PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nils Holgersson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Holgersson
vs
Burke

172 cm
26
151 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

171 cm
19
148 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nils Holgersson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephen Burke!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burke scores with a jab to the body.
Holgersson ducks right into an uppercut from Burke.
Burke swings for the body but Holgersson moves out of range.
Holgersson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Burke circles away quickly and effectively.
Burke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Holgersson throws a body punch but Burke moves out of range.
Burke slips under a jab from Holgersson.
Holgersson throws a hook but Burke blocks it.
Holgersson stuns Burke with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Holgersson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Burke looks to score with a jab to the body but Holgersson is just out of range.
Holgersson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Some wild striking there from Holgersson.
Nice defenses there by Burke.
Holgersson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Burke manages to avoid it.
Burke comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Holgersson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Burke.
Burke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holgersson moves away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Burke, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holgersson throws a jab but it's blocked by Burke.
Nils Holgersson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holgersson misses with the combination.
Holgersson throws a lazy right hand but Burke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Holgersson throws a combination that misses
and Burke counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Holgersson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Holgersson looks to land a combination. Burke sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Burke just misses with a punch to the body.
A big right from Holgersson misses.
Holgersson throws an off balance right hand
and Burke counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Holgersson lands with an uppercut that bounces Burke off the cage and back into range.
Burke avoids the body shot from Holgersson.
Holgersson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Holgersson throws a right and a left that Burke avoids nicely.
Burke slips a straight right by Holgersson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Holgersson. Burke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Holgersson connects with a nice looking jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Holgersson.
Burke is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Holgersson rather than just go for the knockout.
Holgersson lands a body shot.
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!
Holgersson throws a right and a left that Burke avoids nicely.
Burke throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Holgersson misses with a hook
and Burke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Holgersson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Holgersson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Burke at a distance.
Holgersson lunges at Burke with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Burke's hand.
Holgersson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Burke thows a body shot but no joy.
Burke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Holgersson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Holgersson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Holgersson throws a jab but it's blocked by Burke.
Holgersson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Burke finds it's way round the side to connect with Holgersson's head.
Holgersson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Burke.
Burke has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Burke there as he acknowledges the shot.
Holgersson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke digs a good body shot into Holgersson's ribs.
Holgersson looks to land a combination but Burke avoids it well.
Burke scores with a hook to the body. Holgersson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Holgersson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Holgersson misses with an uppercut. Burke saw that one coming.
Holgersson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Holgersson.
Holgersson throws a shot from downtown. Burke moves away and avoids it.
Holgersson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Burke has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Holgersson finds it's way round the side to connect with Burke's head.
Holgersson throws a right and a left that Burke avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Holgersson misses.
Holgersson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Burke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Burke throws a shot to the body.
Burke scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holgersson thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Holgersson manages to avoid it.
Burke ducks under a wild hook from Holgersson.
Burke looks to score with a jab to the body but Holgersson is just out of range.
Burke moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Holgersson. Burke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Holgersson misses with a series of wild punches.
Burke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Holgersson throws a hook but Burke blocks it.
Holgersson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Burke. Burke circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Holgersson throws a poor cross that misses
and Burke counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Holgersson thinking.
Burke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Burke lands a slapping body shot.
Holgersson throws out a loose jab but Burke uses good head movement to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Holgersson.
Holgersson throws a jab but it's blocked by Burke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nils Holgersson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Burke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Holgersson throws out a loose jab but Burke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Holgersson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Holgersson misses with a hook.
Burke misses the shot to the body.
Burke lands a body shot.
Holgersson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Holgersson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Holgersson looks to land a left hand but Burke moved out of range nicely.
Some wild striking there from Holgersson.
Holgersson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Burke under the eye.
Burke lands a nice hook to Holgersson's body. Holgersson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Holgersson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Holgersson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jab from Holgersson.
Holgersson misses the shot to the body.
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!
Sloppy strikes from Burke. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke needs to keep his hands up - Holgersson had a free shot at his head there.
Holgersson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Burke counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Burke cracks Holgersson with an open hand slap.
Burke misses with a body shot.
Holgersson lands with a hook. Burke tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Burke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Holgersson.
Burke digs a good body shot into Holgersson's ribs.
A slow jab from Holgersson misses its intended target.
Holgersson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burke moves away.
A big right from Holgersson misses.
Burke bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Holgersson misses with a left hand
and Burke counters with a three punch combo that has Holgersson backing up. Holgersson nods at Burke to acknowledge the strikes.
Holgersson misses with a looping left.
Burke stuns Holgersson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Holgersson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Holgersson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nils Holgersson is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Holgersson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holgersson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Burke counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Holgersson thinking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burke looks to score with a jab to the body but Holgersson is just out of range.
Burke uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Holgersson.
Burke scores with a jab to the body.
Burke uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Holgersson.
Holgersson throws a hook to the side of Burke's head but Burke sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Burke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Holgersson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Burke finds it's way round the side to connect with Holgersson's head.
Holgersson has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A left lands for Burke.
Burke digs a good hook to Holgersson's body.
Holgersson lands a really nice looking cross but Burke seems unphased.
Holgersson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Holgersson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Holgersson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Burke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Burke connects with a good right hand that stumbles Holgersson. Holgersson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Burke throws a body punch but Holgersson moves out of range.
Holgersson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Burke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Holgersson misses with a double jab.
Nils Holgersson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burke gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Burke lands a slapping body shot.
Holgersson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Burke.
Burke slips under a jab from Holgersson.
Nice body punch from Burke.
The fighters circle momentarily. Holgersson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Holgersson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Holgersson avoids the body shot from Burke.
Burke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holgersson moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Holgersson misses the target.
A nice leg kick lands there from Burke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke scores with a hook.
Burke digs a good hook to Holgersson's body.
Holgersson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Holgersson walks into a straight right hand from Burke.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burke. Holgersson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Holgersson throws a hook but Burke blocks it.
Burke showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Holgersson.
Holgersson throws a nice looking combination but Burke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Burke misses with a wild body shot.
Holgersson throws the left hand but Burke avoids the punch easily.
A big right from Holgersson misses.
Holgersson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Holgersson walks into a straight right hand from Burke.
Holgersson scores with a nice strike.
Holgersson looks to land a right hand but Burke moved out of range.
Burke ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stephen Burke will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Burke takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Holgersson throws a combination that misses
and Burke counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Burke bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Burke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Holgersson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Holgersson misses with a combination
enabling Burke to counter with a crisp jab.
Holgersson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Holgersson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burke was well out of range. Poor timing from Holgersson.
Holgersson throws a nice looking combination but Burke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Holgersson throws a right hand that misses
and Burke counters with a left to the body.
Holgersson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Burke avoids the body shot from Holgersson.
Burke misses with a body shot.
Burke just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Holgersson misses the shot to the body.
Burke lands with a nice body punch.
Burke has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holgersson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Burke stalks Holgersson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Holgersson's face. Holgersson staggers backwards, shaken.
Holgersson avoids the body shot from Burke.
Burke fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Holgersson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Burke walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Burke scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Holgersson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Good exchange - Burke coming out on top.
Burke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Holgersson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Burke.
Holgersson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Burke backs up against the cage.
Burke thows a body shot but no joy.
Burke works Holgersson's body with a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burke swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson throws an overhand right that lands on Burke's shoulder, as Burke tries to avoid the shot.
Holgersson takes one on the button.
Holgersson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Burke counters with a left to the body.
A combination from Holgersson does no damage.
Burke misses with a body shot.
Holgersson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Burke scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Holgersson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Holgersson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Burke counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Burke connects with a body shot.
Burke scores with a shot to the body.
Burke lands a lovely overhand right.
Burke lands a slapping body shot.
Holgersson misses the shot to the body.
Burke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Burke throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Holgersson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Burke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Holgersson.
Burke lands a right hook to the body.
Holgersson throws a nice looking combination but Burke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Holgersson avoids the body shot from Burke.
Burke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Holgersson.
Holgersson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Holgersson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Holgersson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Burke avoids the body shot from Holgersson.
Burke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Holgersson.
Holgersson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Holgersson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Holgersson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A shot to the liver by Burke. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Holgersson does no damage.
Burke fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Holgersson misses with a left hand
letting Burke counter with a right hand.
Holgersson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Burke cracks Holgersson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burke walks into a left hand.
Burke looks to score with a jab to the body but Holgersson is just out of range.
Holgersson misses with a wild combination.
Holgersson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Burke counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Burke works Holgersson's body with a nice hook.
Burke throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Holgersson throws a right and a left that Burke avoids nicely.
Burke fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Holgersson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Holgersson misses with a body shot
and Burke counters with a left to the body.
Burke misses with a wild body shot.

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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Burke!
Stephen Burke decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.