PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Norberto Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harley Burlson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Harley Burlson enters the cage!

Howard
vs
Burlson

191 cm
20
278 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Norberto Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Harley Burlson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burlson has Howard up against the cage in a clinch.

Burlson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Howard moves to clinch but Burlson breaks away

and Burlson moves into the clinch.

Burlson has hold of one of Howard's legs. Howard is fighting the takedown attempt but Burlson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Burlson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Howard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Howard stuffs the takedown attempt from Burlson. Burlson gets slowly back to his feet.

Burlson clinches with his opponent.
Burlson prevents a body shot from Howard.

Burlson drags the fight down to the ground.
Burlson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Howard puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Howard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Howard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Burlson wants to improve his position but Howard is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Howard winds up and cracks Burlson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Howard throwing shots but Burlson is blocking nicely.
Howard throwing shots but Burlson is blocking nicely.
Howard throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Burlson to regain full guard.
Burlson trying to keep a closed guard but Howard is proving a slippery customer.
Burlson lands an upkick as Howard stands over him.
Howard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Burlson's guard.
Howard throws an elbow that misses. Burlson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howard's guard. Nice move by Burlson!

Burlson gets to his feet - Howard follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burlson lands a leg kick that knocks Howard off balance momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Burlson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Howard, pushing him back against the cage.
Burlson trying to stall but Howard improves his position.
Howard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Burlson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Burlson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Howard stands up over Burlson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Burlson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Howard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Burlson trying to control the position.
Burlson seems keen to control Howard's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws a strike but Burlson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Burlson wanted to stand there but Howard had control of the position.
Burlson content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Harley Burlson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Howard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burlson shoots for a takedown but Howard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Burlson rushes Howard and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Burlson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Howard tries to stall but Burlson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Burlson avoids a wild elbow strike from Howard.
With the fighters up against the cage, Howard throws an elbow but misses.
Burlson dodges an elbow strike from Howard.
Howard tries a body shot but Burlson blocks it.
Howard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Burlson has hold of one of Howard's legs. Howard is fighting the takedown attempt but Burlson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Howard looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Burlson has picked Howard up and slammed him! Howard can't keep hold of the triangle and Burlson manages to pass to side control!
Howard is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard looks to move to half guard but instead Burlson has passed into mount! Damn!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Burlson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Howard is fending him off so far but Burlson persists. Nope, Howard circles away and we're back to standing.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Burlson. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Burlson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Burlson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Burlson.

Howard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burlson is aware though and is defending well.

Burlson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Howard rushes Burlson and presses him up against the cage.
Burlson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Burlson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Howard prevents it.
Norberto Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harley Burlson.
Burlson blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Burlson avoids it.
A short uppercut from Burlson.
Burlson blocks an uppercut.

Burlson breaks the clinch.
Burlson goes for a double leg but Howard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Howard continues to drive forward.
Burlson blocks an elbow strike.
Howard gets through Burlson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Howard throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Burlson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Howard is defending well for now.
With the fighters up against the cage, Howard throws an elbow but misses.
Howard is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Burlson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Howard avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burlson blocks an elbow strike from Howard.
Burlson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Burlson has clasped his hands together around Howard's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Howard is not content to let Burlson control the position.
Burlson tries to advance to mount but Howard denies him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Burlson presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burlson is landing with some decent strikes but Howard is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Burlson wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Burlson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Howard looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Will Burlson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Burlson keeps control of the position as Howard tries to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Burlson working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harley Burlson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Burlson clinches with his opponent.
Burlson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Norberto Howard has been cut.
A head punch on the inside from Howard fails to land.
Howard throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Howard looking to slow down the pace here.
Howard lands an elbow that stopped Burlson in his tracks for a moment.
Burlson blocks an uppercut.
Burlson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Howard trying to control the position but instead, Burlson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Howard into the cage.

Burlson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burlson has a takedown stuffed.
Howard stuffs the takedown attempt from Burlson. Burlson gets slowly back to his feet.
Burlson slaps away a takedown attempt from Howard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Burlson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Howard's calf.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Burlson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Burlson shoots in looking for a takedown. Howard tries to sprawl out of it but Burlson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Howard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Norberto Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harley Burlson.
Howard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Burlson swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harley Burlson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howard takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Burlson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howard pinned against the cage. Howard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Burlson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burlson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Howard tries to avoid it but Burlson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Howard to the ground. Howard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burlson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howard pinned against the cage. Howard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Harley Burlson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burlson blocks the elbow strike.

Burlson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Howard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Burlson.
Burlson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Howard.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Howard.

Burlson moves into the clinch.
Howard struggles to land a body shot inside as Burlson controls his hands.
Howard landing knees to the head.
Howard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burlson blocks an elbow strike.
Howard is trying to stall.
Burlson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Howard pulls his leg out and moves away.
Burlson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Howard defends well and Burlson ends up having to push Howard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Burlson wants to take the fight to the mat but Howard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Burlson tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howard tries to stall but Burlson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A short left from Howard.
Norberto Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harley Burlson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Burlson can't get the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Harley Burlson.
I've got Burlson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harley Burlson!