PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Fightmen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Fightmen
vs
Burke

167 cm
21
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

171 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Matthew Fightmen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephen Burke!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fightmen gets a clinch.
Fightmen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fightmen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Burke being controlled against the cage.
Fightmen lands a knee to the head.
Burke lands with a light punch inside.
Fightmen misses with some punches.
Burke lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Fightmen or not.
Burke stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Burke gets through Fightmen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fightmen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burke prevents a body shot from Fightmen.
Fightmen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fightmen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Burke misses with a punch to the body.
Burke is leaning against Fightmen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Burke can't find room to land a body shot as Fightmen controls the action.
Burke is trying to break free.
Fightmen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fightmen misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fightmens head.
Fightmen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Burke struggles to land a body shot inside as Fightmen controls his hands.
Burke misses with a punch to the body.
Burke digs a right hand underneath Fightmen's ribcage. Fightmen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Fightmen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Fightmen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fightmen lands a shoulder strike.
Fightmen lands a knee to the body.
Burke misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Burke manages to break the clinch.
Fightmen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fightmen doesn't manage to clinch there - Burke circles away.
Fightmen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Burke lands an overhand right.
Stephen Burke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burke stuns Fightmen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burke lands a nice shot to the body.
Fightmen is breathing heavily.
Fightmen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Burke swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke catches Fightmen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Burke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fightmen was well out of range. Poor timing from Burke.
Burke with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Burke scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Fightmen walks into a jab.
Burke lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Fightmen shoots in looking for a takedown but Burke manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fightmen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Fightmen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Fightmen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burke scores with a one two! Fightmen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Burke lands a body shot.
Fightmen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Burke fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Burke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Fightmen at a distance.
Burke scores with a body shot.
Burke is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Burke throws a shot to the body.
Burke misses with a low kick.
Fightmen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Stephen Burke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burke comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Burke keeps the fight on the outside.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Fightmen. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Fightmen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Burke fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fightmen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Burke lunges at Fightmen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Fightmen's hand.
Burke throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fightmen checks the leg kick.
Burke fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fightmen tries to clinch up.
Burke scores with a hook to the body. Fightmen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Burke lands with a cross.
Fightmen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Burke getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Burke clobbers Fightmen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Burke works Fightmen's body with a nice hook.
A shot to the liver by Burke. Beautiful body shot.
Burke fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fightmen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Burke with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
No luck for Fightmen with that takedown attempt.
Fightmen gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fightmen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Burke dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Burke scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Burke punishes Fightmen's body with a nice straight punch.
Fightmen tries to clinch there but Burke circles away.
Fightmen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Burke throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Fightmen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Burke scores with a shot to the body.
Burke lands a jab to Fightmen's midsection.
Fightmen looks for a takedown but Burke sprawls well.
Burke is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Fightmen rather than just go for the knockout.
Fightmen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Burke lunges at Fightmen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Fightmen's hand.
Burke lands with a good body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burke ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Burke scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke lands with a nice body punch.
Burke cracks Fightmen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burke lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Burke lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Burke lands with a good body shot.
Burke lands with a nice body punch.
Burke scores with the left hand. Fightmen knows he should have avoided that one.
Burke lands a body shot.
Burke lands with a good body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Burke as he connects with a hook.
Fightmen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot to the liver by Burke. Beautiful body shot.
Burke cracks a nice hook into Fightmen's ribs.
Burke connects with a right hand. Fightmen shakes it off.
Stephen Burke seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke scores with a hook to the body. Fightmen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Burke lands a head shot.
Burke jabs at Fightmen's body.
Burke darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Burke connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Burke fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Burke throws a leg kick that misses.
Fightmen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Burke lands a nice shot to the body.
Fightmen checks a leg kick.
Good exchange - Burke coming out on top.
Burke lands a body shot.
Fightmen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Burke lands a body shot.
Burke throws a head kick that misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fightmen walks into a jab.
Burke cracks a nice hook into Fightmen's ribs.
Burke lands a nice hook to Fightmen's body. Fightmen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Burke throws a good cross that connects.
Burke scores with a shot to the body.
Burke scores with a nice strike.
Fightmen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Burke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Burke clobbers Fightmen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Fightmen checks a low kick from Burke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke lands a jab to Fightmen's midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burke scores with a jab.
Matthew Fightmen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burke scores with a three punch combo!
Burke with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Burke scores with a shot to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fightmen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Fightmen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burke scores with a hook.
Burke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fightmen.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good shot there by Burke.
A lazy left from Burke finds it's target.
Fightmen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Fightmen looks to land a body kick but Burke moved away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Burke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Burke scores with a hook to the body. Fightmen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Burke scores with a hook to the body. Fightmen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Burke lands with a good body shot.
Burke lands a right hook to the body.
Burke scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Burke cracks a nice hook into Fightmen's ribs.
Burke scores with a shot to the body.
Burke jabs Fightmen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Burke misses the shot to the body.
Burke scores with a hook to the body. Fightmen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Burke bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Fightmen's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fightmen dives in and grabs Burke's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burke pushes down on Fightmen's head and hops out.
Burke thuds a left hand into Fightmen's body.
Burke lands a right hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fightmen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Burke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Burke throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Fightmen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Burke digs a good body shot into Fightmen's ribs.
Fightmen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Burke connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Fightmen scrambles back to his feet.
Burke stuns Fightmen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fightmen takes one to the side of the head.
Fightmen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Burke scores with a body shot.
Fightmen fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Burke lands a jab.
Burke lands with a good body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fightmen checks the leg kick.
Burke lands a nice looking body shot.
Burke lands a jab-cross combination.
Fightmen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Burke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Fightmen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Burke works Fightmen's body with a nice hook.
Nice uppercut lands for Burke. That snapped Fightmen's head back.
Fightmen fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fightmen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Burke with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Burke scores with a body shot.
Burke lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Fightmen at a distance.
Fightmen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Burke throws a shot to the body.
Fightmen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Good shot there by Burke.
Nice takedown defense from Burke. No joy for Fightmen on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Fightmen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body punch from Burke.
A nice combination there by Burke.
Burke getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Some bone on bone action there as Fightmen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Burke throws a series of strikes that have Fightmen backpedaling.
Fightmen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Burke shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Fightmen eats them both and turns towards Burke to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Burke scores with a shot to the body.
Burke cracks a nice hook into Fightmen's ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Burke scores with a body shot.
Burke just misses with a punch to the body.
Matthew Fightmen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephen Burke is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Burke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Burke connects with a single shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Burke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Burke 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 James Glass scores the fight 25:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 25:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Burke!
Stephen Burke bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.