PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leonidas Sparta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sparta
vs
Burns

182 cm
20
186 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
180 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leonidas Sparta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Darren Burns!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Topper Green and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparta goes for a double leg but Burns avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burns continues to drive forward.
Burns getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sparta connects with a body shot.
Sparta moves away from the strike by Burns.
Sparta tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Burns manages to circle out of the way.
Burns moves out of range as Sparta strikes.
A left lands for Sparta.
Burns tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sparta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Burns works Sparta's body with a nice hook.
The fighters circling - Burns throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burns ducks under a wild hook from Sparta.
Sparta takes a swing at Burns's ribcage but misses.
Burns tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sparta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Burns tries to clinch up.
Sparta is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Burns takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Burns stuns Sparta with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burns misses with a series of wild punches.
Sparta throwing a counter right hand but Burns manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns lands a slapping body shot.
Sparta walks forward, straight into a front kick from Burns.
Burns pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sparta misses with a hook. Burns ducked under it nicely.

Burns moves into the clinch.
Sparta misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burns.
Burns goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sparta has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Burns is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sparta avoids the elbow strike from Burns, against the cage.
Sparta takes an elbow to the temple.
Burns swings wildly with an uppercut but Sparta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burns has a couple of punches blocked by Sparta.
A nice left hand lands by Sparta.
Burns stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Burns goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Burns blocks a body shot from Sparta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Spartas head.
Burns tries a body shot but Sparta blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sparta prevents a body shot from Burns.
Burns gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Burns tries to work over Sparta's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice body punch from Sparta.
Burns misses with a punch on the inside.
Burns misses with some punches.
Burns presses Sparta against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sparta is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Burns gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonidas Sparta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burns misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Sparta.
Burns lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Burns misses with a hook to the ribs.
Burns misses with the head strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Burns just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sparta's brow.
Burns takes a shot to the head.
Burns tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Sparta.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Burns gets through Sparta's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Burns misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sparta.
Burns has a couple of punches blocked by Sparta.
Burns lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sparta backwards.
Sparta struggles to land a body shot inside as Burns controls his hands.
Sparta tries a body shot but Burns blocks it.

Sparta breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burns misses with a right hand
and Sparta counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Burns thinking.
Burns misses with a kick to the body
letting Sparta counter with a right hand.
Burns misses the jab.
Sparta scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Burns swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sparta staying out of range there.
Sparta is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Burns.
Sparta misses with a wild body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sparta swats away the attempt to clinch by Burns.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sparta pushes Burns up against the cage in a clinch.
Burns trying to stall but Sparta improves his position.
Sparta lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sparta lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Sparta.
Burns looks winded!
Burns creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sparta lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Sparta breaks the clinch.
A low kick from Burns misses
enabling Sparta to counter with a crisp jab.
Sparta looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sparta dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sparta misses with a body shot.
Sparta with a jab.
Burns gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Darren Burns is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burns goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sparta wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
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 Leonidas Sparta will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Burns closes the distance but Sparta moves to the side
and Sparta counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Burns misses with a double jab
and Sparta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Burns tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sparta swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burns tries to close the distance and clinch but Sparta swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sparta swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Burns tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sparta makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Burns stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Burns wants it to stay on the feet.
Darren Burns is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burns throws a poor cross that misses
letting Sparta counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Burns throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sparta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sparta connects with a body shot.
Sparta scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Burns doesn't seem bothered though.
Sparta connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sparta to score with a decent uppercut.
Sparta connects with a crisp jab.

Burns is rocked!
Sparta lands a nice hook to Burns's body. Burns takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Burns is looking to clinch but Sparta is avoiding it.
Sparta smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Burns is still on wobbly legs! Can Sparta finish him?
Sparta swats away the attempt to clinch by Burns.
Burns seems to have recovered his senses.
Leonidas Sparta is winning the standup battle so far.

Burns pushes Sparta up against the cage in a clinch.
Darren Burns seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Burns throws an elbow but it misses.
Burns throws a punch but it's blocked by Sparta.
Sparta blocks an elbow strike.
Sparta lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sparta blocks an elbow strike from Burns.
Burns working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Burns misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns misses with an elbow over the top.
Sparta is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Good body shot from Sparta.
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!
Burns looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sparta.
Sparta blocks an elbow strike.
Burns tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sparta.
Burns swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Burns drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sparta pulls his leg out and moves away.
Burns is breathing heavily.
A bone on bone clash there as Sparta blocks the leg kick.
Burns tries a head kick but it misses.
Sparta swings widly with a right hand
and Burns cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sparta misses with a wild body shot.
Sparta throws a body shot but no joy.
Burns misses with a looping right.
Burns wants to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Sparta misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparta swats away the attempt to clinch by Burns.
Burns throws a shot from downtown. Sparta moves away and avoids it.
Sparta keeps the fight on the outside.
Burns tries to clinch there but Sparta circles away.
Sparta scores with a hook to the body. Burns takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sparta swings for the body but Burns moves out of range.
Sparta throws out a loose jab but Burns uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burns looks to land a right hand but Sparta moved out of range.
Sparta swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Burns slips a jab from Sparta.
Burns does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sparta half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Burns throws a big shot that misses.
Burns keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Burns tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sparta paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparta on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Burns is looking to clinch but Sparta is avoiding it.

Burns gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sparta misses with a body punch.
Burns is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonidas Sparta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sparta tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sparta.

Sparta breaks the clinch.

Burns has closed the distance and engaged Sparta in a clinch.
Burns goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Burns turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Sparta throws Burns to one side and escapes!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Darren Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sparta is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sparta looks to throw the jab but Burns is out of range.
Sparta shoots in for a takedown but Burns shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Burns keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonidas Sparta dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Burns throws a hook but Sparta blocks it.
Sparta was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Burns misses with a hook
and Sparta counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Burns clinches up against the cage.
Burns prevents a body shot from Sparta.
Sparta wants a takedown.
A right handed body shot lands from Burns.
Sparta blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Sparta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sparta throws a hook to the side of Burns's head but Burns sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sparta on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A shot to the liver by Sparta. Beautiful body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sparta ducks under a wild hook from Burns.
Sparta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burns moves away.
Sparta lands a glancing blow to the side of Burns's head.
Burns uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sparta.
Burns throws an overhand right that lands on Sparta's shoulder, as Sparta tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Burns.
Sparta jabs Burns right on the nose. Burns blinks but takes it well.
Danga de danga de dang - Burns scores with a four punch combination!
Sparta throws a body punch but Burns moves out of range.
Burns connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A cross from Sparta lands.
Sparta throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sparta scores with a nice strike.
The fighters circling - Burns throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sparta seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Sparta blocks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sparta. Burns does a little dance to reset his feet.
Burns tries to clinch but Sparta moves out of range.

Burns moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sparta avoids the elbow strike from Burns, against the cage.
Burns lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sparta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice shot lands for Burns.
Sparta throws a body shot but no joy.
A little jabbing left from Burns on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Burns closes the distance but Sparta moves to the side
and Sparta counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Burns misses with a looping left.
Burns fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sparta digs a good hook to Burns's body.
Sparta uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burns.
Sparta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burns was well out of range. Poor timing from Sparta.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sparta, as that shot connected.
Burns is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burns uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sparta.
Burns moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Decent striking displayed by Sparta there.
Burns takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Burns throws a head kick but Sparta moves out of range.
Sparta appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Burns misses with a looping right.
Nice jab there from Sparta.
Sparta digs a good hook to Burns's body.
Sparta throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Burns counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Burns takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sparta. Burns does a little dance to reset his feet.
Burns throws a head kick that misses
and Sparta counters with a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burns lands with an overhand left.
Sparta lands a nice looking body shot.

Sparta shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sparta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burns is keeping the position for now.
Sparta not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Leonidas Sparta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Darren Burns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leonidas Sparta.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sparta, 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 30:28
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Leonidas Sparta!
Leonidas Sparta took some time post fight to say the following; 'THIS IS SPARTA!'.