PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between William Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rank Rox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burns comes to the cage accompanied by Die by the drop. 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.

Burns
vs
Rox

194 cm
25
278 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

190 cm
24
245 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, William Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rank Rox!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rox was well out of range. Poor timing from Burns.
Burns tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rox throws a push kick but Burns slaps the foot to one side.

Rox tries to keep at a distance but Burns has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rox blocks the elbow strike.
Rox on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rox tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burns's elbow.
Rox lands with a light punch inside.
Burns with an attempt at a knee that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Burns just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rox's brow.
Burns misses with a knee to the head.

Rox breaks the clinch.
Burns falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rox counters with a straight right hand.
Burns has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rox.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burns lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Rank Rox has been cut.
Rox ducks under a wild hook from Burns.
Rox scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rox takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Burns wants to land a leg kick but Rox is out of range.
Rox lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Burns jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rox throws a leg kick but Burns moved away.
Burns ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rox connects with a single shot there.
Rox misses with a wild body shot.
Rox lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rox connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A shot to the liver by Burns. Beautiful body shot.
Burns lands an overhand right.
Burns is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rox.
Rox will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Burns misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns staying out of range there.
Jab from Burns.
Rox throws a head kick that misses.

Burns lands a big uppercut and Rox crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Rox looks OK. Burns waves Rox back to his feet!

Rox is rocked!
Rox slips under a jab.
Rox is still on wobbly legs! Can Burns finish him?
Rox takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Burns misses with a hook. Rox ducked under it nicely.
Burns missing with a left hand there. Rox was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Burns checks a leg kick.
Rox seems to have recovered his senses.
Burns scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rox looks winded!
Burns blocks a leg kick.
Burns stuns Rox with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Burns feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Rox sprawling to the canvas! Rox rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Burns finish him?!

That has opened up Rank Rox's cut even more.
Burns ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Burns tries to close the distance and clinch but Rox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Burns clinches up with Rox and pushes him back against the cage.
Burns pushes off an throws an elbow but Rox leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Burns.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns connects with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Burns.
Rox on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rox wants to get back to striking at distance but Burns won't allow it.
Burns stalling against the cage.
I was talking to Burns's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Rox lands with a short shot to the head.
Burns misses with a knee to the head.
Rox looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rox has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Burns seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rox can turn it around.
Burns is trying to stall.
Rox can't break the clinch.
Burns struggles to land a body shot inside as Rox controls his hands.
Burns tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Burns tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rox is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns throws an elbow but it misses.
Rox throws a punch but it's blocked by Burns.
Rox misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rox can't find room to land a body shot as Burns controls the action.
Burns wants to stall.
Rox struggles to land a body shot inside as Burns controls his hands.
Burns creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A head punch on the inside from Rox fails to land.
Burns trying to control the position but instead, Rox has worked for underhooks and has pushed Burns into the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rox blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Burns dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rank Rox's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rox fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rox.
Burns takes a swing at Rox's ribcage but misses.
Burns throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Burns closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Burns clinches up against the cage.
Rox scores with a shoulder strike.
Burns tries a knee to the head but Rox blocks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rox misses with a punch on the inside.
Burns tries to land a knee to the head but Rox blocks with his arms.
Rox misses with the head strike.
Burns using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rox has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rox misses with the head strike.
Rox lands a hook that snaps the head of Burns backwards.
Burns throws a punch but it's blocked by Rox.
Rox working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rox blocks an elbow strike.
Burns creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rox just leaning against Burns, taking a breather.
Rox lands a hook that snaps the head of Burns backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
William Burns has scored more points in the clinch so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burns.
A shot in the inside from Burns.
Burns lands a nice knee to the body.

Rox escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
William Burns is winning the standup battle so far.
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!
Rox scores with a jab to the body.
Burns throws a series of punches but Rox avoids them all with ease.
Rox is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Burns takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rox throws a head kick that misses.
Rox doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Rox in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Rox avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns misses the jab.
Rox circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rox connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Burns throws a jab but it's blocked by Rox.
Rox digs a good body shot into Burns's ribs.
Rox throws a leg kick that is checked
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Burns dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rox throws a series of punches but Burns moves out of range.
Burns throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Burns will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Burns on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Burns fails in his attempt to clinch.
Burns wants to clinch.
Burns connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rox avoids the body shot from Burns.
Burns throws a body punch but Rox moves out of range.
Rox swats away the attempt to clinch by Burns.
Rox thows a body shot but no joy.

Burns clinches with his opponent.

Rox breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burns throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Burns throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rox cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rox misses with a lunging right hand
and Burns counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

The cut above Rank Rox's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Burns lands a head 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!
Rox wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A cross from Rox lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rox.
Rox fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Burns throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rox is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rox moves out of range as Burns strikes.
Burns throws the left hand but Rox avoids the punch easily.
Burns throws a low kick but Rox avoids it.
A jab from Rox does it's job there.
Burns checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rox uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Burns.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rox circles away from the clinch attempt.
Burns throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Burns tries to close the distance and clinch but Rox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burns fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rox checks it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rank Rox will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rank Rox's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Burns misses with an attempted mid kick.
Burns wants to clinch but Rox slips to the side
and Rox counters with a nice low kick that buckles Burns's knee momentarily.
Rox lands with an overhand left.
Rox keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rox looks to throw the jab but Burns is out of range.
Burns takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Burns tries to land a leg kick but Rox saw it coming and moves away.
Burns lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rox at a distance.
Rox thumps Burns with a low kick.
Burns thuds a left hand into Rox's body.
Rox cracks Burns with a good jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burns takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Burns sizes up Rox with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burns takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Burns tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rox throws a shot to the body.
Burns showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rox.
Burns misses with the combination.
Burns takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rox scores with a decent looking hook.
Burns is looking to chop away at Rox's legs.
Rox tries to land a leg kick but Burns saw it coming and moves away.
Rox scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Burns throws the kick towards the body but Rox avoids it.
Rox throws out a loose jab but Burns uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burns swinging wildly here.
Rox tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burns was well out of range. Poor timing from Rox.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rox scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rox cracks Burns with a good jab.
Burns throws a shot from downtown. Rox moves away and avoids it.
Donk. Rox catches Burns right on the button with a cross.
Rox throws a leg kick but Burns moved away.
Burns goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Burns thows a left - swing and a miss!
Burns's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rox connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Burns scrambles back to his feet.
Rox shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A telegraphed right hand from Burns misses the target.
Burns uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rox.
Burns comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rox stuns Burns with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rox takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Burns.
Burns drops his hands momentarily and Rox takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rox throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rox lands with a good body shot.
Burns throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Burns displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rox throws out the jab.
Burns throws a hook to the side of Rox's head but Rox sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rox scores with a jab to the head.
Burns drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Burns - that will leave a mark!
Burns looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Burns looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rox connects with a looping right hand.
Burns looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns misses with a body kick.
Rox checks a low kick from Burns.
Burns fails to land with a series of punches.
Burns takes one to the side of the head.
Burns connects with a single shot there.
Burns takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rox fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rox throws a leg kick that misses.
Burns blocks a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Burns looking to stall.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rox lands with a short shot to the head.
Burns stalling in the clinch but Rox improves position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rank Rox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rox has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!