PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Davis Burgess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slab Rankle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slab Rankle has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Davis Burgess's chin.

Burgess
vs
Rankle

159 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Davis Burgess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Slab Rankle!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rankle is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Burgess's half guard.
Rankle is just content to waste time from the top position. Burgess takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Burgess keeping moving, preventing Rankle from controlling successfully.
Rankle won't allow Burgess to get back to his feet.
Rankle controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rankle is looking to advance position but Burgess has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Rankle throwing hammer fists to the chest of Burgess. What's that going to do exactly?
Burgess tries to control but Rankle wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rankle working to try and regain half guard.
Rankle tries to lock up and control but Burgess gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Burgess could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rankle might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Burgess haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Burgess controlling the position easily from mount.
Rankle is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rankle wants to control but Burgess is having none of it.
Rankle is desperately trying to improve his position but Burgess has a good base and remains in mount.
Burgess controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burgess jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rankle manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Burgess tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Burgess gets to mount! Rankle was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Burgess avoids the attempt from Rankle to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess controlling the pace for now.
Rankle can't escape the position.
Rankle looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slab Rankle dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rankle rushes Burgess and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rankle goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Burgess content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Burgess misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rankle.

Rankle has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Burgess regains guard immediately.
Rankle trying to control but Burgess is working from the bottom.
Rankle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burgess is keeping the position for now.
Rankle trying to control but Burgess is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess has Rankle pulled in close to control his posture.
Burgess wants to get back to his feet but Rankle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Slab Rankle was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Burgess looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Burgess on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rankle fails in his attempt to clinch.
Davis Burgess is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rankle misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rankle feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Burgess keeping moving, preventing Rankle from controlling successfully.
Burgess wants to get back to his feet but Rankle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rankle throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rankle gets to his feet - Burgess follows without any prompting.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rankle has Burgess up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Burgess keeps control of Rankle as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rankle pulls guard.

Rankle working for a triangle but Burgess defends it easily.

Rankle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess controlling from the top position.
Slab Rankle has got the better of the ground game so far.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rankle manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rankle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rankle prevents a takedown attempt there.
Burgess throws an elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slab Rankle 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! This is the final round!

Rankle tries to close the distance and clinch up but Burgess swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rankle closes the distance and pushes Burgess back into the cage.
Burgess lands a damaging elbow.

Rankle drags the fight down to the ground.
Rankle keeping moving, preventing Burgess from controlling successfully.
Rankle controls Burgess momentarily but Burgess frees himself.
Burgess engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Davis Burgess wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rankle tries to close the distance and clinch but Burgess swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rankle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rankle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rankle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rankle misses with a body kick.

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.
Burgess moves out of range of the body kick from Rankle.
Rankle tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Burgess manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rankle throws a head kick that misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rankle enables Burgess to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rankle manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rankle wants to hit a switch here but Burgess passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rankle there!
Rankle tries to hold on but Burgess postures up.
Rankle is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burgess is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Rankle moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Rankle dives in and scores a takedown into Burgess's guard.
Rankle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burgess 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.
Burgess really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...

Burgess throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rankle trying to control the position from guard on top but Burgess is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burgess is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Burgess working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rankle has passed into half guard!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burgess works his way to full guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Slab Rankle.
Well Rankle has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slab Rankle!