PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zander Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manfred Yuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Burns
vs
Yuri

180 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zander Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Manfred Yuri!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns lands a leg kick that knocks Yuri off balance momentarily.

Burns shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Yuri's guard.
Burns content to stall in guard here.
Yuri keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.
Burns tries to free his leg and advance position but Yuri is retaining full guard.

Burns stands up from Yuri's guard - Burns perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Yuri counters with a left and a right that stings Burns.

Burns darts in and clinches Yuri up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns tries to score a body lock takedown but Yuri shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Yuri escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burns shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yuri as he jumps to the side.
Yuri throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zander Burns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yuri shoots in for a takedown but Burns shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yuri shoots in but no luck this time.
Burns connects with a body shot.
Yuri leaves Burns with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Burns shoots in for a takedown but Yuri shows good takedown defense.
Yuri is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Yuri clinches up with Burns and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yuri turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Yuri manages to end up in side control.

Yuri goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Burns rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Yuri's guard! Nice work there by Burns!
Yuri looks winded!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Yuri isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Burns stacks Yuri on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Burns!

Burns stands up.
Yuri dives in for a single leg takedown but Burns sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Burns tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yuri defends well and Burns ends up having to push Yuri into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns jabs at Yuri's body.
Yuri avoids the head kick by Burns.
Burns with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yuri counters with a series of strikes. Burns will be more careful next time no doubt.
Zander Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns scores with a hook to the body. Yuri takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Burns wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Burns scores with a push kick.
No luck for Burns with that takedown attempt.
Burns shoots in but Yuri avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yuri swivels and escapes.
Yuri throws a counter combo.
Yuri closes the distance and clinches up with Burns, looking for a takedown. Yuri pushes Burns against the cage but Burns circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Yuri clinches up with Burns and pushes him back against the cage.
Burns prevents a takedown attempt there.

Burns jumps into guard, dragging Yuri to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yuri cracks Burns with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burns manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yuri manages to get himself to full guard.

Burns trying to control but Yuri is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zander Burns dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Burns looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Burns displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yuri.
Burns dives in for a single leg takedown but Yuri sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Burns tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yuri sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Burns somewhat.
Yuri unleashes a big counter combination but Burns bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zander Burns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burns clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Yuri tries to work over Burns's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Burns jumps guard but Yuri turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Yuri is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Burns can't fight it off and eventually Yuri manages to take the fight to the floor. Burns looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Burns working for a triangle but Yuri defends it easily.
Yuri trying to control but Burns is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yuri works over Burns with some ground and pound from guard.

Burns has his foot on Yuri's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yuri works his way back into a safe position though.
Yuri stopping the sweep attempt from Burns.

Yuri gets to his feet. Burns looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Burns gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Yuri counters with a nice double leg into side control. Burns won't be happy with that.
Yuri working the head and body with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Yuri wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Burns, who protects the arm well.
Burns is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yuri is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Burns knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Burns is trying to get back to half guard.

Burns bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Yuri's coach down at Evolved MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Yuri's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Burns clinches with his opponent.

Yuri gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yuri wants to work for an arm triangle but Burns is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zander Burns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burns is looking to control Yuri's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Burns avoid being mounted?
Burns punching from the bottom.
Burns trying to control here.
Yuri missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yuri prevents Burns from improving his position.

Burns is defending against the submission attempts here by Yuri.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manfred Yuri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Burns dives in for a single leg takedown but Yuri sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Burns closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Yuri to the mat! Yuri manages to get full guard.

Yuri is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burns is aware though and is defending well.
Burns pushes down on Yuri's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Yuri manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yuri tries to avoid it but Burns manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yuri to the ground. Yuri escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And Yuri tries to counter it with a takedown but Burns pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Burns goes for a double leg but Yuri avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yuri continues to drive forward.
Yuri is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zander Burns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Yuri darts in and clinches Burns up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yuri gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Burns regains guard.
Burns working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yuri.

Burns working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yuri doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yuri manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Burns wants to sweep but no luck.

Burns has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yuri can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Burns is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Yuri is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yuri trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burns is controlling Yuri's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Burns works over Yuri's head and body with a nice combination.

Yuri throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Burns was covering up waiting for the punch and Yuri finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Yuri with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yuri thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Burns is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Burns is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Yuri is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Yuri drops back looking for a leg! Burns is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Burns manages to kick Yuri off! Yuri jumps back into Burns's guard.
Yuri keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Burns's head.

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.
Yuri trying to control but Burns is working from the bottom.

Burns has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Yuri is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Burns pulls guard.
Yuri trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Burns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yuri gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Yuri cracks Burns with a solid left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Manfred Yuri.
I think Yuri has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manfred Yuri!
Manfred Yuri seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.