PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Cac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nathan Burke has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Burke
vs
Cac

186 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nathan Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Leo Cac!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Roger Salmon and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burke tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cac defends well and Burke ends up having to push Cac into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cac keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cac throws a wild body kick that Burke sees coming a mile off.

Cac closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Burke did well to prevent Cac getting side control.
Burke trying to control from the bottom.
Burke is refusing to be controlled, as Cac sits in half guard.
Burke wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cac controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cac not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cac looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Burke kicks Cac off and gets back to his feet.

Cac decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Burke gets full guard.

Burke has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cac can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Burke has momentary wrist control but Cac slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cac stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burke swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cac controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cac trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Burke manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Cac wants to sweep here but Burke controlling him for the moment.
Burke postures up and lands a big shot to Cac's brow.
Cac is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cac is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Cac has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Burke has passed into side control.

Burke decides to stand back up. Burke steps back and let's Cac get back to his feet.

Cac closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cac lands in his opponent's guard.

Burke has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cac off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burke gets caught flat footed, as Cac shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Burke keeping full guard, as Cac tries to pass.
Cac is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Burke controls Cac momentarily but Cac frees himself.
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!
Burke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cac.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nathan Burke will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cac shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Burke is trying to defend but Cac finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cac performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Burke tries to kick Cac off but Cac keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burke gets full guard.
Cac sitting in guard here, content to control.
Burke wants to stand up but Cac is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cac loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cac is looking to advance position but Burke has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Cac wants to hold on but Burke pushes him away.
Cac tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cac is squirming around, avoiding Burke's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cac's face.
Burke tries to control but Cac wriggling away.
Nathan Burke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cac is trying to stand.
Burke with the ground and pound from mount.
Burke scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Cac working to try and regain half guard.
Burke in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke breaks from Cac's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Cac can't escape the position.
Burke thowing shots but they're missing.
Cac is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Cac is working to get back to half guard.
Cac is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke trying to control but Cac is having none of it.
Cac is looking to improve his position but Burke isn't that keen on the idea.
Cac tries to lock up and control but Burke gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cac really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burke. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cac is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Burke dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Burke gets caught napping as Cac dives in and scores a takedown. Burke manages to retain guard.

Burke manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Cac tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Burke shoots in for a takedown but Cac shows good takedown defense.

Cac darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burke blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cac.
Burke gets full guard.
Burke avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cac controls the pace.
Cac looking to sit in guard and control but Burke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cac keeping moving, preventing Burke from controlling successfully.
Cac is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burke is controlling him.
Burke is working Cac over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

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.
Cac wants to hit a switch here but Burke passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cac there!
Burke misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Cac is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cac can do to turn this around?
Cac tries to hold on but Burke pushes him away.
Cac squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Cac is working to get back to half guard.
Cac blocking the ground and pound.
Cac tries to hold on but Burke postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cac is bucking up trying to escape but Burke cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Cac is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Burke prevents Cac from getting the reversal.

Burke is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Cac to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Cac shrugs it off.
Burke throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cac because Burke loaded up on that one.
Leo Cac has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nathan Burke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burke prevents Cac from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathan Burke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burke, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Burke!