PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nigel Burkshire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Serge Savard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burkshire's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, It's a Fight - Three 6 Mafia. Savard is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Voivod- Tribal convictions. 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.

Burkshire
vs
Savard

198 cm
30
220 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

191 cm
22
222 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nigel Burkshire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Serge Savard!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burkshire shoots in looking for a takedown. Savard tries to sprawl out of it but Burkshire keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Savard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Savard thuds his shin into the meat of Burkshire's side.

Savard drops Burkshire with a nice combination! Savard dives into Burkshire's guard, looking to finish!

It looks like Nigel Burkshire has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savard trying to control but Burkshire is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savard postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Serge Savard.
Savard fails with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Savard wants to get back to striking at distance but Burkshire won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savard working hard to break the clinch.
Burkshire throws an elbow but it misses.
Savard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Savard missing with knees to the body.
Burkshire tries to throw a body punch but Savard avoids it by throwing Burkshire back against the cage.
Burkshire misses with a punch on the inside.

Burkshire drags the fight down to the ground.
Burkshire is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nigel Burkshire wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Burkshire avoids the head kick by Savard.
Burkshire leaves Savard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Savard tries to clinch up but Burkshire circles away and keeps his distance.

Burkshire moves into range and clinches up with Savard.

Burkshire gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Burkshire postures up.
Burkshire trying to control but Savard is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burkshire looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Burkshire moves out of range of the body kick.
Savard lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Burkshire connects with the punch.

It looks like Serge Savard has been cut.
A head kick misses from Savard.
A right-left combo lands from Savard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Savard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Savard throws a head kick but Burkshire moves out of range.
Burkshire tries to clinch up.
Savard keeps the fight on the outside.
Savard keeps the fight on the outside.
Savard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Savard throws a head kick but Burkshire moves out of range.
Burkshire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Savard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Savard throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire throws an overhand right that lands on Savard's shoulder, as Savard tries to avoid the shot.
Savard tries a head kick but it misses.
Savard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Burkshire throws a good cross that connects.
Savard throws a series of punches but Burkshire moves out of range.
Savard misses with a looping right.

Burkshire moves into the clinch.
Burkshire is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Burkshire misses with a hook from the clinch.

Burkshire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Burkshire dodges the punch combination from Savard.
Burkshire doesn't manage to clinch there - Savard circles away.
Burkshire is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Savard dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

No joy there for Savard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Savard throws a head kick that misses.
Burkshire throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Savard stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Savard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Burkshire rushes Savard and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Burkshire taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Burkshire throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Burkshire lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Burkshire wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Burkshire breaks the clinch.
Burkshire blocks a head kick by Savard.
Savard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Savard throws a front kick that sends Burkshire stumbling back into the cage.
Burkshire avoids the head kick by Savard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burkshire tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Savard was well out of range. Poor timing from Burkshire.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Burkshire throws a jab but it's blocked by Savard.
Savard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burkshire's waist but Burkshire gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Savard off to one side.
Burkshire stuffs the takedown attempt from Savard. Savard gets slowly back to his feet.
Serge Savard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Savard is breathing heavily.
Savard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Burkshire.
Savard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Savard.
Burkshire fails with a takedown attempt.
Burkshire doesn't manage to clinch there - Savard circles away.
Savard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Savard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Burkshire scores with a nice head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Savard.
Savard checks a low kick from Burkshire.
Horrible takedown by Savard or perhaps it was just good defense by Burkshire which made him look bad.
Nigel Burkshire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Serge Savard.
Savard misses with a low kick.
Burkshire lands a nice looking kick to the body. Savard takes a step back to recover.
Savard throws a right and a left that Burkshire avoids nicely.

Burkshire has managed to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burkshire is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Savard is defending well.
Burkshire goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Burkshire gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Burkshire in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Burkshire throws a strike but Savard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Burkshire is trying to control the position but Savard postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Nigel Burkshire.
Savard scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Burkshire avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savard lands a high kick!
Savard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burkshire but Burkshire pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Savard lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
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!
Savard takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Burkshire shoots in looking for a takedown. Savard tries to sprawl out of it but Burkshire keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Savard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Savard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Burkshire doesn't manage to clinch there - Savard circles away.
Savard lands a jab-cross combination.
Savard on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Savard throws a head kick that misses.
Savard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Burkshire as he jumps to the side.
Burkshire tries to clinch up.
Burkshire shoots in but Savard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nigel Burkshire will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Savard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Burkshire takes a kick to the side of the head.
No joy there for Savard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Savard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Serge Savard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burkshire lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Savard tries to clinch up.
Savard tries a head kick but it misses.
Burkshire connects with a leg kick. Savard looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Burkshire fails with an attempt to clinch.
Serge Savard seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Burkshire.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Savard taking punishment in the form of punches.

Burkshire is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Savard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Savard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Burkshire crashes against the mat.
Savard is looking for a sweep.
Burkshire tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
An elbow from Burkshire crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Savard sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Burkshire wants to lay and pray for a moment but Savard keeps working.
Burkshire throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Savard can do anything to dispel that myth.

Burkshire is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Savard has escaped the position, nice work there.

Savard throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire tries to clinch there but Savard circles away.

Savard gets tackled into the cage by Burkshire. Burkshire maintains the clinch.
Burkshire lands with a short shot to the head.
Burkshire drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Savard gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Burkshire wants to take the fight to the mat but Savard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Burkshire misses with a punch on the inside.

Burkshire manages to break the clinch.
Savard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Savard with that takedown attempt.
Burkshire doesn't manage to clinch there - Savard circles away.
Burkshire fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nigel Burkshire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burkshire fails with an attempt to clinch.

Burkshire clinches up against the cage.
Savard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Burkshire has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Savard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Burkshire managing to block the knees to the body from Savard.
Burkshire tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Savard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Burkshire is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Burkshire misses with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nigel Burkshire showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burkshire 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nigel Burkshire!