PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stewart Monson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Schalk Burger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Monson
vs
Burger

181 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stewart Monson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Schalk Burger!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burger lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Burger connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Burger tries to clinch but Monson moves out of range.
Monson throws a head kick that misses

and Burger holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Burger using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Burger wants a takedown.

Burger has clasped his hands together around Monson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Monson tries to buck Burger off but Burger is having none of it.
Monson is letting Burger control him for a moment.
Burger advances to mount.
Burger tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
It looks like Burger might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Burger slows the pace down in half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Schalk Burger hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Monson misses with a hook
and Burger counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burger is looking to clinch.
Stewart Monson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A good leg kick by Monson.
Monson misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Burger counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Burger.
Monson wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Monson is keeping the position for now.
Monson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Burger wants to pass the guard but Monson is keeping the position.
Burger is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Monson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Burger not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Schalk Burger has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Monson misses with a kick to the body
and Burger counters with a left and a right that stings Monson.
Nice body kick from Burger.
Monson throws a poor cross that misses

and Burger counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Monson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Burger pushes down on Monson's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burger perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Burger is pressing down on Monson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Monson is holding on for now.
Monson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Burger looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Monson pushes Burger off looking to stand but Burger dives back in and keeps control.
Monson is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Schalk Burger hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Burger shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Schalk Burger dominated that round.
That's time! Monson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Horrible takedown by Burger or perhaps it was just good defense by Monson which made him look bad.
Monson throws a lazy uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Burger fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burger tries to clinch up
and Monson counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monson swings widly with a right hand
and Burger counters with a good low kick that Monson was not able to check.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Burger. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Burger fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Monson counters with a low kick, right behind Burger 's knee.
Burger tries to clinch but Monson is having none of it.
Monson throws a leg kick

and Burger counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Monson's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monson being controlled here, momentarily.
Schalk Burger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burger postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Schalk Burger was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Burger dives in and grabs Monson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Monson pushes down on Burger's head and hops out.
Stewart Monson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Schalk Burger.
Burger lands a head shot.
Burger tries to close the distance and clinch but Monson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Schalk Burger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Burger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Monson throws a lazy uppercut

and Burger counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Burger is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Monson 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.
Burger showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Schalk Burger wasn't active enough on the ground.
Burger scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Monson. That's going to slow Burger down.
Monson misses with a jab to the body
and Burger counters with a slapping leg kick.

Burger looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Schalk Burger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Burger fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burger tries to clinch up but Monson circles away and keeps his distance.
Monson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Burger counters with a two punch combo.
Burger lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Burger.
Burger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Monson is fending him off so far but Burger persists. Nope, Monson circles away and we're back to standing.
Burger fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burger wants to clinch up but Monson keeps it at a distance.
Monson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Burger.
Monson dodges the punch combination from Burger.
Monson misses with a left hand

so Burger counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Monson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burger is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burger pushes down on Monson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Monson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Burger is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Monson is looking to improve his position.
Burger is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Monson wants to control but Burger passes into side.
Burger taking a breather here.
Burger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Monson is trying to get back to half guard.
Burger controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Schalk Burger wasn't active enough on the ground.
Burger fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burger fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Monson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Monson thows a leg kick but Burger checks it

and Burger counters with a nice double leg into side control. Monson won't be happy with that.
Stewart Monson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Schalk Burger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Monson tries to improve position but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Schalk Burger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Burger has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Schalk Burger!