PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Garrett Lapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Burton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Lapp
vs
Burton

187 cm
21
164 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

170 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Garrett Lapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joshua Burton!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lapp connects with a solid leg kick.

Lapp gets the takedown into side control.
Burton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lapp. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Burton is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Lapp is controlling him well.
Lapp scores with a couple of short elbows.
Burton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Burton taking punishment in the form of punches.

Lapp is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Burton knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lapp wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burton keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burton tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Lapp presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Lapp scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lapp scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Burton?
Lapp lands a heavy elbow.
Burton tries to lock up and control but Lapp gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Burton throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Lapp working for a guillotine from mount but Burton is in no mood to give up.
Lapp lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Burton hang on?
Lapp has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapp looking to finish Burton with some ground and pound. This is bad for Burton!
A nice elbow there by Lapp.
Lapp lands a big elbow.
Burton is looking to improve his position but Lapp isn't that keen on the idea.
Burton looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burton wants to control but Lapp is having none of it.
Lapp is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Burton can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Lapp unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Burton is looking to clinch but Lapp is avoiding it.

Burton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Burton lands in his opponent's guard.
Burton wants to stand and escape but instead Lapp has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Burton will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Burton is breathing heavily.
Lapp with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapp pushes down on Burton's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lapp really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Burton won't allow Lapp to pass to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Burton can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lapp escapes and gets back to his feet.

Lapp gets a clinch.
Burton is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Lapp breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapp doesn't manage to clinch there - Burton circles away.
Lapp misses with a body kick.

Burton closes the distance and clinches.
Burton avoiding damage.
Lapp is trying to maintain a safe position but Burton gets an underhook and turns Lapp into the cage.
Lapp lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Burton or not.
Lapp is trying to break the clinch but Burton has him pressed against the cage.
Lapp fails to pull guard.

Lapp manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lapp shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Burton as he avoids it easily.
Lapp fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garrett Lapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lapp shoots and misses

and Burton counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lapp won't be happy with that.
Burton wants to control but Lapp is keeping him busy.
Lapp wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapp is trying to improve his position.
Lapp manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Lapp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Burton defending well though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lapp lands a nice short elbow.

Lapp is trying to work for a kimura but Burton is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Burton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Lapp.
Burton tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lapp counters with a straight right hand.
Burton takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lapp goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Lapp jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
A thudding body kick lands there by Lapp!
Burton looks to clinch

and Lapp counters with a single leg into guard. Burton didn't expect that.
Burton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burton trying to keep a closed guard but Lapp is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapp lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Burton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lapp is one step ahead there.
Lapp passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Burton is looking to improve his position.
Lapp is nestled in close to Burton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lapp not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lapp is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lapp scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lapp is thwarting Burton's attempts to control the position.
Lapp drops an elbow to the side of Burton's head.
Burton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lapp.
Garrett Lapp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lapp working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lapp connects with a nice short shot to Burton's temple.
Lapp will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Burton trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Lapp manages to pass to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lapp has hold of Burton's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Burton manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lapp is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Burton can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garrett Lapp showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lapp 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garrett Lapp!