PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Finley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Bourne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Finley
vs
Bourne

184 cm
21
278 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

175 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Lawrence Finley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Liam Bourne!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bourne lands a nice shot to the body.
Bourne looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Bourne throws a sloppy head kick
and Finley counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Bourne closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Finley quickly recovers to half guard.

Finley looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Finley controlling the position well.
Finley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Finley trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourne wants to lay and pray for a moment but Finley keeps working.
Bourne is thwarting Finley's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finley moves into full guard.
Bourne tries to free his leg and advance position but Finley is retaining full guard.
Finley trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Finley is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Finley has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bourne fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Finley to the ground. Bourne is now in Finley's guard.
Finley throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Bourne being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourne working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Finley controls Bourne momentarily but Bourne frees himself.
Finley throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Finley is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bourne wants to control from the top but Finley keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Finley is trying to keep Bourne in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Finley could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Some wild striking there from Finley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bourne shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Finley is trying to defend but Bourne finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Finley keeping hold of Bourne's head, controlling as best he can.
Finley tries to get to full guard but Bourne has control of the leg.
Bourne not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Finley is trying to get back to full guard.
Bourne missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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.
Finley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bourne is working away from the top position though.
Finley is looking to improve his position.
Finley is concentrating on defense, preventing Bourne from advancing position.
Bourne wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Finley closes the distance and pushes Bourne back into the cage.
We've been informed that Bourne has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Bourne is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bourne doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Finley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Finley closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Finley has hold of one of Bourne's legs. Bourne is fighting the takedown attempt but Finley gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Bourne utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bourne controlling the position.
Finley preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Finley knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bourne on the ground.
Bourne is breathing heavily.
Finley stopping the sweep attempt from Bourne.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finley tries to stand but Bourne is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Finley is defended easily by Bourne.

Bourne drives through and clinches with Finley against the cage.
Finley is trying to force a seperation but Bourne has the dominant position.
Finley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Finley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lawrence Finley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Bourne closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Bourne is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Finley defends it well.
Finley keeping hold of Bourne's head, controlling as best he can.
Finley tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Finley misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Bourne is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Finley wants to get back to full guard.
Finley is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finley is looking to control Bourne's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Finley avoid being mounted?
Finley tries to roll over but Bourne keeps him under control.
Finley makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Finley.
Bourne trying to control the position from guard on top but Finley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Finley looking for a sweep. Not yet Finley, not yet.
Bourne in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bourne has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Finley. Bourne does a little dance to reset his feet.

Bourne decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finley trying to control from the bottom.
Finley is staying active underneath Bourne, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bourne throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Finley trying to control from the bottom.
Bourne tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Finley manages to get to full guard.
Bourne trying to control the position from guard on top but Finley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Finley throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Liam Bourne will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Finley fails with an attempt to clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Bourne. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Bourne looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bourne not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Finley is pressing down on Bourne's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Finley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Finley lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

Finley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Finley doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourne throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Finley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Finley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Finley manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bourne manages to get himself to full guard.

Liam Bourne has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finley landing with the ground and pound.

Bourne working for submissions but it's allowed Finley to get to half guard.
Bourne is trying to maintain the position but Finley is very close to passing his half guard.
Finley is nestled in close to Bourne, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bourne blocking the ground and pound attempt from Finley.
Bourne blocking the ground and pound attempt from Finley.
Bourne misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Finley landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Finley throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Finley closes the distance and pushes Bourne back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Finley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bourne swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Finley counters with a three punch combo that has Bourne backing up. Bourne nods at Finley to acknowledge the strikes.

Bourne gets caught flat footed, as Finley shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bourne not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Finley has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Finley with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bourne wants to get back to his feet but Finley is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Finley postures up.

Bourne looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Liam Bourne is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finley won't allow Bourne to sweep him here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Finley postures up and lands a big shot to Bourne's brow.

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

Finley rushes Bourne and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Finley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bourne has him pressed against the cage.
Bourne keeps control of Finley as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Finley trying to land knees to the body.

Finley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lawrence Finley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Finley connects with a leg kick. Bourne looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lawrence Finley showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bourne has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liam Bourne!