PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bullet Bookem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Burov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bookem comes into the arena with Solitaire Unraveling blaring out of the sound system. Burov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Russian Rocket. Bullet Bookem had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Pavel Burov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Bookem
vs
Burov

170 cm
30
150 lbs
23 - 11 - 1

171 cm
27
143 lbs
23 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bullet Bookem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pavel Burov!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burov moves out of range as Bookem strikes.
A slow jab from Burov misses its intended target.
Bookem misses the jab.
Burov blocks a jab.
Bookem loads up on a big right hand but Burov slips the punch.
Bookem misses with a few strikes there.
Bookem misses with a looping left.
Burov moves out of range as Bookem strikes.
Burov thows a body shot but no joy.
Bookem with a nice cross.
Bookem fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Burov.
Burov throws a body punch but Bookem moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Bookem there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bookem throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Burov on the side of the head.
Burov just misses with a punch to the body.
Burov scores with a sloppy right hand. Bookem should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burov throws a big shot that misses.
Bookem lands a jab-cross combination.
Bookem misses with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burov. Bookem does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bookem stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Burov looks to score with a jab to the body but Bookem is just out of range.
Bookem cracks Burov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A jab lands there for Bookem.
Burov swings for the body but Bookem moves out of range.

Bookem closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Burov did well to prevent Bookem getting side control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Burov is refusing to be controlled, as Bookem sits in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bookem sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Burov defending well though.
Bookem misses with a head shot. Burov uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bookem landing with the ground and pound.
Bookem working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bookem wants to pass the guard but Burov is keeping the position.
Burov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bookem with a flurry of punches that miss.
Burov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bookem is controlling him.
Bookem with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bookem connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bookem throwing strikes from guard but Burov blocks nicely.
Burov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bookem is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Burov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bookem is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bookem trying to control but Burov is working from the bottom.
Bookem is in close to Burov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bookem 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.
Bookem is working Burov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bookem cracks Burov with a solid left hand.
Bookem won't allow Burov to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bookem stopping the sweep attempt from Burov.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burov pulls Bookem in close to his closed guard and prevents Bookem from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Burov looking for a sweep. Not yet Burov, not yet.
Bookem trying to control the position from guard on top but Burov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bookem's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bookem postures up and lands a big shot to Burov's brow.
Bookem is looking to work some ground and pound but Burov has wrist control.
Bookem keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Burov's head.
Bookem throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bullet Bookem dominated 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.

Bookem dives in and grabs Burov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burov pushes down on Bookem's head and hops out.
Bookem lands with a nice body punch.
Burov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Burov misses with a wild body shot.
Bookem throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Burov thows a body shot but no joy.
Burov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jab by Bookem.
Bookem misses with a hook. Burov ducked under it nicely.
Bookem takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Burov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Burov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burov checks a low kick from Bookem.
Bullet Bookem is winning the standup battle so far.
Burov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bookem misses with a looping left.
Bookem throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Burov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Burov moves forwards but Bookem connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A big left from Burov misses.
Burov misses with a looping left.
Burov tests Bookem's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bookem will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Burov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bookem was well out of range. Poor timing from Burov.
Burov looks to throw the jab but Bookem is out of range.
Bookem loads up on a big right hand but Burov slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Some wild striking there from Burov.
Bookem showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Burov.
Bookem misses with a hook. Burov ducked under it nicely.
Burov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bookem.
Bookem lands with an uppercut that bounces Burov off the cage and back into range.
Pavel Burov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burov misses with a hook.
A right-left combo lands from Bookem.
Burov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bookem doesn't seem bothered though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burov thows a body shot but no joy.
Burov throws a jab when Bookem was well out of range.
Bookem throws an overhand right that lands on Burov's shoulder, as Burov tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bookem bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bookem throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Burov moves away from the strike by Bookem.
Burov lands an overhand right.
Burov blocks a jab.
An inside leg kick from Bookem misses.
Burov misses with a wild body shot.
Bookem lands with an overhand left.
Burov misses with a straight left.
Bookem avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bookem swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Burov.
Bookem throws a hook to the side of Burov's head but Burov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Burov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bookem counters with a stiff right hand.
Burov looks to land a left hand but Bookem moved out of range nicely.
Burov moves away from the strike by Bookem.
Bookem scores with a leg kick.
Burov tries to move into range but Bookem moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Burov slips a jab from Bookem.
Bookem connects with a nice looking jab.
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!
Bookem throws a looping overhand right but Burov ducks down to avoid it.
Bookem fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Burov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bookem displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Burov throws out the jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burov ducks right into an uppercut from Bookem.
Bookem looks to throw the jab but Burov is out of range.
A combination from Burov does no damage.
Bookem swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bullet Bookem dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bookem uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bookem throws a leg kick but Burov sees it coming and moves out of range.
Burov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bookem shoots in and drives through. Burov sprawls well.
Burov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Burov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Bookem counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Burov tries a body shot but Bookem blocks it.
Bookem has Burov pressed against the cage, preventing Burov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bookem tries a body shot but Burov blocks it.
Bookem wants a takedown.
Bookem tries to throw a body punch but Burov avoids it by throwing Bookem back against the cage.
Bookem is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burov can do to turn this around?
Bookem makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bookem lands a nice shot to the body.
Bookem keeps control of Burov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bookem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bookem misses with a low kick.
Burov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bookem.
Burov throws the left hand but Bookem avoids the punch easily.
Bookem throws a shot from downtown. Burov moves away and avoids it.
Bookem displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Burov throws out the jab.
A big left from Burov misses.
Bookem throws a right hand that misses
and Burov counters with a nice body shot.
Bookem lands a really nice looking cross but Burov seems unphased.
Bookem pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bookem wants to land a leg kick but Burov is out of range.
A left lands for Burov.
Bookem throws an off balance right hand
and Burov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bookem.
Burov throws a right hand that Bookem ducks under and follows up with a left that Bookem also avoids with ease.
Burov moves out of range as Bookem strikes.
Burov throws a hook but Bookem blocks it.
A clash of legs there as Burov blocks the low kick.
Burov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bookem counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Burov walks into a stiff left hand from Bookem.
Bookem scores with a crisp jab that stopped Burov in his tracks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bookem scores with a hook to the body. Burov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Good shot there by Bookem.
Burov takes a swing at Bookem's ribcage but misses.
Bookem gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Burov throws a hook but Bookem blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bookem shoots in for a double leg but Burov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bullet Bookem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bookem fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Burov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bookem throws a series of punches but Burov moves out of range.
Nice shot by Burov.
Burov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bookem was well out of range. Poor timing from Burov.
Burov throws a jab when Bookem was well out of range.
Bookem scores with a nice right hand.
Bookem takes a swing at Burov's ribcage but misses.
Bookem 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.
Bookem keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Bookem has Burov up against the cage in a clinch.
Burov trying to stall but Bookem improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Bookem.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burov.

Burov manages to break the clinch.
Bookem slips a jab from Burov.
Bookem dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Burov checks the leg kick.
Bookem throws a looping overhand right but Burov ducks down to avoid it.
Bullet Bookem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Burov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bookem.

Bookem shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bookem was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bookem dominating with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bookem lands with some strikes.
Pavel Burov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice elbow there by Bookem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bullet Bookem showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bookem has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bullet Bookem!