PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Britt Burgess (ranked 25532 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grove Pathak (ranked 25405 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Burgess
vs
Pathak

190 cm
20
194 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

179 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Britt Burgess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Grove Pathak!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burgess moves into the clinch.
Pathak looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Burgess tries to pull guard but Pathak holds him up against the cage and eventually Burgess drops back down to his feet.
Pathak tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Burgess just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pathak blocks an uppercut.
Burgess wants to break free but Pathak has control.
Pathak has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Burgess looking for a takedown.

Burgess breaks from the clinch.
Pathak tries to close the distance and clinch but Burgess swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burgess goes for a double leg but Pathak avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pathak continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Britt Burgess. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burgess closes the distance and clinches.
Pathak is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Burgess is defending well.
Burgess has had enough of the clinch but Pathak keeps him there for the moment.

Burgess's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess shoots in for a takedown but Pathak shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Burgess shoots in for a double leg but Pathak sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pathak stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pathak wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Pathak. No joy for Burgess on that attempt.
Pathak unleashes a big counter combination but Burgess bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Pathak has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
No luck for Burgess with that takedown attempt.
Burgess fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pathak avoids it really well and circles away.
Pathak waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Burgess.
Burgess jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

Pathak moves into the clinch.
Burgess wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pathak is trying to drag Burgess to the mat but Burgess just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Pathak manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Pathak is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Burgess wants to get up but he can't break Pathak's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Burgess passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pathak tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burgess stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Burgess has taken the fight to the clinch.
Burgess misses with an elbow strike.
Burgess tries to break the clinch but Pathak is controlling the position.
Burgess can't get the takedown.
Pathak pushes off an throws an elbow but Burgess leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Burgess is looking to break free of the clinch but Pathak has double underhooks.
Pathak looking to stall.
Burgess fails to pull guard.
Pathak trying to control the position but instead, Burgess has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pathak into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pathak to keep the fight standing.
Pathak letting Burgess take a breather here.
Burgess jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pathak walks away with a smile on his face. Burgess gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A combination from Pathak does no damage.
Burgess fails with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burgess lands with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Grove Pathak will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pathak displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Burgess.
Pathak misses with a leg kick.
Pathak scores with a nice head shot.

Burgess has taken the fight to the clinch.

Burgess manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Burgess is controlling Pathak's posture.
Burgess looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pathak is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pathak trying to control but Burgess is working from the bottom.
Burgess looking to control but Pathak passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pathak is working away from the top position though.
Pathak wants to take a breather but Burgess is having none of it.
Burgess has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pathak is working away from the top position though.
Burgess is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

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

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.
Burgess fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Pathak. No joy for Burgess on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Britt Burgess. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pathak fails to land the takedown.
Good exchange - Burgess coming out on top.

Burgess clinches up with Pathak and pushes him back against the cage.

Burgess breaks from the clinch.
Burgess with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pathak counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess scores with a shot to the side of Pathak's head.
Burgess tries to pull guard but Pathak holds him up against the cage and eventually Burgess drops back down to his feet.
Burgess misses with a punch to the body.

Burgess manages to break the clinch.
Burgess lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Burgess keeps the fight on the outside.
Burgess dives in for a single leg takedown but Pathak sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burgess looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burgess tries for a takedown but Pathak sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pathak pinned against the cage. Pathak gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Pathak clinches up with Burgess and pushes him back against the cage.
Burgess jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pathak walks away with a smile on his face. Burgess gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Burgess tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pathak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Burgess somewhat.
Pathak throws a fast counter high kick but Burgess manages to duck under it in time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burgess closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pathak counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Grove Pathak 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!

Burgess tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pathak swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Pathak shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pathak was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Burgess tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pathak wants to control but Burgess is keeping him busy.
Grove Pathak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burgess can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burgess is looking to reverse the position.
Pathak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess is working hard here to advance position.
Burgess is not content to let Pathak control the position.
Burgess is looking for a sweep.
Pathak wants to stand but Burgess is controlling his arm.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Burgess fails to land the takedown.
Burgess will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Grove Pathak seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Burgess.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Britt Burgess. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pathak throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Britt Burgess is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burgess dives in for a single leg takedown but Pathak sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Pathak misses with a leg kick
and Burgess counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pathak's knee momentarily.
Burgess looks for a takedown but Pathak sprawls well.
Pathak closes the distance and clinches up with Burgess, looking for a takedown. Pathak pushes Burgess against the cage but Burgess circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Burgess was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pathak pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Burgess fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pathak, pushing him back against the cage.

Burgess pulls Pathak into guard.
Burgess keeping moving, preventing Pathak from controlling successfully.
Burgess wants to sweep but no luck.
Burgess keeping moving, preventing Pathak from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Burgess wants to sweep here but Pathak controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Burgess tries to close the distance and clinch but Pathak swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pathak doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Burgess misses with a series of wild punches.
Pathak is looking for the big counter here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burgess shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pathak as he avoids it easily.
Britt Burgess has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grove Pathak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Burgess waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pathak.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Grove Pathak.
I've got Pathak winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Grove Pathak!