PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ibbe Ribbler (ranked 2099 p4p, 236 weight class) and Herbert Burns (ranked 1670 p4p, 197 weight class). Ribbler comes to the cage accompanied by Bad Religion - Infected. Burns has chosen Marcelo D2 Claudia - Desabafo Deixa Eu Dizer as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The key to victory for Ibbe Ribbler has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ribbler
vs
Burns

180 cm
21
165 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

175 cm
29
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ibbe Ribbler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Herbert Burns!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribbler tries to clinch up

and Burns counters with a shoot takedown. Ribbler fights it but they end up in guard.
Ribbler pulls Burns in close to prevent any damage.
Burns throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burns preventing the sweep.
Burns stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ribbler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ribbler keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns looking to pass the guard.
Ribbler wants to sweep here but Burns controlling him for the moment.
We've been hearing good reports from Ribbler's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns wants to control from the top but Ribbler keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ribbler has momentary wrist control but Burns slips an elbow through the middle.
Burns trying to control but Ribbler is working from the bottom.

Ribbler working for a triangle but Burns defends it easily.
Burns slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ribbler is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribbler can't do much from the bottom here.
Burns landing a few strikes.
Ribbler is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Burns wants to control but Ribbler is keeping him busy.
Burns lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Burns missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ribbler is trying to maintain the position but Burns is very close to passing his half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Burns working his ground and pound in the gym.
Burns uses his free foot to push down on Ribbler's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ribbler.
Burns throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ribbler because Burns loaded up on that one.
Burns throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ribbler takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ribbler hang on?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burns lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ribbler hang on?
Burns trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ribbler is trying desperately to improve position.
Burns fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ribbler keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Burns landing strikes from the mount and Ribbler is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribbler is trying desperately to improve position.
Burns lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ribbler hang on?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burns dominating with strikes here.
BOOM! Burns connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Burns lands a big shot there that rocks Ribbler but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Burns controlling the pace for now.
Burns with a couple of short strikes.
Burns scoring with strikes but Ribbler is staying in there.
Ribbler can't escape the position.
Burns lands a big shot there that rocks Ribbler but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Burns working for a submission but Ribbler is keeping him at bay.
Burns trying to control but Ribbler is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ribbler takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ribbler lands a body shot.
Burns ducks under a wild hook from Ribbler.
Burns is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ribbler digs a good body shot into Burns's ribs.
Ribbler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Burns tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribbler throws a body punch but Burns moves out of range.
Burns takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ribbler takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribbler misses with a wild body shot.
Burns has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ribbler misses with a looping right.
Ribbler throws out a loose jab but Burns uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burns with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ribbler counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Burns is sent reeling backwards by a solid uppercut. He barely regains his balance and Ribbler moves in for the kill throwing a continuous barrage of punches that force the ref to step in.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ibbe Ribbler!
Ibbe Ribbler took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.
Herbert Burns spoke after the fight, saying 'I will be back stronger and my next opponent better watch out! '.