PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Burkatovskiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Zumo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Burkatovskiy
vs
Zumo

182 cm
29
162 lbs
6 - 1 - 1

182 cm
22
160 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergey Burkatovskiy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Zumo!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burkatovskiy doesn't manage to clinch there - Zumo circles away.
Burkatovskiy shoots in for a takedown but Zumo shows good takedown defense.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Burkatovskiy lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Burkatovskiy has a couple of punches blocked by Zumo.
Zumo is looking for a takedown.
Burkatovskiy has a couple of punches blocked by Zumo.
Zumo blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Burkatovskiy fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burkatovskiy lands an uppercut.
Burkatovskiy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Burkatovskiy misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zumo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burkatovskiy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Burkatovskiy lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zumo or not.
Burkatovskiy has a couple of punches blocked by Zumo.
Burkatovskiy lands a left hand.
Burkatovskiy cracks Zumo with a nice body shot.
Zumo prevents a body shot from Burkatovskiy.
Burkatovskiy prevents a takedown attempt there.
Burkatovskiy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zumo's elbow.
Burkatovskiy lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zumo has Burkatovskiy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Burkatovskiy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sergey Burkatovskiy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Zumo.
Burkatovskiy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Burkatovskiy gets through Zumo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkatovskiy lands a left hand.
Burkatovskiy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zumo's elbow.
Burkatovskiy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short left from Burkatovskiy.
Burkatovskiy lands a body punch.
Burkatovskiy is pressed up against the cage. Zumo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Burkatovskiy down to the mat. Burkatovskiy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burkatovskiy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burkatovskiy tries to clinch up.

Zumo shoots in and bounces Burkatovskiy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zumo is in close to Burkatovskiy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zumo working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

Burkatovskiy working for a triangle but Zumo defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zumo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burkatovskiy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Burkatovskiy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Burkatovskiy is looking for a triangle but Zumo pushes his legs off easily.
Zumo stands up over Burkatovskiy, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zumo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zumo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zumo throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zumo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burkatovskiy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Burkatovskiy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zumo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zumo is looking to work some ground and pound but Burkatovskiy has wrist control.

Burkatovskiy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zumo is aware though and is defending well.
Burkatovskiy looking for a sweep. Not yet Burkatovskiy, not yet.
Zumo is in close to Burkatovskiy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Burkatovskiy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zumo is controlling Burkatovskiy's trapped leg to prevent Burkatovskiy from advancing to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Zumo has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Burkatovskiy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zumo keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Burkatovskiy dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zumo keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice jab there from Burkatovskiy.
Zumo swats away the attempt to clinch by Burkatovskiy.
Burkatovskiy wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burkatovskiy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zumo shoots in and drives through. Burkatovskiy sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burkatovskiy tries to close the distance and clinch but Zumo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burkatovskiy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burkatovskiy moves in looking to clinch but Zumo pushes him off.

Zumo gets tackled into the cage by Burkatovskiy. Burkatovskiy maintains the clinch.
Burkatovskiy stops a takedown attempt from Zumo.
Nice body punch from Burkatovskiy - that landed with a thud.
Burkatovskiy throws a punch but it's blocked by Zumo.
Burkatovskiy tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zumo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sergey Burkatovskiy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Zumo.
Zumo has Burkatovskiy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Burkatovskiy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Zumo is fighting off a takedown attempt but Burkatovskiy is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Zumo to the mat. Zumo regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zumo is trying to keep Burkatovskiy in close.
Burkatovskiy 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.
Zumo looking to control.
Zumo keeping full guard, as Burkatovskiy tries to pass.
Zumo keeping moving, preventing Burkatovskiy from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zumo has Burkatovskiy pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Burkatovskiy clinches.
Burkatovskiy can't find room to land a body shot as Zumo controls the action.
Burkatovskiy digs a right hand underneath Zumo's ribcage. Zumo let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Burkatovskiy working aggressively here.
Burkatovskiy swings wildly with an uppercut but Zumo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burkatovskiy stops a takedown attempt from Zumo.
Burkatovskiy can't find room to land a body shot as Zumo controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkatovskiy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zumo's elbow.
Burkatovskiy stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Burkatovskiy throws a head punch that misses.
Burkatovskiy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zumo has Burkatovskiy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Burkatovskiy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zumo tries to score a body lock takedown but Burkatovskiy shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Burkatovskiy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Burkatovskiy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zumo can do to turn this around?
Burkatovskiy tries a body shot but Zumo blocks it.
Burkatovskiy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zumo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burkatovskiy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Burkatovskiy dominated that second round.
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!

Zumo swats away the attempt to clinch by Burkatovskiy.
Burkatovskiy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zumo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Burkatovskiy tries to clinch there but Zumo circles away.
Burkatovskiy wants to clinch up but Zumo keeps it at a distance.

Burkatovskiy gets a clinch.
Burkatovskiy lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Burkatovskiy gets through Zumo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burkatovskiy.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zumo.
Zumo takes a shot to the head.
Burkatovskiy lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burkatovskiy lands a body punch.
A hook to the body from Burkatovskiy.
Burkatovskiy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zumo's elbow.
Sergey Burkatovskiy has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zumo prevents a body shot from Burkatovskiy.
Burkatovskiy stops a takedown attempt from Zumo.
Burkatovskiy pushes Zumo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Burkatovskiy tries to work over Zumo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zumo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Burkatovskiy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Burkatovskiy tries to clinch there but Zumo circles away.
Sergey Burkatovskiy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkatovskiy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Burkatovskiy wants it to stay on the feet.
Sergey Burkatovskiy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Zumo.
Zumo swats away the attempt to clinch by Burkatovskiy.
Zumo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burkatovskiy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zumo somewhat.
Zumo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zumo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zumo throws a hook but Burkatovskiy blocks it.
Burkatovskiy is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zumo swats away the attempt to clinch by Burkatovskiy.
No luck for Burkatovskiy with that takedown attempt.
Burkatovskiy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zumo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burkatovskiy is looking to clinch but Zumo is avoiding it.
Burkatovskiy just misses with a punch to the body.
Zumo blocks a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Zumo.
Burkatovskiy tries to close the distance and clinch but Zumo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Burkatovskiy gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkatovskiy lands a left hand.
Burkatovskiy lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Burkatovskiy on the inside.
Burkatovskiy misses with some punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A body shot lands from Burkatovskiy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Burkatovskiy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burkatovskiy, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Burkatovskiy!