PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Burks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Floke Asa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Floke Asa will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Burks
vs
Asa

208 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 St Petersburg, Nicky Burks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Floke Asa!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Burks stuffs the takedown attempt from Asa. Asa gets slowly back to his feet.
Burks throws a sloppy head kick and Asa moves out of range easily.

Asa drives through and clinches with Burks against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Asa has clasped his hands together around Burks's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Asa with the ground and pound but Burks regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Asa is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asa is looking to stall here but Burks recovers full guard.
Asa is pushing down on Burks's leg trying to pass to half guard. Burks is fighting to maintain full guard but Asa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Burks wants to improve his position but Asa is controlling well.
Asa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Burks is refusing to be controlled, as Asa sits in half guard.
Ground and pound from Asa.
Burks tries to kick Asa off but Asa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Asa trying to control from half guard but Burks is working away.
Asa trying to control from Burks's half guard. Burks has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Burks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burks pushes Asa off and scrambles back to his feet.
Burks doesn't manage to clinch there - Asa circles away.

Burks tries to sprawl but Asa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Asa stalling.

Asa looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Asa is just content to waste time from the top position. Burks takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asa trying to control the position from guard on top but Burks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burks keeping full guard, as Asa tries to pass.
Asa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burks trying to control the position.
Burks 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.
Asa pushing down on Burks's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four 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.

Asa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Asa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are battling for position here. Burks manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Asa working some strikes from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Asa has gone for a leg lock! Burks slips out almost immediately though and dives into Asa's guard.

Asa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Floke Asa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nicky Burks's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Asa shoots for a double leg takedown but Burks sprawls well. He's pushed Asa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Asa throws a right and a left that Burks avoids nicely.
Burks went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Burks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Asa drives through with a takedown into Burks's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Asa manages to work his way to half guard, despite Burks's best efforts.
Asa tries to roll over but Burks keeps him under control.
Burks trying to control from half guard but Asa is working away.

Asa actively working from the bottom here.
Asa regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burks slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Asa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Asa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Asa wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Burks is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asa wants to improve his position but Burks is controlling well.
Asa is trying to maintain the position but Burks is very close to passing his half guard.
Asa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Asa.

That's four 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.

Asa isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Burks stacks Asa 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 Burks!
Asa is trying to work for a sweep but Burks has mounted him!
Asa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nicky Burks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
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 Nicky Burks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nicky Burks's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Burks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Burks tries to close the distance and clinch but Asa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Asa feints and as Burks raises his hands in defense, Asa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Asa is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Burks is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Burks has escaped and now he's on top!

Asa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burks is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burks trying to control the position from guard on top but Asa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Asa looking for a guillotine here but Burks defends easily.
Burks postures up.

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.
Asa keeping moving, preventing Burks from controlling successfully.

Asa is looking for a triangle but Burks pushes his legs off easily.
Burks wants to control from the top but Asa keeps moving.
Burks looking to sit in guard and control but Asa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Asa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Burks manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Asa has Burks in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Asa wants to control the position but Burks says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Asa regains full guard. Nicely done.
Asa has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Burks has passed into side control.
Burks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Burks trying to control the action but Asa is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asa gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Asa trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Still in half guard, Burks seems content to control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Asa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Floke Asa.
I think Asa 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Floke Asa!