PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Svyatoslav Vakarchuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Mac Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burns has chosen as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Connor Mac Burns acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Vakarchuk
vs
Mac Burns

190 cm
25
250 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

189 cm
25
263 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Instinct

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Connor Mac Burns!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Burns.

It looks like Svyatoslav Vakarchuk has been cut.
Burns throws a left and a right that both miss

and Vakarchuk counters with a nice double leg into side control. Burns won't be happy with that.
Vakarchuk working the head with strikes.
Burns pushes Vakarchuk away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Vakarchuk gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Burns is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Vakarchuk 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.
Vakarchuk prevents Burns from escaping the position.
Vakarchuk is putting a hurting on Burns here, landing some big shots from side control.
Burns wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Vakarchuk throws an elbow but Burns slips to the side and avoids it well.

Vakarchuk thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Burns can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Burns might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Vakarchuk haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Burns is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Burns is trying to get back to his feet.
Vakarchuk in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Vakarchuk scoring with punches and elbows.
Vakarchuk is putting a hurting on Burns here, landing some big shots from side control.
Vakarchuk trying to control the position but Burns is working away.
Burns wants to get back to his feet but Vakarchuk drags him back down.
Burns felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
You can see the frustration on Burns's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Vakarchuk cracks Burns with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vakarchuk trying to control the action but Burns is working from the bottom.
Burns sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Vakarchuk prevents Burns from standing back up.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vakarchuk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Burns taking some punishment here, with Vakarchuk in his half guard.
Vakarchuk slips a nice elbow through Burns's hands, connecting with Burns's forehead.
Burns is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vakarchuk's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vakarchuk's back!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burns keeps control of the position as Vakarchuk tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Burns doesn't have the hooks in and Vakarchuk manages to turn into his guard.
Vakarchuk stops Burns from standing up.
Vakarchuk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burns is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vakarchuk lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vakarchuk won't allow Burns to get back to his feet.
Vakarchuk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burns swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burns looking to control.
Vakarchuk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burns is keeping the position for now.

Burns manages to escape and get back to his feet.
No joy there for Burns, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Connor Mac Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vakarchuk uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Burns.
Burns throws an off balance right hand

and Vakarchuk counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burns working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vakarchuk.
Vakarchuk not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Burns has his feet on Vakarchuk's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Vakarchuk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vakarchuk is looking for a counter combo.
Burns misses with a body punch

and Vakarchuk counters by clinching up.
Vakarchuk tries to pull guard but Burns holds him up against the cage and eventually Vakarchuk drops back down to his feet.
Burns tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Burns misses with a body punch.
Vakarchuk tries to pull guard but Burns won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Svyatoslav Vakarchuk's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Burns throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Vakarchuk on the side of the head.
Vakarchuk looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Burns lands a left and a right that sends Vakarchuk crashing to the canvas! Burns dives into mount looking to finish!

Vakarchuk is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Burns is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Oh Vakarchuk is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vakarchuk tries to get into range but Burns steps to the side and lands a beautiful hook that drops Vakarchuk! He's faceplanted into the mat, ass in the air... he's out cold! That's an image he won't want to show his grandkids when he gets older! Burns scores the big KO victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Connor Mac Burns!
Connor Mac Burns seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.