PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Burgess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takahashi Yosho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Burgess
vs
Yosho

185 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brendan Burgess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takahashi Yosho!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Burgess does no damage.
Burgess shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Yosho fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Burgess to the ground. Yosho is now in Burgess's guard.

Burgess has his feet on Yosho's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Yosho forces Burgess back against the cage and clinches.
Yosho should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Yosho jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burgess wants to get up but he can't break Yosho's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Yosho is pulling down on Burgess's head to control his posture.

Yosho working for submissions but it's allowed Burgess to get to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Burgess is looking for a kimura but Yosho is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Burgess to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yosho tries to kick Burgess off but Burgess keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Yosho trying to hold on to Burgess's head to control him but Burgess postures up.
Yosho wants to improve his position but Burgess is controlling well.
Burgess stops Yosho from getting back to his feet.
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. Burgess connects with a nice short shot to Yosho's temple.
Yosho tries to get to full guard but Burgess has control of the leg.

That's two 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.
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. Burgess connects with a nice short shot to Yosho's temple.
Yosho is trying to control but can't.
Burgess wants to get back to his feet.

Burgess decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Yosho displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Burgess.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burgess pulls guard effortlessly.
Burgess keeping moving, preventing Yosho from controlling successfully.
Burgess managing to control the position.
Burgess's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Yosho trying to control the position from guard on top but Burgess is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yosho really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burgess. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Yosho controls from within his opponent's guard.
Yosho won't allow Burgess to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yosho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Burgess has Yosho pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Burgess tries to sprawl but Yosho drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Burgess trying to control from the bottom.
Burgess tries to roll over but Yosho keeps him under control.
Burgess pushes Yosho off looking to stand but Yosho dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burgess tries to get to full guard but Yosho has control of the leg.
Yosho missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Yosho prevents Burgess from standing back up.
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 Brendan Burgess will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Burgess fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yosho looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Yosho shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Burgess is trying to defend but Yosho finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Yosho stalling away here and it's allowed Burgess to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Burgess utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yosho trying to control the position from guard on top but Burgess is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yosho throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burgess works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burgess is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yosho is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Yosho stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Burgess rushes Yosho and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Yosho has clasped his hands together around Burgess's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess is not content to let Yosho control the position.
Burgess regains half guard.
Burgess is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Burgess is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yosho pulls his head out easily.
Yosho working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Burgess is holding on to half guard well.
Burgess looks like he's trying to stand up.
Burgess wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Yosho sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Burgess defending well though.
Burgess trying to hold on to Yosho's head to control him but Yosho postures up.
Yosho throwing shots but Burgess is blocking nicely.

Yosho is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Burgess sees it coming and defends easily.
Yosho blocks the strikes from Burgess.

Yosho is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Burgess has managed to free his arm - good work.
Burgess wants to get back to his feet.
Yosho is trying to control. Burgess wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burgess connects with a single shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Yosho shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Burgess's guard.

Burgess has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Yosho has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yosho is looking to control Burgess's arms but Burgess gets an underhook and turns him. Now Yosho has his back to the cage.

Burgess pulls guard successfully.
Burgess trying to keep a closed guard but Yosho is proving a slippery customer.
Yosho sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Burgess wants to improve his position but instead Yosho has moved into half guard.
Yosho thows a huge punch but Burgess dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yosho stops Burgess from getting back to his feet.
Yosho throwing shots but Burgess is blocking nicely.
Yosho is looking to take a break and control but Burgess is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yosho winds up and cracks Burgess with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Burgess is trying to maintain the position but Yosho is very close to passing his half guard.
Yosho with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Yosho is pressing down on Burgess's thigh, looking to free his foot. Burgess is holding on for now.
Burgess is looking for a sweep. Yosho is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burgess regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Brendan Burgess will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Burgess or perhaps it was just good defense by Yosho, which made it look bad.
Yosho tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Yosho misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Burgess counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Burgess shoots for a double leg takedown but Yosho sprawls well. He's pushed Burgess's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Yosho drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Burgess bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Yosho clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yosho taking a breather.
Yosho is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burgess has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yosho uses from the top position.

Yosho 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!

Yosho is looking for a sweep.

Burgess is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Yosho is trying to escape and Burgess transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Yosho is forced to tap! Nice work there by Burgess! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Brendan Burgess!