PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Winston Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janius Pekkiz (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.

Burns
vs
Pekkiz

199 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Winston Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Janius Pekkiz!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Burns wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pekkiz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Burns fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Pekkiz drives through and clinches with Burns against the cage.
Burns gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pekkiz.
Burns is struggling to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pekkiz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns stalling the fight.

Pekkiz manages to break the clinch.
Pekkiz scores with a kick to the body.

Pekkiz clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Burns's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pekkiz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Winston Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janius Pekkiz.
Pekkiz fails to pull guard.
Pekkiz can't get the takedown.
Burns is trying to break free.
Burns really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pekkiz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Burns gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns is trying to break the clinch but Pekkiz has him pressed against the cage.
Pekkiz tries to throw a body punch but Burns avoids it by throwing Pekkiz back against the cage.
Burns slows down the pace here.
Pekkiz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Burns looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Burns wants to break the clinch but can't.
Burns dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pekkiz can't get the takedown.
Burns gets underhooks to prevent Pekkiz's takedown attempt.

Pekkiz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pekkiz throws a combination that misses
and Burns counters with a low kick, right behind Pekkiz 's knee.

Burns is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pekkiz's half guard.
Pekkiz looks winded!
Burns lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pekkiz wants to get back to full guard.
Burns will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pekkiz is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Burns missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Burns drops an elbow to the side of Pekkiz's head.
Burns throwing shots but Pekkiz is blocking nicely.
Burns lands strikes from half guard.
Pekkiz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burns seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Burns is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winston Burns dominated that round.
That's time! Burns's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pekkiz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pekkiz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Burns.

Pekkiz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pekkiz trying to control from half guard but Burns is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Burns pushes Pekkiz off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkiz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Burns as he avoids it easily.
Burns appears to be looking for a big counter.
Pekkiz is breathing heavily.
Pekkiz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pekkiz throws a lazy head kick
and Burns makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Burns 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Burns's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Burns scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Burns postures up in Pekkiz's guard and throws a big left but Pekkiz blocks it.
Pekkiz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Burns is working Pekkiz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pekkiz has a closed guard, preventing Burns from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns is in close to Pekkiz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Burns working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Burns connects with a couple of short punches.
Burns throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pekkiz wants to control the position but Burns says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Burns lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burns scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Burns scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Burns lands a nice short elbow.
Burns lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pekkiz taking some punishment here, with Burns in his half guard.
Winston Burns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burns is nestled in close to Pekkiz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Burns escapes and gets back to his feet.

Burns changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pekkiz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Burns lands an elbow.
Check out the look on Burns's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Burns lands an elbow.
Burns has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns scores with a couple of short elbows.
Burns working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Burns grinds an elbow into Pekkiz's temple.
Burns is putting a hurting on Pekkiz here, landing some big shots from side control.
Burns is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pekkiz can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pekkiz is trying to work for a sweep but Burns has mounted him!
Burns looking to finish Pekkiz with some ground and pound. This is bad for Pekkiz!
Burns putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Burns raining down hammerfists from mount.
Burns with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winston Burns dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Burns scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burns is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Burns lands a nice short elbow.
Burns seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Burns slips a nice elbow through Pekkiz's hands, connecting with Pekkiz's forehead.
Pekkiz is looking for a sweep. Burns is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Burns thows a huge punch but Pekkiz dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Burns working Pekkiz over with strikes.
Pekkiz is looking for a sweep. Burns is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pekkiz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkiz trying to control but Burns postures up.
Burns lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ground and pound from Burns.

Pekkiz actively working from the bottom here.
Pekkiz is trying to maintain the position but Burns is very close to passing his half guard.
Burns takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Burns looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Burns landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Burns slips a nice elbow through Pekkiz's hands, connecting with Pekkiz's forehead.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Burns connects with a nice short shot to Pekkiz's temple.
Burns is nestled in close to Pekkiz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Burns lands strikes from half guard.
Burns looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Burns decides to return to a standing position.

Burns closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pekkiz to the mat! Pekkiz manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pekkiz is working an open guard so Burns takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Burns shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Burns showed some decent athleticism there.
Burns is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Burns looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pekkiz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Burns working Pekkiz over with strikes.
Ground and pound from Burns.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pekkiz is looking to control Burns's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pekkiz avoid being mounted?
Burns seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Burns lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Burns lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burns lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Janius Pekkiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Winston Burns is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Burns looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Winston Burns showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Burns 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Winston Burns!