PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lane Burch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xherdan Shaqiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lane Burch has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Burch
vs
Shaqiri

221 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
24
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Lane Burch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Xherdan Shaqiri!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shaqiri closes the distance and clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from Shaqiri.
Burch tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shaqiri smiles and moves away.

Shaqiri clinches up with Burch and pushes him back against the cage.

Shaqiri gets control of Burch's arms and successfully pulls guard. Shaqiri will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Burch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burch wants to control from the top but Shaqiri keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaqiri pulls Burch in close to his closed guard and prevents Burch from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaqiri tries to strike from the bottom.
Shaqiri has momentary wrist control but Burch slips an elbow through the middle.
Burch trying to control but Shaqiri is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burch looking to sit in guard and control but Shaqiri gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Shaqiri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burch really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shaqiri passes Burch's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shaqiri prevents Burch from standing back up.
Shaqiri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Shaqiri stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Burch changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shaqiri fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Shaqiri decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Burch, up you get!
Shaqiri digs a good hook to Burch's body.

Shaqiri shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Shaqiri showed some decent athleticism there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shaqiri sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Burch knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shaqiri on the ground.
Burch keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burch tries to kick Shaqiri off but Shaqiri keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shaqiri thows a huge punch but Burch dodges it nicely.

Shaqiri is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Still in half guard, Shaqiri seems content to control.
Burch wants to stand back up but Shaqiri manages to pass into side control.
Shaqiri controls the position.
Let's hope that Shaqiri has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Burch is trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Burch is looking to reverse the position.

Burch explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Shaqiri has closed the distance and engaged Burch in a clinch.
Shaqiri tries to break free but Burch pushes him back against the cage.
Shaqiri creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Burch is trying to pull guard but Shaqiri turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lane Burch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaqiri tries to break free but Burch pushes him back against the cage.

Shaqiri ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shaqiri no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
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.
Shaqiri working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burch.
Shaqiri tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Shaqiri is looking for a triangle but Burch pushes his legs off easily.
Shaqiri has his hands on Burch's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xherdan Shaqiri dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shaqiri lands a slapping body shot.
Shaqiri keeps the fight on the outside.

Burch gets caught flat footed, as Shaqiri shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Burch pushes Shaqiri off and scrambles back to his feet.

Shaqiri clinches with his opponent.

Shaqiri lands a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shaqiri showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Burch keeping full guard, as Shaqiri tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burch can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Shaqiri controls the pace.
Shaqiri throwing strikes but missing.

Burch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shaqiri defends well.
Shaqiri slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Shaqiri throwing strikes from guard but Burch blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shaqiri showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Burch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shaqiri is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Shaqiri dives in and scores a takedown into Burch's guard.
Burch being controlled here, momentarily.
Xherdan Shaqiri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shaqiri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burch wants to stand up but Shaqiri is controlling him.
Burch trying to control the position.
Burch wants to stand but Shaqiri is controlling the position.

Shaqiri stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Shaqiri clinches up against the cage.
Shaqiri is trying to force a seperation but Burch has the dominant position.

Shaqiri ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shaqiri no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Burch stopping the sweep attempt from Shaqiri.
Burch will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shaqiri wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shaqiri has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Burch trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaqiri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shaqiri keeping moving, preventing Burch from controlling successfully.

Shaqiri looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Burch connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shaqiri looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burch is one step ahead there.
Burch wants to get up but he can't break Shaqiri's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xherdan Shaqiri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Burch dodges the punch combination from Shaqiri.
Burch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Shaqiri shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shaqiri not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaqiri throwing shots but Burch is blocking nicely.
Burch is looking for a sweep. Shaqiri is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Shaqiri is working for a kimura but Burch is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burch wants to control but Shaqiri is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shaqiri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shaqiri trying to pass the guard but Burch defending well.
Burch is looking to control Shaqiri's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Burch avoid being mounted?
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

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

That's two 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.

Shaqiri seems to be working for a kimura but Burch defends the submission attempt.

Shaqiri seems to be looking for submissions.
Burch is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lane Burch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shaqiri shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Shaqiri showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shaqiri stands up and beckons Burch to join him on the feet.

Shaqiri closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shaqiri lands in his opponent's guard.
Burch wants to stand but Shaqiri is controlling the position.
Shaqiri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Burch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shaqiri throwing strikes but missing.
Burch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burch wants to stand and escape but Shaqiri is having none of it.

Shaqiri gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Lane Burch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xherdan Shaqiri is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Shaqiri scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xherdan Shaqiri comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shaqiri has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xherdan Shaqiri!