PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Todd Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Burgess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Halls of Montezuma. Todd Smith had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Smith
vs
Burgess

189 cm
26
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Machiavelli Boutique

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 New York, Todd Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tyler Burgess!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, David Schapiro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss

and Burgess counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
Burgess tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Burgess on the ground.
Burgess is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Smith will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Burgess is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Burgess is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smith knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burgess tries to score with some ground and pound. Smith controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess happy to just control the position for now.
Smith tries to improve position but can't.
Smith is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Smith prevents Burgess from improving position.
Smith is not content to let Burgess control the position.
Smith holds on to Burgess's head and controls the position momentarily.
Smith is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at School of Hard Knocks that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Burgess creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burgess creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Burgess tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Burgess has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Burgess tries to advance to mount but Smith denies him.

Burgess is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smith knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smith is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Burgess asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Burgess is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.
Burgess has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad Amsterdam. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith tries to escape but Burgess is in control.

Burgess swings around for an armbar but Smith sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Burgess's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Burgess can do anything to dispel that myth.

Burgess working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working Burgess over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Burgess looking to control.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith trying to control but Burgess is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Burgess dominated that 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.

The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burgess but Burgess pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Burgess sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Smith throws a combination that misses

and Burgess counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Smith pushes Burgess off and gets back to his feet.
Smith lands with a shot to the body.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Burgess working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Burgess regains half guard.

Smith stands up from half guard.
Burgess stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Burgess wants it to stay on the feet.
Burgess tries to counter with a clinch but Smith shakes him off and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Todd Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.
Burgess blocks a head kick by Smith.
Burgess fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Burgess with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a left and a right that stings Burgess.
Nice takedown defense from Burgess. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Burgess steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Smith.
Burgess stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A lazy body kick from Smith

and Burgess counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Smith pulls guard.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Burgess drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Burgess jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Burgess's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Burgess throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burgess throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burgess passes Smith's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith is staying active underneath Burgess, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Burgess working Smith over with strikes.
Burgess throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Burgess tries to stand but can't do so whilst Smith controls his leg.

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.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Burgess not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
It looks like Burgess is going to stand back up.
Smith is not content to let Burgess control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Burgess keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith shoots in but Burgess avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Burgess is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Burgess displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Burgess tries to counter by closing the distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Todd Smith will probably get the nod.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burgess sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burgess sprawls well. Burgess wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith wants to clinch up but Burgess keeps it at a distance.
Burgess appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Burgess takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Burgess feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Burgess changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Smith pushes Burgess off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burgess shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burgess but Burgess pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Burgess drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Smith defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Todd Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Burgess clinches up with Smith and pushes him back against the cage.

Burgess is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Smith can't fight it off and eventually Burgess manages to take the fight to the floor. Smith looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burgess trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Burgess works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burgess thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Burgess is taking a breather. Smith says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Burgess not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Burgess is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Burgess is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Smith is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tyler Burgess!