PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bubba Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Burns

165 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

197 cm
23
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bubba Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nathan Burns!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a takedown
and Burns counters with a thumping low kick.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Burns counters with a three punch combo that has Gracie backing up. Gracie nods at Burns to acknowledge the strikes.
Burns bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gracie could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Burns shoots for a takedown but Gracie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Burns counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bubba Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie gets a double leg takedown into Burns's guard.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Burns wriggles free and stands up.
Burns doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Burns tries for a takedown but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Burns has closed the distance and engaged Gracie in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Burns is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Burns prevents it.
Burns is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Gracie has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Burns clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
I really don't envy Burns right now.
Burns holding both Gracie 's hands and preventing any damage.
Burns tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Gracie controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Burns is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've been hearing good reports from Gracie's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
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!
Burns managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Burns looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Burns tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Burns keeps moving.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Burns with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Gracie can't handle though.
Burns looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns looking for a sweep. Not yet Burns, not yet.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Burns is keeping the position.
Burns is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Burns tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Burns manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Burns shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie dives in for a single leg takedown but Burns sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Burns gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Burns is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gracie is defending well.

Burns pulls guard effortlessly.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Burns uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Burns!
Burns is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burns's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Burns manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.
Nathan Burns has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burns trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Burns postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Burns won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Gracie is trying to keep Burns in close.
Burns slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control Burns's posture but Burns avoids it.
Burns controls the position.

Burns decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gracie to his feet.
Burns tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Burns keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bubba Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burns accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burns passes into half guard.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Burns is controlling well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Burns in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burns seems to be looking for submissions.
Gracie tries to roll over but Burns keeps him under control.
Burns throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Burns is controlling well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burns thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
Burns tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Burns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Burns looking to score a takedown here. Gracie is defending well but Burns drives through and ends up in Gracie's guard.
Burns in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Burns stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Burns works over Gracie with some ground and pound from guard.
Gracie wants to control the position but Burns says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Burns tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Burns controlling the action here.
Gracie is staying active underneath Burns, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Burns in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Burns slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Burns controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burns postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nathan Burns has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Burns to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Burns content to stall in guard here.
Burns's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Burns defends well.
Burns not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nathan Burns wasn't active enough on the ground.
Burns doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Bubba Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burns. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.

Burns scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Burns controlling from side mount.
Burns advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bubba Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nathan Burns is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gracie wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathan Burns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Burns 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Burns!