PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Wates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burke is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. George Wates will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Burke
vs
Wates

183 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Gilbert Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, George Wates!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wates misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Burke is breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Burke as Wates shoots in.
Wates tries to clinch but Burke moves out of range.
As Wates looks to move away, Burke throws a big counter combo bu Wates just gets out of the way.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wates is defended easily by Burke.
Wates tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burke paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wates shoots in looking for a takedown but Burke manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wates's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wates looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gilbert Burke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Wates.
Wates shoots in but Burke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wates has a takedown stuffed.
Burke attempts a counter takedown but Wates avoids it well and moves away.
Burke stuffs the takedown attempt from Wates. Wates gets slowly back to his feet.
Burke is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wates tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
George Wates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wates misses with a kick to the body

and Burke counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wates is trying to control but can't.
Wates is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wates avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Burke.
Wates wants to improve his position but Burke is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wates regains full guard. Nicely done.
Wates is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burke is controlling him.
Wates not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Burke looking to sit in guard and control but Wates gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wates thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Wates working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wates controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Wates trying to control but Burke is working from the bottom.
Wates sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wates fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Burke avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four 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.
Wates misses with a takedown attempt - Burke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wates swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Burke seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Wates looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Burke is fending him off so far but Wates persists. Nope, Burke circles away and we're back to standing.
Wates fails with a takedown attempt.
Burke wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Wates shoots in looking for a takedown. Burke tries to sprawl out of it but Wates keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Burke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As Wates tries to get set, Burke tries to push him back and clinch up but Wates manages to avoid the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Burke dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wates shoots in but Burke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Burke tries to counter by clinching up but Wates breaks away and moves out of range.
Wates throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Burke wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Burke tries to clinch but Wates moves out of range.
Wates tries to clinch there but Burke circles away.
Burke is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Wates.

Wates darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Wates is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Burke defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burke wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wates lands strikes from half guard.
Wates tries to stand and escape but Burke is controlling the position.
Burke is not content to let Wates control the position.
Wates landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Wates stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Wates shoots in for a takedown but Burke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Burke tries to counter with a takedown but Wates is quick to defend against it.
Wates shoots in for a double leg but Burke sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gilbert Burke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Wates.
Wates tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burke defends well and Wates ends up having to push Burke into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Wates. That snapped Burke's head back.

It looks like Gilbert Burke has been cut.
Burke avoids the head kick by Wates.
Wates Rushes Burke and starts throwing punches like they are going out of style! Burke is up against the cage and has nowhere to go. Wates Piles on the pressure and Burke crumples to the floor! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). George Wates!