PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marian Balkon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brady Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burns has chosen Oró Sé do Bheath Abhaile as his entrance music. Brady Burns acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Balkon
vs
Burns

184 cm
25
191 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

186 cm
26
187 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marian Balkon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brady Burns!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balkon on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Burns misses with a leg kick.
Balkon thows a left - swing and a miss!
Burns connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Balkon tries to clinch there but Burns circles away.
Balkon misses with a straight right.
A lazy left from Balkon finds it's target.
Balkon misses with a hook.
Burns throws a one two combo.
Balkon wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Balkon.
Burns lands a nice hook to Balkon's body. Balkon takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Burns avoids a punch combination nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burns tries to land a leg kick but Balkon saw it coming and moves away.
Balkon takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkon throws a hook but Burns avoids it easily.
Burns gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Burns throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Balkon misses with a looping right.
Burns replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Balkon blocks it well.
Burns circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab from Burns finds it's way through Balkon's defenses.
Burns throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Balkon.

It looks like Marian Balkon has been cut.
Burns smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Balkon connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Balkon throws a hook but Burns avoids it easily.
Balkon swings widly with a right hand
and Burns cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Burns tries a head kick but it misses.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Burns has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Balkon misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Balkon throws a lazy right hand but Burns sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balkon works the jab nicely.
Balkon paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns throws a push kick but Balkon slaps the foot to one side.
Balkon appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Balkon. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Balkon.
Burns misses with a hook.
Balkon takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Burns lands a jab.
Burns ducks under a wild hook from Balkon.
Balkon throws a hook but Burns avoids it easily.
Burns thows a body kick. Balkon tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Nice defenses there by Burns.
Balkon takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Burns connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Balkon's hands.
Burns bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Burns is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Balkon had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Balkon catches Burns with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Balkon misses with a looping left.
Balkon connects with a body shot that sends Burns's belly button to the back.
Burns misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkon slips a straight right by Burns.
Burns throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Balkon counters with a stiff right hand.
Balkon moves out of range of the body kick from Burns.
Burns scores with a spinning back kick!
Burns throws a lazy right hand but Balkon sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balkon throws a nice looking combination but Burns bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Burns throws out a loose jab but Balkon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burns uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balkon.
Balkon ducks under a wild hook from Burns.
Balkon rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Burns counters with a nice leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Burns.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Burns. Balkon shrugs it off though.
Balkon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Balkon lands with a good body shot.
Balkon swings for the body but Burns moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balkon throws a lazy right hand but Burns sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Burns only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Balkon.
Balkon lands with a good body shot.
Balkon misses with a straight right.
Balkon checks the leg kick.
Balkon throws a hook but Burns blocks it.
Balkon misses with a jab, cross combination.
Burns uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Burns throws a lazy body kick
and Balkon cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Burns misses with a looping right.
Balkon slips under a jab.
Balkon is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Burns misses with a straight right.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Balkon throws a lazy right hand but Burns sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balkon tries to clinch up but Burns circles away and keeps his distance.
Balkon tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brady Burns will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marian Balkon's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A punch combination from Balkon misses.
Balkon sizes up Burns with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Burns slips under a jab from Balkon.
Balkon ducks under a wild hook from Burns.
A little feinted left hand from Balkon on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Balkon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Burns moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Brady Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Balkon is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Burns.
Balkon connects with a nice looking jab.
Balkon rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Burns counters with a right hand to the body.
Burns throws a jab when Balkon was well out of range.
Balkon misses with an uppercut.
Burns is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns throws a hook but Balkon avoids it easily.
Jab by Burns.
Burns throws out a loose jab but Balkon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balkon throws a counter high kick but Burns was just alert enough to avoid it.
Brady Burns seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balkon swings for the body but Burns moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A looping hook to the body misses from Burns. Balkon does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Burns misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balkon.
A chopping leg kick lands by Burns.
Balkon misses with a wild body shot.
Burns keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Burns looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Burns lands a slapping body shot.
Burns slips under a jab.
Balkon moves away from the strike by Burns.
Burns throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Burns connects with a body shot that sends Balkon's belly button to the back.
Balkon throws a hook but Burns avoids it easily.
Balkon ducks right into an uppercut from Burns.
Balkon misses the jab.
Burns ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Burns throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A little feinted left hand from Balkon on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Burns takes a swing at Balkon's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkon on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Burns misses with a body shot.
Balkon uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice defenses there by Burns.
Balkon misses with a few strikes there.
It seemed like Burns was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Burns missing with a left hand there. Balkon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Burns is looking to land body kicks.
Burns turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Balkon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Burns moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab from Burns.
Burns throws a poor cross that misses
and Balkon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Balkon lands a really nice looking cross but Burns seems unphased.
Good exchange - Burns coming out on top.
Balkon lands a glancing blow to the side of Burns's head.
Burns throws a lazy head kick
and Balkon connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Burns lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Balkon waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Burns.
Balkon needs to keep his hands up - Burns had a free shot at his head there.
Balkon moves out of range as Burns strikes.
Burns fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Balkon.
A big right from Balkon misses.
Balkon throws out a powerful jab.
Burns thuds a left hand into Balkon's body.
Balkon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burns paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burns missing with a left hand there. Balkon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Burns ducks right into an uppercut from Balkon.
Balkon cracks Burns with an open hand slap.
Balkon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Burns swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As Balkon backs off Burns throws a huge counter combo but Balkon manages to avoid it all.
Burns moves out of range as Balkon strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Burns throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Balkon swings for the body but Burns moves out of range.
Balkon takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burns throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Burns takes a swing at Balkon's ribcage but misses.
Balkon walks into a jab.
Burns has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Burns, as that shot connected.
Burns throws a push kick but Balkon slaps the foot to one side.
Balkon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balkon loads up on a big right hand but Burns slips the punch.
Burns misses with a straight left.
Burns blocks a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balkon swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Burns counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Balkon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Burns.
Balkon blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brady Burns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marian Balkon's cut.
That's time! Balkon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Burns lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Burns throws a leg kick
and Balkon counters with a three punch combo that has Burns backing up. Burns nods at Balkon to acknowledge the strikes.
Balkon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burns moves away.
Burns throws an overhand right that lands on Balkon's shoulder, as Balkon tries to avoid the shot.
Balkon will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Balkon lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Balkon scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Balkon misses with a left hand
and Burns counters with a straight right hand.
Burns moves out of range as Balkon strikes.
Burns scores with a jab. Balkon acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Balkon swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Burns slips under a jab.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Burns - that will leave a mark!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balkon with a nice cross.
Balkon throws a body punch but Burns moves out of range.
Balkon is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Burns throws a front kick that sends Balkon stumbling back into the cage.
Balkon throws a hook but Burns avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Burns throws a jab but it's blocked by Balkon.
Burns tries a head kick but it misses.
Balkon is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Burns throws a body shot but no joy.
Balkon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Balkon throws a body punch but Burns moves out of range.
Balkon throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Burns sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Burns lands with a kick to the ribs.
Burns connects with a good right hand that stumbles Balkon. Balkon circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Balkon throws a hook but Burns avoids it easily.
Burns throws out a counter right but Balkon avoids it with no problem.
Burns slips a straight right by Balkon.
Burns slips under a jab.
And Burns responds with a good body kick, but Balkon manages to step out the way in time.
Marian Balkon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns misses with the body kick
and Burns takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balkon throws a series of punches but Burns moves out of range.
Burns lands with a hook. Balkon tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balkon misses with a wild combination.
Balkon looks to land a right hand but Burns moved out of range.
Balkon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A big left from Balkon misses.
Balkon throws a sloppy head kick and Burns moves out of range easily.
Balkon is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Burns.
Balkon wants to clinch up but Burns keeps it at a distance.
Balkon walks into a jab.
Balkon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burns moves away.
Balkon throws a head kick that misses.
Balkon fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkon throws a series of punches but Burns avoids them all with ease.
Balkon takes one on the button.
Burns fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Balkon looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Balkon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burns misses with a kick to the body
letting Balkon counter with a right hand.
Burns cracks Balkon with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Burns bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Balkon's head.
Burns ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balkon takes a swing at Burns's ribcage but misses.
Balkon throws a sloppy body shot
and Burns counters with a stiff right hand.
Burns connects with a looping right hand.
Balkon lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balkon takes one to the side of the head.
Burns fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Balkon on the side of the head.

Balkon is rocked!
Balkon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns throws a lazy right hand but Balkon sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balkon appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Burns uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balkon.
A solid leg kick lands there for Burns.
Burns throws a body punch but Balkon moves out of range.
Balkon doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Burns works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Balkon gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Burns.
Oh Balkon is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Balkon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Balkon seems to have got his legs back now.
Balkon tries to bum rush Burns with a series of wild strikes but Burns uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Burns lands with a hook. Balkon tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Burns lands with a kick to the temple. Balkon shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balkon closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Balkon misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brady Burns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Burns 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brady Burns!