PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tarmo Hovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marake Burate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hovi comes to the cage accompanied by Vesa-Matti Loiri - Armo. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Hovi
vs
Burate

200 cm
35
215 lbs
24 - 15 - 1

196 cm
21
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 24 - 15 - 1, fighting out of London, Tarmo Hovi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Marake Burate!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hovi tests Burate's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hovi is defended easily by Burate.
Burate looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hovi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burate tries to avoid it but Hovi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burate to the ground. Burate escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burate. Hovi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Burate throws a sloppy head kick and Hovi moves out of range easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Hovi misses its target.
Hovi fails with the takedown
enabling Burate to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarmo Hovi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hovi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hovi closes the distance and clinches up with Burate, looking for a takedown. Hovi pushes Burate against the cage but Burate circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hovi shoots and misses
enabling Burate to counter with a crisp jab.

Hovi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Burate tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hovi is in Burate's guard.
Burate has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Flower Power Pillow Fighters Training Center. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burate not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hovi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hovi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Burate is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burate keeping moving, preventing Hovi from controlling successfully.
Hovi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Burate trying to keep a closed guard but Hovi is proving a slippery customer.
Burate wants to sweep but no luck.
Hovi wants to control from the top but Burate keeps moving.
Hovi postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hovi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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

Hovi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Burate wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hovi looking for a sweep but Burate has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Burate manages to capitalize on a mistake by Hovi to take his back!
Burate keeps control of the position as Hovi tries to break free.
Hovi is working hard here to advance position.
Hovi is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Burate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Will Burate go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
We've been hearing good reports from Hovi's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Burate is riding his opponent, not letting Hovi buck him off.
Burate controlling well, preventing Hovi from escaping the position.
Burate tries to get the hooks in deep but Hovi pushed the leg off.
I would not like to be Hovi right now.
Hovi wants to escape the position.
A lull in the action here.
Hovi is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burate has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Hovi's body.
Hovi tries to escape but Burate has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burate trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
You can see the frustration on Hovi's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Burate's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Burate controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hovi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marake Burate dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hovi moves forwards but Burate connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hovi shoots in but no luck this time.
Hovi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Burate.
Hovi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hovi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hovi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Burate is fending him off so far but Hovi persists. Nope, Burate circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarmo Hovi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hovi throws a lazy right hand but Burate sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Burate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hovi has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burate misses with a hook. Hovi ducked under it nicely.
Burate has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Burate.
Hovi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burate but Burate pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burate fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Burate swings for the body but Hovi moves out of range.
Nice shot lands for Hovi.
Tarmo Hovi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hovi lands a jab to the nose.
Burate steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hovi.
Burate throws a jab when Hovi was well out of range.
Marake Burate is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hovi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Burate swivels and escapes.
Burate throws the left hand but Hovi avoids the punch easily.
Hovi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hovi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Burate's hands.
Hovi shoots for a takedown but Burate saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hovi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burate sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burate ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hovi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Burate counters with a good low kick that Hovi was not able to check.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hovi blocks a head kick by Burate.
Burate lands a really nice looking cross but Hovi seems unphased.
Hovi misses with a takedown

and Burate counters with a nice right hand that sends Hovi toppling to the canvas! Hovi scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Burate finish him?!

Hovi is rocked!
Hovi throws a hook but Burate blocks it.
Oh Hovi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hovi is wiping some vaseline out of his eye. Burate doesn't give a rats ass about fair play and cracks him with a massive hook to the side of the head! Hovi crumples to the floor out cold! The cornerman is going to be in Hovi's bad books for that mishap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Marake Burate!