PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Archie Burks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Sabu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Burks
vs
Sabu

176 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

169 cm
18
169 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Archie Burks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Will Sabu!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sabu looks for a takedown but Burks sprawls well.
Sabu goes for a double leg but Burks avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burks continues to drive forward.

Burks drags the fight down to the ground.
Burks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sabu won't allow Burks to get back to his feet.
Sabu should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Sabu is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Burks is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Burks has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sabu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Sabu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Burks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Burks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Sabu is working an open guard so Burks takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sabu looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabu shoots in looking for a takedown but Burks manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sabu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Archie Burks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Sabu.
Sabu misses with a takedown
and Burks makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Sabu manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Burks on his heels. He'll look to pass Burks's guard now, I'm sure.
Burks throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Burks wants to get back to his feet but Sabu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burks striking off his back but it's not causing Sabu any problems.
Burks trying to strike off his back.

Burks pushes Sabu off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Burks fakes the leg kick and cracks Sabu in the body.
Sabu shoots in looking for a takedown but Burks manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sabu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Burks.
Burks throws a sloppy head kick and Sabu moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sabu shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sabu showed some decent athleticism there.
Burks pushes Sabu off looking to stand but Sabu dives back in and keeps control.
Burks is looking to improve his position.

Sabu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Burks is just riding it out for now. Sabu eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Archie Burks dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sabu takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Sabu fails with the takedown.
Sabu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burks sprawls well. Burks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sabu gets slowly back to his feet.
Sabu shoots for a double leg takedown but Burks sprawls well. He's pushed Sabu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Archie Burks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Sabu.

Burks shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sabu's guard.
Burks throwing strikes but missing.
Burks is working Sabu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sabu is breathing heavily.
Burks cracks Sabu with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burks throwing strikes from guard but Sabu blocks nicely.

Burks drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sabu looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sabu looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sabu!
Burks is looking for a sweep.
Sabu working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burks tries to escape but Sabu is in control.
Burks is trying to improve his position.
Burks is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Burks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sabu on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sabu is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Burks knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Burks tries to bench press Sabu off him but Sabu keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burks is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sabu has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Burks is looking for a sweep.

Sabu is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Burks knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Burks pushes Sabu away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sabu gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Archie Burks dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Burks lands a high kick!
Horrible takedown attempt by Sabu or perhaps it was just good defense by Burks, which made it look bad.
Sabu has his takedown stuffed
and Burks counters with an inside leg kick.
Sabu shoots in but Burks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Archie Burks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Sabu.
Sabu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Burks avoids it really well and circles away.
Will Sabu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burks thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sabu if he has to take too many more of those.
Burks throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sabu doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Burks holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sabu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Burks drags the fight down to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burks wants to stand and escape but Sabu is having none of it.

Sabu drops back, looking for a kneebar! Burks looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Burks looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Burks!
Burks wants to stand but Sabu has his arm trapped.
Sabu dodges the ground and pound from Burks.
Archie Burks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabu tries to bench press Burks off him but Burks keeps the position.
Sabu takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Burks tries to stand but Sabu is controlling his head.
Burks tries to score with some ground and pound. Sabu controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Burks is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sabu has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burks is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Burks cracks Sabu with a big right hand but Sabu just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

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.

Burks decides to stand back up.
Sabu with a lazy takedown attempt
and Burks counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sabu is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A solid leg kick lands there for Burks.

Burks closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sabu did well to prevent Burks getting side control.
Sabu keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sabu wants to sweep but Burks has passed to side control!
Burks controls the position from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Archie Burks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Burks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Archie Burks!