PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gregorio Burks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Fratinni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fratinni has chosen Fire fly as his entrance music. 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.

Burks
vs
Fratinni

214 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gregorio Burks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Fratinni!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Steve Montenegro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fratinni has closed the distance and engaged Burks in a clinch.
Burks is looking for a takedown.
Fratinni gets underhooks to prevent Burks's takedown attempt.
Fratinni leaning against his opponent.
Fratinni digs a right hand underneath Burks's ribcage. Burks let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Burks tries for a takedown but Fratinni manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregorio Burks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fratinni stalling the fight.
Fratinni missing with knees to the body.

Fratinni successfully pulls guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fratinni looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Burks puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Fratinni wants to control but Burks is keeping busy.
Fratinni regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fratinni is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Fratinni has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Burks is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Fratinni.
Fratinni sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fratinni taking some punishment here, with Burks in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burks not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Fratinni has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Burks is on him like a limpet, forcing Fratinni back against the cage.
Burks tries to pull guard but Fratinni holds him up against the cage and eventually Burks drops back down to his feet.
Burks drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Fratinni turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Fratinni manages to end up in side control.
Burks tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burks explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Fratinni fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fratinni is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burks sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fratinni wants to clinch.
Fratinni shoots in but Burks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Burks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rick Fratinni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fratinni scores with a jab to the body.
Burks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Burks tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Fratinni counters with a three punch combo that has Burks backing up. Burks nods at Fratinni to acknowledge the strikes.
Fratinni shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fratinni tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burks paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Burks rushes Fratinni and presses him up against the cage.

Fratinni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Fratinni dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fratinni gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fratinni wants to take the fight to the mat but Burks manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Fratinni blocks an elbow strike from Burks.
Fratinni tries for a takedown. No joy.
Burks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fratinni's efforts to push away.
Burks goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fratinni prevents it.
Fratinni gets underhooks to prevent Burks's takedown attempt.
Burks is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregorio Burks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fratinni breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fratinni throws a combination that misses

and Burks counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fratinni won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fratinni is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Burks is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Fratinni is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Burks working the ground and pound.
Fratinni manages to work his way to half guard, despite Burks's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fratinni gets back to full guard.
Burks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fratinni trying to keep a closed guard but Burks is proving a slippery customer.

Burks stands up and waves to Fratinni to follow him.
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!
Burks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fratinni is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burks sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fratinni shoots in looking for a takedown. Burks tries to sprawl out of it but Fratinni keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Burks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fratinni swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fratinni throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burks's waist but Burks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fratinni off to one side.
Fratinni is breathing heavily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Burks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fratinni wants to get back to his feet but Burks is dominant here and he's now got Fratinni's back!

Fratinni preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Burks.
Fratinni breaks Burks's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burks is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregorio Burks dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Fratinni tries to clinch but Burks is having none of it.
Burks slips a jab and a cross from Fratinni.

Burks gets tackled into the cage by Fratinni. Fratinni maintains the clinch.
Burks drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fratinni gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fratinni drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fratinni can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burks is trying to pull guard but Fratinni turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Burks tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregorio Burks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fratinni breaks from the clinch.
Burks tries to work over Fratinni's front leg with a kick but Fratinni checks it.
Fratinni fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fratinni tries to clinch
and Burks counters with a two punch combo.
Burks moves in looking to clinch but Fratinni pushes him off.
Fratinni gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Burks counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burks postures up in Fratinni's guard and throws a big left but Fratinni blocks it.
Burks works over Fratinni with some ground and pound from guard.
Fratinni wants to stand and escape but Burks is having none of it.

Burks decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Fratinni, up you get!
Fratinni takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No luck for Fratinni with that takedown attempt.
Gregorio Burks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fratinni tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fratinni shoots in looking for a takedown but Burks manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fratinni's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Burks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fratinni.
Fratinni dives in and grabs Burks's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burks pushes down on Fratinni's head and hops out.
Fratinni misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fratinni checks the leg kick.
Burks wants to clinch up but Fratinni keeps it at a distance.
Fratinni moves in looking to clinch but Burks pushes him off.
Burks lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burks closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Burks wants a takedown but no success here.
Fratinni drops down looking for an ankle pick but Burks pulls his leg out and moves away.

Burks darts in and clinches Fratinni up against the cage.
Burks being controlled against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fratinni stalling in the clinch but Burks improves position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gregorio Burks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gregorio Burks!