PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Toledo Di Villiers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Burgess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Toledo Di Villiers has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Di Villiers
vs
Burgess

218 cm
18
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
227 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Toledo Di Villiers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Richard Burgess!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Darius Henderson and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burgess scores with a three punch combo!
Toledo Di Villiers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Di Villiers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Burgess counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nice takedown defense from Burgess. No joy for Di Villiers on that attempt.
Di Villiers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Burgess counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toledo Di Villiers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Di Villiers shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Di Villiers was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Burgess bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Di Villiers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Burgess counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Di Villiers is breathing heavily.

Burgess scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Di Villiers looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Di Villiers is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Burgess pulls his head out easily.
Burgess slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Di Villiers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Di Villiers looking for submissions off his back.
Di Villiers is not content to let Burgess control the position.
Burgess thows a huge punch but Di Villiers dodges it nicely.
Burgess trying to control the action but Di Villiers is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Burgess decides to stand and escape the position.
Burgess dives in and grabs Di Villiers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Di Villiers pushes down on Burgess's head and hops out.

Di Villiers gets a double leg takedown into Burgess's guard.
Di Villiers makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Di Villiers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Di Villiers is looking to work some ground and pound but Burgess has wrist control.
Di Villiers missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Di Villiers connects with a couple of short punches.

Di Villiers gets to his feet. Burgess looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Burgess tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Di Villiers defends well and Burgess ends up having to push Di Villiers into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Di Villiers shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Di Villiers showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess has hold of Di Villiers's hands but Di Villiers slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Di Villiers wants to control but Burgess is keeping him busy.
Di Villiers thows a huge punch but Burgess dodges it nicely.

Burgess looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Di Villiers thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Burgess's head.

Di Villiers is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Burgess is just riding it out for now. Di Villiers eventually gives up the hold.
Di Villiers misses with a head shot. Burgess uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Di Villiers drops back, looking for a kneebar! Burgess looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Burgess looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Burgess!

Di Villiers tries to escape but Burgess is in control.
You can see the frustration on Di Villiers's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Di Villiers is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Burgess dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Burgess sizes up Di Villiers with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Di Villiers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Di Villiers tries to clinch up.
Di Villiers shoots and misses
and Burgess counters with a nice uppercut.
Di Villiers shoots in for a takedown but Burgess shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toledo Di Villiers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burgess tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Di Villiers paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burgess wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Di Villiers misses with a takedown
and Burgess counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice combination there by Burgess.

Di Villiers is rocked!

Burgess instigates a clinch.
Oh Di Villiers is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Burgess has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Burgess pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Di Villiers seems to have got his legs back now.
A shot to the liver by Burgess. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Di Villiers tries to keep at a distance but Burgess has taken the fight into the clinch.
Di Villiers prevents the takedown attempt.
Di Villiers stops a takedown attempt from Burgess.
Burgess blocks a body shot from Di Villiers.
Burgess wants to break free but Di Villiers has control.
Burgess wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Burgess is looking to break free of the clinch but Di Villiers has double underhooks.
Di Villiers prevents a takedown attempt there.

Di Villiers wants the takedown. Burgess is fighting it off but Di Villiers persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Burgess's guard against the cage.
Toledo Di Villiers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Di Villiers trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Di Villiers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burgess has momentary wrist control but Di Villiers slips an elbow through the middle.

Burgess is working an open guard so Di Villiers takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Burgess. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Di Villiers tries to clinch up
and Burgess counters with a series of strikes. Di Villiers will be more careful next time no doubt.
Di Villiers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Burgess counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Di Villiers shoots and misses

and Burgess counters by moving into the clinch.
Di Villiers is looking for a takedown.
Burgess prevents a body shot from Di Villiers.
Burgess blocks a body shot from Di Villiers.
Di Villiers tries for a takedown but Burgess manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess is trying to stall.
Di Villiers goes for a takedown attempt but Burgess pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Di Villiers displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Burgess.
Di Villiers takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Di Villiers feints and as Burgess raises his hands in defense, Di Villiers changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Di Villiers throws a strike but Burgess rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Di Villiers is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burgess is aware though and is defending well.
Di Villiers wants to get back to his feet but Burgess passes into half guard.
Di Villiers is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Di Villiers tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Di Villiers looking for submissions off his back.
Di Villiers flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Burgess is thwarting Di Villiers's attempts to control the position.
Di Villiers missing with punches from the bottom.
Burgess moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Di Villiers.
Burgess wants to control but Di Villiers is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Burgess showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Burgess shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Di Villiers as he avoids it easily.
Di Villiers darts in looking for a takedown but Burgess gets double underhooks and turns Di Villiers into the cage.
Di Villiers with a lazy takedown attempt
and Burgess counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Burgess lands with a nice combination. Di Villiers backs away looking to recover.
Burgess comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Di Villiers with a lazy takedown attempt
and Burgess makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toledo Di Villiers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Di Villiers has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Burgess fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Di Villiers fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burgess wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Di Villiers fails with the takedown
and Burgess counters with a slapping leg kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Burgess or perhaps it was just good defense by Di Villiers, which made it look bad.
Burgess is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Di Villiers rather than just go for the knockout.
Di Villiers misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Burgess tries a quick counter leg kick but Di Villiers is wise to it.
Good leg kick by Burgess there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Di Villiers tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burgess sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Di Villiers somewhat.
Burgess shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Di Villiers as he jumps to the side.
Di Villiers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Di Villiers fails with the takedown
and Burgess counters with a one-two to the body.
Burgess changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Di Villiers tries to avoid it but Burgess manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Di Villiers to the ground. Di Villiers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Burgess ducks under a wild hook from Di Villiers.
Di Villiers has his takedown stuffed
and Burgess counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Di Villiers takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Di Villiers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Burgess counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burgess.
A shot in the inside from Burgess.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burgess tries to pull guard but Di Villiers forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Burgess blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Di Villiers has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Burgess regains guard immediately.

Burgess pushes Di Villiers off and scrambles back to his feet.
Di Villiers shoots for a double leg takedown but Burgess sprawls well. He's pushed Di Villiers's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Burgess digs a good body shot into Di Villiers's ribs.
Burgess works over Di Villiers's head and body with a nice combination.
Burgess lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Di Villiers shoots for a takedown but Burgess saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
It seemed like Burgess was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Burgess is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Di Villiers fails with the takedown.
As Di Villiers backs off Burgess throws a huge counter combo but Di Villiers manages to avoid it all.
Burgess fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Di Villiers pinned against the cage. Di Villiers gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Di Villiers with a lazy takedown attempt
and Burgess counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Richard Burgess is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Di Villiers fails with the takedown
letting Burgess counter with a right hand.
Di Villiers fails with the takedown
and Burgess counters with a stiff right hand.

Di Villiers instigates a clinch.
Di Villiers drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Burgess gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Burgess breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Burgess comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Burgess 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Burgess!