PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cristian Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bapu Burpha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Bapu Burpha was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tavares
vs
Burpha

173 cm
20
163 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
163 lbs
6 - 1 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Conviction
Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Victory Fight Wear Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cristian Tavares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Bapu Burpha!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Russell Pearce and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burpha attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We've been hearing reports that Tavares has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Burpha with a hook.
Burpha displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tavares throws out the jab.
Burpha was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Tavares on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Burpha throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Burpha scores with a spinning back kick!
That kick from Burpha tenderised Tavares's leg. Tavares is trying to keep his angry face on.
Burpha connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Burpha misses with a body shot.
Burpha throws a lazy body kick
and Burpha takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Burpha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tavares manages to avoid it.
Tavares is looking to counter the offense by Burpha and move into the clinch.
Tavares misses with a looping left.
Tavares throws a left and a right that both miss
and Burpha counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burpha connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burpha misses with a body shot.
Burpha thumps Tavares with a low kick.
Tavares ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burpha moves away.
Burpha plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Burpha throws a jab when Tavares was well out of range.
Tavares has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Burpha.
Bapu Burpha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burpha uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tavares.
Tavares chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Burpha can pounce on him.
Burpha throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Burpha misses the shot to the body.
Tavares throws a big counter combination but Burpha scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Burpha throws a quick inside leg kick.
Burpha connects with a high kick.

It looks like Cristian Tavares has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Burpha misses
and Tavares counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Burpha rushes Tavares and presses him up against the cage.
Burpha swings wildly with an uppercut but Tavares uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tavares misses with the head strike.
Burpha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tavares's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tavares tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tavares tries to pull guard but Burpha won't allow it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Burpha.
Burpha misses with some punches.
Tavares fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristian Tavares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burpha can't find room to land a body shot as Tavares controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burpha tries to throw a body punch but Tavares avoids it by throwing Burpha back against the cage.
Tavares misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Burpha.
Burpha lands with a left to the head.

Tavares pulls guard effortlessly.
Burpha sitting in guard here, content to control.

Tavares working for submissions but it's allowed Burpha to get to half guard.
Tavares is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tavares is controlling Burpha's trapped leg to prevent Burpha from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tavares looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tavares tries to roll over but Burpha keeps him under control.
Tavares regains full guard. Nicely done.
Burpha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tavares is keeping the position for now.

Tavares isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Burpha stacks Tavares on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Burpha!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bapu Burpha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cristian Tavares's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Burpha defending well as Tavares loads up on a big left hand.
Burpha doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Burpha darts in and clinches Tavares up against the cage.
Burpha lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tavares backwards.
Burpha misses with some punches.
Tavares misses with a punch to the body.
Tavares blocking some punches.
A short right from Burpha.
Tavares tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Burpha avoids it.
Burpha tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tavares jumps guard but Burpha stands there with Tavares around his waist. Tavares gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Burpha has a couple of punches blocked by Tavares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares tries to pull guard but Burpha holds him up against the cage and eventually Tavares drops back down to his feet.
Burpha misses with a punch to the body.
Burpha lands with a right to the head.
Tavares misses with an elbow over the top.
Tavares tries to stall but Burpha uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Burpha misses with a body punch.
Tavares blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tavares doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Burpha blocks an uppercut.
Bapu Burpha seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Burpha misses with a punch on the inside.
Tavares tries to pull guard but Burpha holds him up against the cage and eventually Tavares drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristian Tavares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice left hand lands by Burpha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burpha lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Burpha lands with a right to the head.
Burpha presses Tavares against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tavares can't find room to land a body shot as Burpha controls the action.
Burpha misses with a hook to the ribs.
Burpha blocks a body shot from Tavares.
Burpha misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Burpha.
Burpha lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Burpha misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burpha tries a body shot but Tavares blocks it.
Burpha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Burpha blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burpha tries to throw a body punch but Tavares avoids it by throwing Burpha back against the cage.
Burpha lands an uppercut.
Tavares tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Burpha lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tavares.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tavares just misses with a elbow thrown towards Burpha's brow.
A head punch on the inside from Burpha fails to land.
Tavares blocks a body shot from Burpha.
Tavares misses with a knee to the head.
Burpha lands a body shot.
Tavares takes a shot to the head.
Tavares is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Burpha to keep the fight standing.
Tavares tries to pull guard but Burpha holds him up against the cage and eventually Tavares drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burpha working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Burpha lands with a left to the head.
Tavares jumps guard but Burpha turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Burpha tries to throw a body punch but Tavares avoids it by throwing Burpha back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burpha.
Burpha scores with a shot to the side of Tavares's head.
Tavares is trying to pull guard but Burpha turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tavares struggles to land a body shot inside as Burpha controls his hands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burpha doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tavares jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Burpha walks away with a smile on his face. Tavares gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jab by Burpha.
Tavares looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bapu Burpha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cristian Tavares's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tavares takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Bapu Burpha seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Burpha closes the distance and clinches.
Burpha scores with a nice hook to the head.
Burpha tries a body shot but Tavares blocks it.
Tavares is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Burpha is defending well for now.
Burpha goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Burpha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tavares misses with a knee to the head.
Tavares misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burpha struggles to land a body shot inside as Tavares controls his hands.
Burpha lands with a light punch inside.
Tavares misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Burpha.
Burpha has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Burpha throws a punch but it's blocked by Tavares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burpha lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Burpha.
Burpha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Burpha lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Burpha can't find room to land a body shot as Tavares controls the action.
Tavares is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Burpha to keep the fight standing.
Tavares tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Burpha working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Burpha pushes Tavares back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Burpha - that landed with a thud.
Tavares jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Burpha walks away with a smile on his face. Tavares gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristian Tavares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burpha misses with a wild body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Burpha. That's going to slow Tavares down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burpha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burpha thumps Tavares with a low kick.
Burpha throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tavares on the side of the head.
Tavares throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burpha lands a jab to Tavares's midsection.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tavares.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Burpha - that will leave a mark!
Burpha scores with a leg kick.
Tavares throws a left and a right that both miss
and Burpha counters with a straight right hand.

Burpha pushes Tavares up against the cage in a clinch.
Burpha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Burpha tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tavares's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burpha lands with a right to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Burpha.
Burpha working aggressively here.
Burpha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Burpha lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tavares.
Burpha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Burpha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tavares blocks a body shot from Burpha.
Burpha lands with a light punch inside.
Tavares avoiding damage.
Burpha has a couple of punches blocked by Tavares.
Burpha works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burpha tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tavares's elbow.
Tavares swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Still in the clinch, Burpha scores with a nice short uppercut.
Burpha digs a right hand underneath Tavares's ribcage. Tavares let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Tavares jumps guard but Burpha stands there with Tavares around his waist. Tavares gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Burpha blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Burpha presses Tavares against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short right from Burpha on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Burpha.
Tavares blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cristian Tavares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burpha blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bapu Burpha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Burpha has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bapu Burpha!
A less than humble Bapu Burpha misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.