PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riku Kurikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Burke
vs
Kurikka

171 cm
19
148 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
148 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephen Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Kurikka!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurikka manages to avoid it.
Burke misses the shot to the body.
Burke moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Burke slips a jab from Kurikka.
Kurikka avoids the body shot from Burke.
Kurikka takes one to the chin there.
Burke misses with a body shot.
Burke thows a body shot but no joy.
Burke blocks a jab.
Burke scores with a jab to the body.
Kurikka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Burke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke misses with a hook to the body
and Kurikka counters with a stiff right hand.
Burke misses with a wild body shot.
Burke swings for the body but Kurikka moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burke. Kurikka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Burke looks to throw the jab but Kurikka is out of range.
Burke ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kurikka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Burke swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kurikka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kurikka takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The fighters circle momentarily. Burke darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kurikka counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kurikka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burke.
Burke loads up on a big right hand but Kurikka slips the punch.
Burke throws a body punch but Kurikka moves out of range.
Burke blocks a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burke avoids the body shot from Kurikka.
Kurikka takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Burke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kurikka.
Burke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kurikka.
Stephen Burke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Burke.
A shot to the liver by Burke. Beautiful body shot.
Kurikka connects with a good right hand that stumbles Burke. Burke circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
No joy there for Burke, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Burke looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurikka is just out of range.
Burke misses with a hook to the body
and Kurikka counters with a stiff right hand.
Burke is looking to wear down Kurikka with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kurikka steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Burke.
Burke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Burke misses the body punch
and Kurikka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Burke lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke throws a hook but Kurikka blocks it.
Burke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burke bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kurikka's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burke stuns Kurikka with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Burke throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kurikka stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Burke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurikka manages to avoid it.
Kurikka throws an overhand right that lands on Burke's shoulder, as Burke tries to avoid the shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A punch lands to the side of Kurikka 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Burke swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kurikka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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 Stephen Burke will probably get the nod.
That's time! Burke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Burke misses the shot to the body.
Burke throws an off balance right hand
and Kurikka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Burke lands with a straight right. Kurikka didn't see that one coming.
Nice straight punches there by Burke. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Burke.
Burke misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kurikka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kurikka might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Burke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kurikka was well out of range. Poor timing from Burke.
Burke looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurikka is just out of range.
A jab lands there for Burke.
Burke ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Burke throws a series of punches but Kurikka moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke throws a nice looking combination but Kurikka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Burke rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kurikka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kurikka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Burke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stephen Burke is winning the standup battle so far.
Burke throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kurikka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Burke misses the shot to the body.
Kurikka avoids the body shot from Burke.
Kurikka misses with a straight left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burke. Kurikka does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurikka bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Burke's head backwards.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burke. Kurikka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Burke looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurikka is just out of range.
Burke misses with a body punch
and Kurikka counters with a straight right hand.
Kurikka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Burke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice uppercut lands for Burke. That snapped Kurikka's head back.
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!
Burke will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Burke just misses with a punch to the body.
Burke takes a swing at Kurikka's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Kurikka.
Kurikka gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Burke.
Kurikka slips a straight right by Burke.
Burke thows a body shot but no joy.
Kurikka throws an off balance right hand
and Burke counters with a left to the body.
Burke throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kurikka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burke. Kurikka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Burke with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Burke misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurikka misses with a looping right.
Kurikka throws a right hand that Burke ducks under and follows up with a left that Burke also avoids with ease.
Burke misses with a body shot.
Burke throws a shot from downtown. Kurikka moves away and avoids it.
Kurikka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Burke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kurikka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Burke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burke misses with a shot to the body
and Kurikka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Burke throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Riku Kurikka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Burke displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kurikka throws out the jab.
Kurikka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Burke.
Burke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kurikka checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Burke throws a jab when Kurikka was well out of range.
Kurikka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Burke.
Burke looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurikka is just out of range.
The fighters circling - Kurikka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burke thuds a left hand into Kurikka's body.
Burke misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke thows a body shot but no joy.
Burke avoids the body shot from Kurikka.
Kurikka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Burke.
Burke misses with a left hand
and Kurikka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Burke darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Burke looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurikka is just out of range.
Burke misses the body punch
and Kurikka counters with a left and a right... And another left! Burke is down! He's done! The ref dives in to save him and that's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Riku Kurikka!