PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nigel Burkshire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burkshire has chosen It's a Fight - Three 6 Mafia as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Anderson
vs
Burkshire

196 cm
29
211 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

198 cm
30
220 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Good gas tank

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 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sam Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nigel Burkshire!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burkshire misses with a low kick.

Anderson pushes Burkshire up against the cage in a clinch.

Burkshire breaks from the clinch.
Anderson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anderson throws a sloppy head kick and Burkshire moves out of range easily.
Anderson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Burkshire takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Anderson wants to slow Burkshire down by chopping away at his legs.

Burkshire darts in and clinches Anderson up against the cage.
Anderson tries a body shot but Burkshire blocks it.

Burkshire pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Anderson cracks a nice hook into Burkshire's ribs.
Anderson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Anderson lands a front kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Anderson closes the distance and clinches.

Burkshire wants the takedown. Anderson is fighting it off but Burkshire persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Anderson's guard against the cage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Burkshire content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Anderson trying to keep a closed guard but Burkshire is proving a slippery customer.

Anderson has his foot on Burkshire's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burkshire works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anderson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Anderson trying to control the position.
Anderson has Burkshire pulled in close to control his posture.
Anderson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Burkshire!
Burkshire is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire wants to hold on but Anderson pushes him away.

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

Anderson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Burkshire knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Burkshire manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Anderson is looking to take a break and control but Burkshire is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burkshire won't allow Anderson to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Anderson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Well, if Anderson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Anderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Anderson is trying to control. Burkshire wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Anderson wants to pass to mount but Burkshire is defending the position.
Anderson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire is not content to let Anderson control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Sam Anderson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Burkshire just misses with a punch to the body.
Anderson tried to score with a low kick but Burkshire checks it.

Burkshire darts in and clinches Anderson up against the cage.
Anderson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Anderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burkshire's elbow.
Stalling in the clinch from Burkshire.
Anderson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Burkshire misses with a hook to the ribs.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Anderson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anderson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Burkshire wants a takedown.
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!
Burkshire tries to score a body lock takedown but Anderson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Burkshire tries to throw a body punch but Anderson avoids it by throwing Burkshire back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Anderson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Anderson clinches with his opponent.
Anderson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Burkshire pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Anderson thumps Burkshire with a low kick.
Burkshire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Burkshire clinches.
Burkshire avoiding damage as Anderson throws knees to the body.
Burkshire blocks the elbow strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Anderson.
Burkshire is looking to take this one to the mat.
Burkshire can't find room to land a body shot as Anderson controls the action.
Anderson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Burkshires head.
Anderson crunches a lovely knee into Burkshire's ribcage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anderson lands a body shot.
Anderson works on Burkshire's body with a couple of short punches.
Burkshire is breathing heavily.
Anderson lands an elbow just above Burkshire 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Anderson lands a nice shot to the body.
Anderson misses with a knee to the head.
Anderson lands an elbow inside that Burkshire shrugs off.
Burkshire misses with a punch on the inside.
Anderson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Burkshire.
Knees in the clinch landing for Anderson.
Anderson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anderson lands with a right to the head.
Anderson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Anderson is pushing Burkshire up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Anderson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Burkshire's defenses.

It looks like Nigel Burkshire has been cut.
Anderson avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Anderson effectively controlling the action here.
Anderson looking to stall.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Anderson.
Anderson stalling against the cage.
Anderson lands with a light punch inside.
Burkshire takes an elbow to the forehead.
The referee is keeping an eye on Anderson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sam Anderson.

Burkshire closes the distance and clinches.
Burkshire is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Anderson to keep the fight standing.
Anderson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Anderson gets through Burkshire's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Burkshire swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Burkshire has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Anderson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Burkshire thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Burkshire is trying to stick to Anderson's back but Anderson is turning into Burkshire. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Burkshire's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Anderson.
Anderson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Anderson advances position into side control!

Anderson is trying to get an arm triangle but Burkshire is defending well.
Sam Anderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Anderson.
Burkshire managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Anderson.

Anderson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Burkshire has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burkshire tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Anderson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Burkshire regains half guard, as Anderson was trying to land strikes.
Anderson wants to stand up but Burkshire is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Anderson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nigel Burkshire's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Anderson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Burkshire misses with a lunging right hand
and Anderson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Burkshire drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Burkshire throws a looping overhand right but Anderson ducks down to avoid it.
A cross from Anderson lands.
Burkshire misses with a wild combination.
Anderson with a jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Anderson. That's going to slow Burkshire down.
Anderson lands an overhand right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson moves in looking to clinch but Burkshire pushes him off.
Donk. Burkshire catches Anderson right on the button with a cross.
Sam Anderson is winning the standup battle so far.

Burkshire has managed to clinch.
Anderson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Burkshires head.
Burkshire lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Anderson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Burkshire takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice elbow from Anderson.
Anderson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nice body punch from Anderson.
Anderson is leaning against Burkshire and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Anderson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Anderson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Burkshire.
Anderson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Anderson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burkshire can do to turn this around?

Burkshire is trying to trip Anderson. He has hold of a leg but Anderson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Burkshire persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Anderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burkshire is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Anderson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Anderson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Burkshire!
Burkshire really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Anderson is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson looking to finish with strikes here!
Anderson lands a big shot there that rocks Burkshire but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Burkshire in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sam Anderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Anderson prevents Burkshire from getting the reversal.
Anderson controlling the pace for now.
Anderson with a couple of short strikes.
Anderson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Burkshire hang on?
Anderson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burkshire blocking the ground and pound.
Nigel Burkshire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anderson landing strikes from the mount.
Burkshire is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Anderson looking to control but Burkshire is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Anderson punishing his opponent with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Anderson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Anderson 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Anderson!
A very excited looking Sam Anderson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.