PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bernard Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Burchett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Russel
vs
Burchett

170 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bernard Russel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tyler Burchett!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burchett will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Burchett misses with a body kick.

Russel darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russel trying to control the action but Burchett is working from the bottom.
Russel content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Russel prevents Burchett from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Russel there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burchett has hold of Russel's hands but Russel slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Russel is looking to advance position but Burchett won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burchett misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Russel working over Burchett with some ground and pound. Burchett looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Russel is keen to just control but Burchett is a slippery customer.
Russel slips a nice elbow through Burchett's hands, connecting with Burchett's forehead.

Russel is working for a kimura but Burchett is defending it quite comfortably.
Russel slips a nice elbow through Burchett's hands, connecting with Burchett's forehead.
Burchett pushes Russel off looking to stand but Russel dives back in and keeps control.
Russel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Russel takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Russel working over Burchett with some ground and pound. Burchett looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel wants to control but Burchett is keeping him busy.
Russel is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Burchett!
Russel lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Russel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Burchett is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Burchett is desperately trying to improve his position but Russel has a good base and remains in mount.
Russel looking to control but Burchett is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Russel pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Russel 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.
Russel working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Russel jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Burchett manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Russel working the ground and pound from side control.
Russel working the head with strikes.
Burchett struggling a bit here.
Burchett is not content to let Russel control the position.
Russel landing a few strikes.
A lull in the action here as Russel stalls from top position.
Burchett takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burchett stops Russel from passing to mount.
Russel lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
You can see the frustration on Burchett's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Russel wants to control but Burchett is keeping him busy.
Russel working the head with strikes.
Russel trying to control the position but Burchett is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Russel shoots in and bounces Burchett off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Russel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bernard Russel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Russel scoring with some ground and pound.
Russel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Russel landing with the ground and pound.
Burchett keeping moving, preventing Russel from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel lands a couple of digs.
Russel landing some decent shots from guard.
Russel stands and throws Burchett's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Russel working the body and head with strikes.
Russel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burchett can do to turn this around?
Russel cracks Burchett with a big right hand but Burchett just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Russel takes a little break here. Burchett wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Russel in side control lands a decent elbow.
Russel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burchett keeps working.
Russel works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel cracks Burchett with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Russel landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Burchett taking a bit of punishment here - Russel scoring with strikes.
Burchett taking punishment in the form of punches.
Russel is looking to take a break and control but Burchett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Russel working the ground and pound.
Burchett has one of Russel's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Burchett is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Russel has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Check out the look on Russel's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burchett tries to buck Russel off but Russel is having none of it.
Burchett prevents Russel from moving into mount.
Russel in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Russel is looking to take a break and control but Burchett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burchett is looking to regain half guard here but Russel keeps moving and retains side control.

Russel tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Russel in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel in side control lands a decent elbow.
Russel lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
A lull in the action here.
Burchett tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Russel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Russel working the body and head with strikes.
Russel wants to control but Burchett is keeping him busy.
Russel landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Russel grinds an elbow into Burchett's temple.
Russel lands an elbow.
Russel taking a break here but Burchett is having none of it and regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Russel dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Burchett closes the distance looking to clinch

and Russel counters with a single leg into guard. Burchett didn't expect that.
Russel engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Russel is looking to work some ground and pound but Burchett has wrist control.
Burchett can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Russel controls the pace.

Burchett looking for a guillotine here but Russel defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russel postures up and lands a big shot to Burchett's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Burchett tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Burchett is trying to control the position but Russel postures up.
Russel scoring with some ground and pound.
Russel is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Russel working some strikes from top position.
Russel slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Russel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Burchett's head.
Russel trying to control the position from guard on top but Burchett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Russel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Russel is working Burchett over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Russel working some strikes from top position.
Russel scoring with punches to the head and body.
Russel prevents Burchett from getting back to his feet.
Russel 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.
Russel lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burchett working a defensive guard here.
Russel lands a couple of elbows.
Russel cracks Burchett with a solid left hand.
Russel with a nice head shot there.
Russel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Russel connects with a couple of short punches.
Russel trying to control but Burchett is working from the bottom.
Burchett keeping full guard, as Russel tries to pass.
Burchett wants to sweep but no luck.
Burchett takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Russel's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burchett has momentary wrist control but Russel slips an elbow through the middle.
Russel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Burchett keeping moving, preventing Russel from controlling successfully.
Russel with a nice head shot there.
Burchett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russel's guard.

Russel seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Russel wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Russel managing to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernard Russel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Russel 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernard Russel!