PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Burza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Hagen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burza comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - Enter Sandman. Tom Hagen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Burza
vs
Hagen

185 cm
39
195 lbs
26 - 14 - 1

178 cm
35
201 lbs
24 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Just Fight (Everything 7$)
The Big Kabosh

Just Fight (Everything 7$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Burza!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Hagen!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hagen moves away.
Hagen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Burza defends it nicely.
Burza looks to throw the jab but Hagen is out of range.
Hagen closes the distance and clinches up with Burza, looking for a takedown. Hagen pushes Burza against the cage but Burza circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Burza moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hagen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Burza counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hagen thinking.
John Burza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Hagen.
Burza moves into range and connects with a jab.
Burza swinging wildly here.
John Burza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burza scores with a jab to the head.
Burza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hagen was well out of range. Poor timing from Burza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Burza.
Nice takedown defense from Burza. No joy for Hagen on that attempt.
Burza misses with a straight left.
Nice takedown defense from Burza. No joy for Hagen on that attempt.
Burza looks to land a combination but Hagen avoids it well.
Burza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hagen slips a jab and a cross from Burza.
Burza stuffs the takedown attempt from Hagen. Hagen gets slowly back to his feet.
Hagen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Burza counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burza misses with a two punch combination.
Burza takes a swing at Hagen's ribcage but misses.
Burza misses with a looping left.
Burza lands with a good body shot.
Burza swinging wildly here.
Hagen slips under a jab from Burza.
Burza stuffs the takedown.
Hagen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Burza will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Burza misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Burza throws out the jab.
Burza scores with a nice right hand.
Hagen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Burza.
Burza misses with a few strikes there.
Hagen shoots in for a takedown but Burza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Burza misses with a wild body shot.
Burza misses with a few strikes there.
Hagen misses with a takedown
and Burza cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hagen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hagen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hagen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burza sprawls well. Burza wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hagen gets slowly back to his feet.
Burza lands a slapping body shot.
Hagen shoots in for a takedown but Burza shows good takedown defense.
Hagen ducks under a wild hook from Burza.
The fighters circling - Burza throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hagen slips a jab and a cross from Burza.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burza. Hagen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Burza as Hagen shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A decent looking cross lands there for Burza.
Burza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Burza misses with the combination.

Hagen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Hagen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Burza moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hagen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hagen wants to work for an arm triangle but Burza is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Hagen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Burza has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burza won't allow Hagen to pass to mount.

Hagen is looking for a kimura here.

Hagen is looking for a kimura but Burza is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hagen to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hagen wants to free his trapped foot but Burza is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Burza wants to control but Hagen passes into side.
Hagen tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Burza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hagen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Burza, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hagen tries for a kimura but Burza is defending well.
Burza is looking to regain half guard here but Hagen keeps moving and retains side control.
Burza stops Hagen from passing to mount.

Hagen is trying to get an arm triangle but Burza is defending well.

Hagen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Burza knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hagen advances nicely into full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burza wants to hold on but Hagen pushes him away.
Hagen wants to take Burza's back here but Burza is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Burza bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Burza has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hagen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Burza gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Burza passes Hagen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hagen is trying to get back to full guard.
Burza tries to stand and escape but Hagen is controlling the position.
Hagen is looking to improve his position.
Burza tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Hagen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burza trying to control the action but Hagen is working from the bottom.
Hagen is looking to control Burza's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hagen avoid being mounted?
Burza wants to get back to his feet.
Burza is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref stands the fighters back up because John Burza just wasn't active enough.
Hagen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hagen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burza defends well and Hagen ends up having to push Burza into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Hagen 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!

Hagen shoots in and drives through. Burza sprawls well.
Burza will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
John Burza is winning the standup battle so far.
Hagen fails with the takedown
and Burza counters with a straight right hand.
Nice straight punches there by Burza. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Burza.
Burza rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hagen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Burza!
Some wild striking there from Burza.
Hagen fails with a takedown attempt.
John Burza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Hagen.
Nice sprawl there from Burza as Hagen shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hagen avoids the body shot from Burza.
Burza is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A big left from Burza misses.
Burza swings for the body but Hagen moves out of range.
Hagen dives in for a single leg takedown but Burza sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hagen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Burza is defending well.

Burza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've been told by Burza's head coaches at Wax on Wax off 'Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Burza misses with a wild combination.
Burza lands a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burza's waist but Burza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hagen off to one side.
John Burza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burza works the jab nicely.
The fighters circling - Burza throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hagen goes for a double leg but Burza avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burza continues to drive forward.
Burza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Burza is pressed up against the cage. Hagen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Burza down to the mat. Burza avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hagen slips under a jab.
John Burza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hagen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Burza circles away.
Hagen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hagen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hagen has his takedown stuffed
enabling Burza to counter with a crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burza misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagen slips under a jab.
Burza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hagen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Burza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Burza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Burza misses the shot to the body.
A slow jab from Burza misses its intended target.
Hagen dives in and grabs Burza's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burza pushes down on Hagen's head and hops out.
Burza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hagen circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hagen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Burza scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Burza scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Burza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hagen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hagen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Burza throws a body punch but Hagen moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab from Burza finds it's way through Hagen's defenses.
Burza misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Burza clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Burza.
Burza fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hagen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Burza throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burza stuffs the takedown attempt from Hagen. Hagen gets slowly back to his feet.
Burza lands a two punch combo.
Burza jabs Hagen right on the nose. Hagen blinks but takes it well.
Hagen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Burza finds it's way round the side to connect with Hagen's head.
Burza looks to score with a jab to the body but Hagen is just out of range.
Burza bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hagen's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagen walks into a jab.
Burza swings for the body but Hagen moves out of range.
Hagen fails with the takedown.
Burza stuffs the takedown.
John Burza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Hagen.
Hagen throws a sloppy head kick and Burza moves out of range easily.
Burza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hagen moves away.
Burza smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hagen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Burza throws a jab but it's blocked by Hagen.
Hagen with a poor takedown
and Burza counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Burza digs a good hook to Hagen's body.
Burza takes a swing at Hagen's ribcage but misses.
Burza throws a body punch but Hagen moves out of range.
Burza connects with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hagen misses with a takedown
and Burza counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hagen is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Hagen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burza.
A punch combination from Burza misses.
Burza tests Hagen's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burza sizes up Hagen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hagen.
Hagen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Burza paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hagen fails with a takedown attempt.
Burza throws a hook to the side of Hagen's head but Hagen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burza. Hagen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Burza connects with a right hand. Hagen shakes it off.
Hagen has a takedown stuffed.
Burza lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Burza.
Burza throws a body punch but Hagen moves out of range.
Burza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hagen.
Hagen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hagen slips under a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burza looks to score with a jab to the body but Hagen is just out of range.
A punch combination from Burza misses.
Hagen misses with a takedown attempt - Burza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Burza had his way with Tom Hagen in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Burza throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hagen dives in for a single leg takedown but Burza sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Burza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hagen misses with a takedown attempt - Burza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Burza wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Burza misses with an uppercut. Hagen saw that one coming.
Burza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hagen was well out of range. Poor timing from Burza.
Burza fails to land with a series of punches.
Burza cracks Hagen with a good jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Burza finds it's way round the side to connect with Hagen's head.
Burza slaps away a takedown attempt from Hagen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
John Burza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Hagen.
Burza throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Burza throws a right and a left that Hagen avoids nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Burza. Those never looked like landing.
Hagen slips a jab and a cross from Burza.
Burza swinging wildly here.
Burza misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hagen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burza defends well and Hagen ends up having to push Burza into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hagen can't get the takedown.
Hagen wants a takedown.
Burza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hagen can do to turn this around?
Burza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Burza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burza thows a body shot but no joy.
Burza lands with a cross.
Burza moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hagen shoots in but Burza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Burza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hagen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burza connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hagen walks into a stiff left hand from Burza.
Hagen darts in looking for a takedown but Burza gets double underhooks and turns Hagen into the cage.
Burza prevents the takedown attempt.
Hagen is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Burza gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hagen.
Burza tries to break free but Hagen pushes him back against the cage.

Burza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Burza works Hagen's body with a nice hook.
Burza scores with a decent looking hook.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Burza.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burza lands with a cross.
Hagen fails with the takedown.
Burza misses the shot to the body.
Burza lands the left hand.
John Burza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Horrible takedown by Hagen or perhaps it was just good defense by Burza which made him look bad.
Tom Hagen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hagen gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burza scores with a shot to the body.
Hagen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Burza showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burza 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 49:46
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 49:46
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Burza!
John Burza retains his middleweight title!
Post fight, an emotional John Burza said 'Thank you Will Dickinson for everything you have done. You ran a first class organization. And thank you to the fans of Feral Combat.'.