PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Burks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Egor Ez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Burks
vs
Ez

208 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

191 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 2 - 4 - 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, Egor Ez!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ez throws a combination that misses
and Burks counters with a three punch combo that has Ez backing up. Ez nods at Burks to acknowledge the strikes.

Ez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ez is looking to stand up but Burks won't let him.
Ez preventing the sweep.
Ez controlling from the top position.
Burks keeping moving, preventing Ez from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burks is working an open guard so Ez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Burks enables Ez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Burks manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Burks has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Ez has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ez misses with a head kick.
Ez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Burks manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Burks tries to close the distance and clinch but Ez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Burks.

Ez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Burks is trying to get back to full guard.
Ez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Burks doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ez.

Ez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ez is looking to take a break and control but Burks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ez content to control rather than advance.

Ez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ez trying to control from half guard but Burks is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Burks won't allow Ez to pass to mount.
Ez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Burks!
Burks wants to hold on but Ez pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ez misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Burks is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Egor Ez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Burks as he avoids it easily.
Burks appears to be looking for a big counter.
Ez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Burks is looking to stand up but Ez isn't so interested in that idea.
Ez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ez tries to stand but Burks is controlling his head.

Ez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Egor Ez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burks is trying to get back to his feet.
Ez wants to control but Burks is keeping him busy.
Ez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Burks can't do much from the bottom here.
Ez tries to advance to mount but can't.

Ez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Burks has escaped the position, nice work there.

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.
Ez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Ez swings around for an armbar but Burks sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ez's guard.
Ez is breathing heavily.
Burks stays in close to Ez's body and controls the position.
Ez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Burks keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ez wants to get back to his feet.
Ez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ez is looking to take a break and control but Burks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Burks is looking to escape.
Ez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ez is looking to advance position but Burks won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Burks manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Egor Ez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ez looks for a takedown but Burks sprawls well.
Burks moves in looking to clinch but Ez pushes him off.
Ez wants to clinch but Burks slips to the side

and Burks counters with a takedown into side control.
Ez wants to get back to his feet but Burks is dominant here and he's now got Ez's back!
Ez rolls, trying to escape but Burks keeps control of the position.
Ez is still trying to improve position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ez breaks Burks's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Ez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Burks pushes Ez off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Nicky Burks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
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!
Ez wants to clinch but Burks slips to the side
and Burks counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It looked like Burks was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Burks gets caught flat footed, as Ez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ez wants to pass the guard but Burks is keeping the position.
Burks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ez is controlling him.
Ez is looking to pass into half guard but Burks pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Burks is in guard.

Burks trying to control but Ez is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Burks wants to control from the top but Ez keeps moving.
Ez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burks is one step ahead there.
Ez looking to control but Burks passes into half guard.
Ez trying to control but Burks postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Burks pulls his head out easily.
Burks prevents Ez from improving his position.
Ez keeps trying to improve his position.
Burks is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ez is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
Ez trying to hold on to Burks's head to control him but Burks postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Burks has taken the fight to the clinch.
Burks missing with knees to the body.
Ez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Burks pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A short right from Burks on the inside.
Nicky Burks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Egor Ez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Come on Burks - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicky Burks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ez 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Egor Ez!