PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haruko Scarlet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Burke
vs
Scarlet

151 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eric Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Haruko Scarlet!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burke dives in and scores a takedown into Scarlet's guard.
Scarlet is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burke is controlling him.
Scarlet working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burke.
Scarlet wants to stand and escape but Burke is having none of it.
Scarlet throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Scarlet working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burke.

Scarlet is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Burke defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scarlet looking for a sweep. Not yet Scarlet, not yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burke gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Burke controls Scarlet momentarily but Scarlet frees himself.
Burke could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Scarlet is looking to work some ground and pound but Burke has wrist control.
Scarlet looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Burke might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Scarlet might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Burke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Haruko Scarlet seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burke misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As Burke backs off Scarlet throws a huge counter combo but Burke manages to avoid it all.
Burke scores with a jab. Scarlet acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Scarlet darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Burke pushes Scarlet off but Scarlet dives into side control.
Scarlet moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
You can see the frustration on Burke's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Burke looking for a sweep but Scarlet has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scarlet takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Scarlet blocks Burke's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Scarlet content just to control the position here.
Scarlet blocks Burke's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Scarlet sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Scarlet lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Burke hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haruko Scarlet dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Scarlet forces Burke back against the cage and clinches.
Scarlet effectively controlling the action here.
Burke is trying to drag Scarlet to the mat but Scarlet just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Burke tries to pull guard but Scarlet forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Scarlet has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Burke regains guard immediately.
Scarlet controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burke bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Scarlet's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scarlet wants to stand up but Burke is controlling him.
Burke won't allow Scarlet to sweep him here.
Scarlet throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Burke throwing strikes but missing.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

Scarlet escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Burke gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Burke distracts Scarlet with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Scarlet preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Scarlet is trying to keep Burke in close.

Burke got a little sloppy there for a moment and Scarlet has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Burke has managed to get both his arms back between Scarlet's legs - danger averted.
Scarlet managing to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Scarlet wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scarlet swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Burke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Scarlet shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Burke is trying to defend but Scarlet finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Burke flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Still in half guard, Scarlet seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scarlet working the head and body with strikes.
Burke is looking to escape.
Scarlet wants to stand up but Burke has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Scarlet not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Scarlet connects with a nice short shot to Burke's temple.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Scarlet seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Scarlet slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haruko Scarlet showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Scarlet scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Burke punching from the bottom.
Scarlet content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Scarlet's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scarlet is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Scarlet lands a nice shot to the head.
Scarlet content just to control the position here.
Burke sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Scarlet is looking to advance position but Burke won't allow it.
Scarlet slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke has hold of Scarlet's hands but Scarlet slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Scarlet tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Burke.
Scarlet has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Burke tries to kick Scarlet off but Scarlet keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Scarlet seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scarlet tries to pass to full mount but Burke defends it.
Scarlet trying to control the pace.
Scarlet moves nicely into side control.
Scarlet controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Scarlet avoids the strikes from the bottom by Burke.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Scarlet shoots in and gets a takedown into Burke's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burke striking off his back but it's not causing Scarlet any problems.
Eric Burke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Haruko Scarlet is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Scarlet is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haruko Scarlet comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Scarlet winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haruko Scarlet!