burke lands a body shot in the clinch.
Burke has Ross pressed against the cage, preventing Ross from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Solomon Burke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burke, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 50:45
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Solomon Burke!
Solomon Burke retains his middleweight title!