PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Normand Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maurice Biek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Biek has chosen holiday as his entrance music. Maurice Biek has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Burns
vs
Biek

150 cm
20
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

189 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Normand Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Maurice Biek!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Biek rushes Burns and presses him up against the cage.
Biek utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Biek using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Biek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Biek moves into the clinch.

Biek successfully pulls guard.
Biek looking for a sweep. Not yet Biek, not yet.
Burns missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Burns wanted to stand there but Biek had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Biek lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Biek looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Biek working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Biek loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Burns could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

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

Biek rushes Burns and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Biek.

Biek breaks from the clinch.
Biek has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Burns is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Biek has Burns up against the cage in a clinch.

Biek jumps guard.
Burns would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Biek bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burns's guard.

Biek passes Burns's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Biek throwing shots but Burns is blocking nicely.
Biek sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Burns defending well though.

Biek stands up out of the half guard.
Biek shoots in but no luck this time.
Burns attempts a counter takedown but Biek avoids it well and moves away.
Biek tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Burns swivels and escapes.
Burns feinted with a counter takedown.
Biek looks winded!

Biek moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Biek lands a knee to the head.
Burns working Biek over with knees to the body.
Burns lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Biek backwards.
Biek's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Burns utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Burns makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Burns is stalling here.

Biek has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Burns uses from the top position.
Biek looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns won't allow Biek to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burns wanted to stand there but Biek had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Burns stands and steps away. Biek gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Biek fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burns, pushing him back against the cage.
Biek with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurice Biek dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Burns gets a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Burns works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Biek has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Biek lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Normand Burns has been cut.
Burns misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Biek breaks the clinch.
Biek stuffs the takedown attempt from Burns. Burns gets slowly back to his feet.
Biek dives in for a single leg takedown but Burns sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Biek.

Biek fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burns, pushing him back against the cage.
Burns working aggressively here.
Biek blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Biek breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Biek clinches up with Burns and pushes him back against the cage.
Biek with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Biek's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Biek fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burns, pushing him back against the cage.

Biek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Biek with that takedown attempt.
Burns throws a quick counter kick to the body but Biek avoids it.
Biek is breathing heavily.
Burns will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Biek has Burns up against the cage in a clinch.
Biek lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns is looking to control Biek's arms but Biek gets an underhook and turns him. Now Burns has his back to the cage.

Biek jumps guard.
Biek wants to sweep here but Burns controlling him for the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Biek holds on and takes a little breather.
Burns wants to stand but Biek is controlling his posture from full guard.
Maurice Biek has got the better of the ground game so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Biek is on top in guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burns looking to hit a scissor sweep but Biek is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Biek trying to control but Burns is working from the bottom.
Biek postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Biek working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Biek is looking to stand up but Burns won't let him.
Biek wants to control from the top but Burns keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Normand Burns is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Biek throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burns's waist but Burns gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Biek off to one side.
Burns feinted with a counter takedown.
Normand Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maurice Biek.

Burns gets tackled into the cage by Biek. Biek maintains the clinch.
Burns looking for a takedown.
Burns is trying to maintain a safe position but Biek gets an underhook and turns Burns into the cage.
Burns tries to pull guard but Biek won't allow it.
Biek crunches a lovely knee into Burns's ribcage.
Biek lands a knee to the body.
Burns being controlled against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burns trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurice Biek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Normand Burns's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Biek moves into the clinch.
Biek tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Burns smiles and moves away.

Biek moves into range and clinches up with Burns.
Biek lands a damaging elbow.

Biek decides to pull guard.
Burns wants to get up but he can't break Biek's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Burns might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Biek trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Biek wants to sweep here but Burns controlling him for the moment.
Biek is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Burns dives into side control.
Burns misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Biek tries to improve position but can't.
Burns working away.
Biek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Biek might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Burns haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Biek is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Burns lands some shots froms side control.

Burns stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Maurice Biek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Biek scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Biek takes the fight into the clinch.
Burns has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Biek avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Burns dodges an elbow strike from Biek.
Burns using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Biek has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Biek lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Maurice Biek seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Biek manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Biek tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burns sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Biek somewhat.

Biek has managed to clinch.
Burns tries to land knees in the clinch but Biek avoids the damage to the body.
Biek jumps guard but Burns stands there with Biek around his waist. Biek gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Normand Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maurice Biek.
Biek tries to circle away but Burns has him pinned against the cage.
Biek is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Burns is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Burns looking to stall.
Biek is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Burns tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Biek's elbow.
Burns holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Biek lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Burns wants to stall.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Burns just misses with a elbow thrown towards Biek's brow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burns jumps guard but Biek turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Normand Burns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maurice Biek is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Knees to the body from Biek.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maurice Biek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Biek 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maurice Biek!
Our winner, Maurice Biek, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.