PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alton Newcastle (ranked 387 p4p, 43 weight class) and Predator Burns (ranked 461 p4p, 50 weight class). Burns is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jiu-Jitsu. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Newcastle
vs
Burns

170 cm
36
148 lbs
23 - 19 - 2

170 cm
35
145 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Bullet Proof System
Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Alton Newcastle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Predator Burns!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Burns coming out on top.
Newcastle misses with a hook.
Burns throws the left hand but Newcastle avoids the punch easily.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Burns has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Newcastle misses with a straight left.
Burns swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Burns moves out of range as Newcastle strikes.
Nice shot lands for Newcastle.
Newcastle avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little feinted left hand from Newcastle on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Burns slips a straight right by Newcastle.
A big left from Burns misses.
Burns tries for a takedown but Newcastle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns misses with a straight right.
Newcastle swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Newcastle lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Burns gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Burns scores with a jab. Newcastle acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fighters circling - Newcastle throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burns changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Newcastle throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Newcastle walks into a straight right hand from Burns.
Newcastle displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Burns.
Burns cracks Newcastle with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Burns connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Burns takes one on the button.
Burns slips a straight right by Newcastle.
Newcastle scores with a kick to the midsection.
A telegraphed right hand from Newcastle misses the target.
Burns misses with a right hand
and Newcastle connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Newcastle staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Newcastle's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burns tries to score a power double leg takedown but Newcastle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Burns somewhat.
Newcastle is looking to counter punch.
Newcastle has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Tōshi in the buildup to the fight.
Alton Newcastle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Predator Burns.
Burns moves out of range as Newcastle strikes.
Burns motions for Newcastle to come forward. Burns throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Newcastle slips a jab from Burns.
Burns waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Newcastle.
Newcastle takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Newcastle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Newcastle scores with a nice right hand.
Newcastle ducks under a wild hook from Burns.
It looked like Newcastle wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Burns shoots for a takedown but Newcastle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Newcastle misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Newcastle as he avoids it easily.
Burns throws a quick inside leg kick.
Newcastle lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Burns moves out of range of the strikes.
Burns throws a hook but Newcastle avoids it easily.
Alton Newcastle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burns lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Burns fails with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Newcastle misses the target.
Predator Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Newcastle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Burns uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Newcastle.
Newcastle misses with a hook. Burns ducked under it nicely.
Newcastle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Burns.
Burns tries for a takedown but Newcastle circles away easily
and Burns takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newcastle lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Burns looks to land a right hand but Newcastle moved out of range.
Newcastle stuffs the takedown.
Burns misses with a straight right.
Newcastle throws out a loose jab but Burns uses good head movement to avoid it.
Newcastle is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burns throws an off balance right hand
and Newcastle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Burns connects with a jab.
Burns fails with the takedown
letting Newcastle counter with a right hand.
Burns thows a left - swing and a miss!

Burns shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Newcastle 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!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alton Newcastle 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.

Burns on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Burns throws a leg kick
and Newcastle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A lazy left from Newcastle finds it's target.
Burns is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Newcastle throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Burns works Newcastle's body with a nice hook.
Burns dives in and grabs Newcastle's left leg, looking for a takedown. Newcastle pushes down on Burns's head and hops out.
A big right from Newcastle misses.
Burns feints the counter takedown.
Burns staying out of range there.
Burns tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Newcastle takes a jab right on the kisser.
Newcastle lands with a nice body punch.
Burns misses with an uppercut. Newcastle saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Newcastle on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Newcastle leaves Burns with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Burns displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Newcastle throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newcastle lands a nice shot to the body.

Burns gets a takedown into half guard.
Newcastle wants to get back to full guard.

Burns wants to work for an arm triangle but Newcastle is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Newcastle wants to improve his position but Burns is controlling well.
Newcastle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Newcastle wants to sweep but no luck.

Newcastle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Newcastle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burns's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Newcastle from controlling successfully.

Burns looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Newcastle pushes down on Burns's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Newcastle is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Burns!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burns is desperately trying to improve his position but Newcastle has a good base and remains in mount.
Newcastle tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Burns keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Newcastle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burns can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Burns tries to hold on but Newcastle postures up.
Newcastle seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Burns is holding on tight.
Newcastle trying to control but Burns is having none of it.

Newcastle has hold of Burns's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Burns manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Newcastle can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Burns is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burns is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newcastle pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Newcastle trying to control but Burns is having none of it.
Burns regains half guard.
Newcastle prevents Burns from improving his position.
Burns is staying active underneath Newcastle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Newcastle seems to be looking for submissions.
Burns tries to get to full guard but Newcastle has control of the leg.

Newcastle is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alton Newcastle dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A big right from Newcastle misses.
Burns uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Newcastle.
Burns slips a straight right by Newcastle.
Newcastle throws a hook to the side of Burns's head but Burns sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Burns fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Newcastle tries to move into range but Burns moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Newcastle comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Burns moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Burns throws a right hand that misses
and Newcastle counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick lands from Burns.
Burns cracks Newcastle with a good jab.
Burns misses with a series of wild punches.
Burns takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns lands a jab to the head.

Burns looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Burns is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Newcastle trying to control but Burns postures up.
Burns is trying to control. Newcastle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Newcastle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Newcastle keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.
Newcastle 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burns postures up and lands a big shot to Newcastle's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newcastle 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.
Newcastle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Burns stopping the sweep attempt from Newcastle.
Burns content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Newcastle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Newcastle is looking for a triangle but Burns pushes his legs off easily.
Burns preventing the sweep.
Predator Burns has got the better of the ground game so far.
Newcastle has Burns pulled in close to control his posture.
Burns won't allow Newcastle to sweep him here.
Newcastle is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Predator Burns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burns landing some decent shots from guard.

Newcastle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Burns doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Burns manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Burns tries to free his leg and advance position but Newcastle is retaining full guard.
Burns stopping the sweep attempt from Newcastle.

Newcastle is looking for a triangle here but Burns uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Newcastle taking a bit of punishment here - Burns scoring with strikes.
Newcastle takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Newcastle manages to work his way to half guard, despite Burns's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newcastle wants to improve his position but Burns is controlling well.
Burns working Newcastle over with strikes.
Burns seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Newcastle wants to get back to full guard.
Burns looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Newcastle with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Burns scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Burns lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Newcastle trying to control here.
Burns is trying to control the action in half guard but Newcastle is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alton Newcastle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Newcastle gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Predator Burns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Newcastle has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alton Newcastle!
After winning the bout, Alton Newcastle thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Predator Burns was interviewed post fight and said 'It's ok, i'm home.'.