PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between MIke Bolton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Burton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bolton
vs
Burton

175 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, MIke Bolton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Burton!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Burton.
Bolton takes a swing at Burton's ribcage but misses.
Burton is looking to clinch.

Burton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bolton wants to get back to full guard but Burton has passed into side control.
Burton can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bolton is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee warns Bolton that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolton manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Bolton is controlling Burton's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Burton is keen to just control but Bolton is a slippery customer.
Burton thows a huge punch but Bolton dodges it nicely.
Bolton missing with punches from the bottom.
Burton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bolton defending well though.
Burton keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bolton moves into full guard.
Burton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bolton on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bolton tries to get out of the position.
Burton trying to control but Bolton is working from the bottom.

Bolton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Burton wants to stand but Bolton is controlling his posture from full guard.
Burton 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.

Bolton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bolton has his hands on Burton's head, controlling the position.
Bolton is breathing heavily.
Bolton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Burton wants to control from the top but Bolton keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bolton pulls Burton in to control the position.
Burton trying to control the position from guard on top but Bolton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bolton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Burton wanted to stand there but Bolton had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burton moves in looking to clinch but Bolton pushes him off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bolton's waist but Bolton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Burton off to one side.
Burton doesn't manage to clinch there - Bolton circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Burton 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.

Bolton darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bolton throwing shots but Burton is blocking nicely.
Burton gets full guard.
Burton working a defensive guard here.
Burton being controlled here, momentarily.
Burton is breathing heavily.
Bolton lands a couple of elbows.
Bolton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolton postures up.
Bolton stands and throws Burton's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Burton manages to get back to half guard.

Bolton escapes and gets back to his feet.
Bolton fails with the takedown

and Burton counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bolton tries to roll over but Burton keeps him under control.
Bolton is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolton trying to get back to full guard but Burton takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Burton lands a heavy elbow.
Burton with shots to the head and body - Bolton looks very uncomfortable down there.
Bolton is looking to get to half guard.
Burton trying to control but Bolton is having none of it.
Burton is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolton gets back to half guard.
Burton is keen to just control but Bolton is a slippery customer.

Burton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bolton doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Burton.
Bolton misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bolton gets back to full guard.
Bolton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Bolton has his foot on Burton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burton works his way back into a safe position though.
Burton wants to pass the guard but Bolton is keeping the position.

Bolton has his foot on Burton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burton works his way back into a safe position though.
Bolton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Burton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Burton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bolton has Burton up against the cage in a clinch.
Bolton tries to land knees in the clinch but Burton avoids the damage to the body.
Bolton tries to pull guard but Burton holds him up against the cage and eventually Bolton drops back down to his feet.
Burton misses with a knee to the head.
Burton looking for a takedown.

Burton breaks the clinch.

Burton gets caught flat footed, as Bolton shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bolton won't allow Burton to sweep him here.
Bolton pushes down on Burton's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burton is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolton scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bolton trying to control from half guard but Burton is working away.
Bolton is stalling here. Burton is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bolton seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Burton has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
MIke Bolton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bolton gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Burton is looking for a kimura but Bolton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Burton to get the leverage.
Bolton gets back to full guard.
Bolton tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Burton thows a big elbow that misses.
Bolton wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Burton trying to control but Bolton is working from the bottom.
Burton is standing up over Bolton. Bolton looks to escape but Burton dives into side control.
Burton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bolton keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bolton is trying to maintain the position but Burton is very close to passing his half guard.
Burton is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Bolton can't escape the position.
Bolton wants to hold on but Burton pushes him away.
Burton with good strikes from the mount here!

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.

Burton wants to finish this one by submission but Bolton is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Burton.
Bolton is desperately trying to improve his position but Burton has a good base and remains in mount.
Bolton tries to hold on but Burton pushes him away.
Burton lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bolton tries to lock up and control but Burton gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bolton keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
MIke Bolton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burton is landing with some decent strikes but Bolton is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

And that's the end of the fight!
MIke Bolton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Steve Burton!