PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lane Burch (ranked 25443 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adrian Kicura (ranked 7878 p4p, 0 weight class). Lane Burch has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Burch
vs
Kicura

221 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

180 cm
22
132 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 - 5 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Adrian Kicura!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kicura drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kicura 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.
Let's hope that Kicura 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 control the position but Kicura postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kicura looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Burch is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kicura is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Burch wants to stand and escape but Kicura is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kicura's coach down at Quick Fingers BEST BANG FOR BUCK Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Kicura's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Burch with a poor takedown

and Kicura counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Kicura wants the takedown. Burch is fighting it off but Kicura persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Burch's guard against the cage.

Burch scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Burch fails with a takedown attempt.
Kicura with the counter takedown but Burch avoids it easily.

Kicura gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kicura is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Burch can't fight it off and eventually Kicura manages to take the fight to the floor. Burch looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kicura is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Burch manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Kicura closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
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.
Kicura looks winded!
Burch struggling a bit here.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Burch tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kicura wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burch can't do much from the bottom here.
Kicura happy to just control the position for now.

Kicura decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Kicura closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Kicura stands up and beckons Burch to his feet.

Kicura tries to keep at a distance but Burch has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burch fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lane Burch. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kicura has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Burch is trying to keep an underhook but Kicura manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Burch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kicura.
Burch trying to control from the bottom.
Kicura is taking a breather. Burch says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kicura is pressing down on Burch's thigh, looking to free his foot. Burch is holding on for now.
Kicura is keen to just control but Burch is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Adrian Kicura will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kicura forces Burch back against the cage and clinches.
Kicura is trying to force a seperation but Burch has the dominant position.
Kicura takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kicura misses with a punch on the inside.
Kicura blocks an elbow strike from Burch.
Kicura looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Kicura pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burch trying to control but Kicura is working from the bottom.
Kicura is looking to stand up but Burch isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kicura is on top in guard.

Kicura sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kicura wants to control from the top but Burch keeps moving.
Burch will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kicura is breathing heavily.
Burch trying to control the position.
Burch pulls Kicura in close to his closed guard and prevents Kicura from doing any damage or advancing position.

Burch is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Kicura presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Kicura breaks the clinch.

Burch gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kicura postures up.
Kicura stops Burch from standing up.
Kicura trying to control but Burch is working from the bottom.
Kicura won't allow Burch to get back to his feet.
Burch pulls Kicura in to control the position.
Burch keeping moving, preventing Kicura from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burch controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Adrian Kicura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kicura scores with a takedown into Burch's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kicura throws a strike but Burch rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kicura 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.
Kicura is trying to control the position but Burch postures up.
Burch trying to control the position from guard on top but Kicura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kicura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burch.
Burch trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burch won't allow Kicura to sweep him here.
Burch wants to control from the top but Kicura keeps moving.

Burch gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Burch tries to clinch up.

Burch has Kicura up against the cage in a clinch.
Burch goes for a takedown attempt but Kicura pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kicura misses with a double jab.
Burch misses with a takedown attempt - Kicura sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Adrian Kicura will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Burch tries to clinch but Kicura is having none of it.

Kicura drives through with a takedown into Burch's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Burch trying to keep a closed guard but Kicura is proving a slippery customer.
Kicura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kicura trying to control but Burch is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burch controls Kicura momentarily but Kicura frees himself.
Burch wants to stand but Kicura is controlling the position.
Kicura trying to control the position from guard on top but Burch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kicura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kicura's corner is telling him to maintain position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Burch wants to sweep here but Kicura controlling him for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Kicura instigates a clinch.

Kicura lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Burch looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kicura seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kicura wants to take a breather but Burch is having none of it.
Kicura is pressing down on Burch's thigh, looking to free his foot. Burch is holding on for now.

Burch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burch tries to kick Kicura off but Kicura keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kicura swats away the attempt to clinch by Burch.

Burch gets tackled into the cage by Kicura. Kicura maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kicura pulls Burch into guard.
Burch trying to control the position from guard on top but Kicura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kicura being controlled here, momentarily.

Kicura escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Burch gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Burch trying to control but Kicura is working from the bottom.

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.

Burch stands and steps away. Kicura gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Lane Burch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Burch drives through and clinches with Kicura against the cage.
Burch is trying to pull guard but Kicura has him pressed against the cage.
Burch keeps control of Kicura as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Burch jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kicura walks away with a smile on his face. Burch gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kicura looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Burch has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Kicura has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Lane Burch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Adrian Kicura is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burch has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kicura after a bit of a struggle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adrian Kicura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kicura 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adrian Kicura!
Adrian Kicura decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.