PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nero Padilla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burns is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic Three - The Roof Is On Fire. Brian Burns looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Padilla
vs
Burns

190 cm
40
215 lbs
29 - 22 - 0

193 cm
37
215 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 29 - 22 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nero Padilla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Brian Burns!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Padilla.
Sloppy strikes from Padilla. Those never looked like landing.

Burns looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Padilla wants to stand back up but Burns manages to pass into side control.
Padilla is not content to let Burns control the position.
Padilla tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Burns wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns wants to control but Padilla is keeping him busy.
Padilla tries to buck Burns off but Burns is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burns is trying to get an arm triangle but Padilla is defending well.
Padilla manages to get back to half guard.
Padilla is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Burns's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Burns's back!
I would not like to be Burns right now.
Padilla seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Burns for as long as he can get away with.
Burns can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Padilla slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Padilla has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Burns can't escape the position.
Padilla missing with punches from the back.
Padilla missing with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Padilla biding his time, controlling Burns.
Padilla'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.
Burns is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Burns rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Padilla wants to pass the guard but Burns is defending well.
Burns is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Padilla's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Padilla's back!
Burns tries to get the hooks in deep but Padilla pushed the leg off.
Burns gets his hands free as Padilla looks to control.

Burns looking to break Padilla's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Padilla remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Burns will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Padilla defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Burns working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Padilla.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nero Padilla 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.

Padilla 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.
Padilla on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Padilla fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burns, pushing him back against the cage.
Padilla fails to pull guard.
Padilla tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nero Padilla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burns lands a right hand that snaps the head of Padilla backwards.
Burns misses with a hook from the clinch.
Padilla jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Burns walks away with a smile on his face. Padilla gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Burns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Padilla manages to avoid it.
Burns cracks Padilla with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Brian Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Burns has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Padilla closes the distance and clinches.
Padilla tries to pull guard but Burns won't allow it.

Burns breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burns will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
An inside leg kick from Burns misses.
Padilla tries to counter with a takedown but Burns is quick to defend against it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns lands a jab to Padilla's midsection.
Nero Padilla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burns looks to score with a jab to the body but Padilla is just out of range.
Padilla shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burns but Burns pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A slapping body kick lands there for Burns.
Burns lands a head shot.
Padilla uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Burns.

Burns moves into the clinch.

Burns has clasped his hands together around Padilla's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Padilla wants to control but Burns postures up.
Padilla is not content to let Burns control the position.
Padilla is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns wants to control but Padilla is keeping him busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Padilla tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Burns controlling the position.
Padilla wants to control but Burns postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Padilla has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Burns but great work by Padilla.
You can see the frustration on Burns's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Burns is being controlled here.
Padilla tries to score with some ground and pound. Burns controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Burns is trying to get back to half guard.
Padilla lands a few punches from side control.
Padilla tries to move to full mount but Burns actually manages to regain half guard.

Padilla is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Burns is just riding it out for now. Padilla eventually gives up the hold.
Burns is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Padilla throws a strike but Burns avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Padilla accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burns trying to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Padilla controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Padilla trying to control but Burns is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Burns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Burns closes the distance and clinches.

Burns manages to break the clinch.
Burns waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Padilla.
Padilla is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Burns.
Burns is looking to slow Padilla down with leg kicks.
Burns thows a leg kick but Padilla checks it

and Padilla decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Burns's guard.
Nero Padilla overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Burns throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Burns controls Padilla momentarily but Padilla frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Padilla is stalling in the full guard.

Burns looking for a guillotine here but Padilla defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Padilla from controlling successfully.

Padilla avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Burns is trying to control the position but Padilla postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Padilla trying to control but Burns is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Burns tries to score with a low kick but Padilla moves his leg out of the way.
Burns misses with a body shot.
Padilla seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Padilla shoots for a takedown but Burns saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Brian Burns seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Burns throws a body punch but Padilla moves out of range.
Padilla appears to be looking for a big counter.
Burns throws the kick towards the body but Padilla avoids it.
Padilla ducks under a wild hook from Burns.

Burns 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.
Burns stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Padilla swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burns takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Padilla manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Padilla throws a head kick that Burns semi-blocks.
Burns throws a hook but Padilla blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padilla dives in and grabs Burns's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burns pushes down on Padilla's head and hops out.

Burns fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Padilla to the ground. Burns is now in Padilla's guard.
Burns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Burns trying to control the position from guard on top but Padilla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Burns got a little sloppy there for a moment and Padilla has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Burns has managed to get both his arms back between Padilla's legs - danger averted.
Burns won't allow Padilla to get back to his feet.
Burns passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Padilla is trying to control Burns's posture but Burns avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Padilla is not content to let Burns control the position.
The referee asks Burns politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Burns prefers to stall for the moment though.
Padilla tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Padilla is trying to improve his position.
Padilla wants to control but Burns postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burns wants to lay and pray for a moment but Padilla keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Burns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Burns 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Burns!
A relieved looking Brian Burns thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.