PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saem Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saem Black is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Black
vs
Burns

185 cm
21
220 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

185 cm
22
214 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saem Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denis Burns!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns shoots in looking for a takedown. Black tries to sprawl out of it but Burns keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Black manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Black attempts a counter takedown but Burns avoids it well and moves away.
Burns misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Black half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Denis Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns throws a jab but it's blocked by Black.

Burns clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burns breaks the clinch.
Burns lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Burns instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Burns.

Burns pulls guard successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Burns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Black gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Black has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Black engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Burns is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Burns looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two 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.
Black chips away with some ground and pound.

Burns has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Black can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Burns working for a triangle but Black defends it easily.
Black preventing the sweep.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Black is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns moves into range and clinches up with Black.

Burns manages to pull guard.

Black got a little sloppy there for a moment and Burns has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Black has managed to get both his arms back between Burns's legs - danger averted.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Burns can do anything to dispel that myth.
Black preventing the sweep.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Burns has wrist control.
Black is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burns works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black is working Burns over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Black postures up in Burns's guard and throws a big left but Burns blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Burns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Black gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burns works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Burns dominated that 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.

Burns wants to clinch up but Black keeps it at a distance.
Burns darts in looking for a takedown but Black gets double underhooks and turns Burns into the cage.
Black drops down looking for a counter takedown but Burns sprawls and moves away.
Black stuffs the takedown.
Black appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A telegraphed right hand from Burns misses the target.

Burns moves into the clinch.
Burns makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black is working for takedown but Burns is calmly controlling the position for now.
Burns trying to land knees to the body.
Burns missing with knees to the body.
Black tries to pull guard but Burns holds him up against the cage and eventually Black drops back down to his feet.
Black tries to pull guard but Burns holds him up against the cage and eventually Black drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saem Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Burns just stands there and leans against the cage.
Burns lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Saem Black has been cut.
Burns lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Black tries to pull guard but Burns forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Black jumps guard but Burns stands there with Black around his waist. Black gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Burns obliges.
Burns misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Black.
Black avoids the elbow strike from Burns, against the cage.

Burns turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Burns manages to end up in side control.
Black parries the strikes from Burns easily there. Burns is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Black to escape.
Burns in the domination position with Black hanging on.
Burns wants to control but Black is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns working the body and head with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black is not content to let Burns control the position.
Black can't do much from the bottom here.
Burns in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns in side control lands a decent elbow.
Burns landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Burns working away.
Black sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Burns seems to be looking for submissions.
Black is not content to let Burns control the position.
Burns missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Black is refusing to be controlled, as Burns sits in half guard.
Black on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Burns has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Burns is nestled in close to Black, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Black keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Burns wants to take a breather but Black is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Burns displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Burns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Saem Black's cut.
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!

Black uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burns.
Burns lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Black walks forward, straight into a front kick from Burns.
Burns throws a series of strikes that have Black backpedaling.

Burns darts in and clinches Black up against the cage.
Black is working for takedown but Burns is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burns breaks the clinch.
Burns throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Black's waist but Black gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Burns off to one side.
Nice uppercut lands for Burns. That snapped Black's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns tries for a takedown but Black circles away easily

and Black counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Burns!
Black scores with punches from side control.
Black working away.
Black is looking to take a break and control but Burns is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burns takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Black working the head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns tries to improve position but can't.
Check out the look on Black's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Burns wants to control but Black postures up.
Burns taking a bit of punishment here - Black scoring with strikes.
Black is putting a hurting on Burns here, landing some big shots from side control.
Black scores with a couple of short elbows.

Burns is rocked!
Black scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Burns is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Black can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Saem Black!