PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex John Conor Burns (ranked 43 p4p, 7 weight class) and Buzz Bixby (ranked 85 p4p, 16 weight class). Burns 's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Body Head Bangerz feat. Lil' Boosie & Young Bleed - I Smoke, I Drank. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

John Conor Burns
vs
Bixby

190 cm
37
215 lbs
32 - 10 - 2

188 cm
32
215 lbs
23 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System
Arcticus University: London

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Alex John Conor Burns !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Buzz Bixby!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bixby avoids a kick to the body.
Burns misses with a body shot.
That kick from Burns tenderised Bixby's leg. Bixby is trying to keep his angry face on.
Burns misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bixby is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bixby darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Burns connects with a body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Burns .
Burns connects with a body shot that sends Bixby's belly button to the back.
Bixby throws a right hand that Burns ducks under and follows up with a left that Burns also avoids with ease.
A telegraphed right hand from Bixby misses the target.
Burns misses with a head kick.
Burns misses with a wild body shot.
Burns lands a nice looking body shot.
Burns misses with a few strikes there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Burns .
Bixby with the counter takedown but Burns avoids it easily.
Bixby just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bixby lands a body shot.
Bixby ducks under a wild hook from Burns .
Bixby takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Burns lands a glancing blow to the side of Bixby's head.
A slow jab from Bixby misses its intended target.
Burns dips to his left and cracks Bixby with an uppercut!
Bixby walks into a stiff left hand from Burns .
Burns takes a swing at Bixby's ribcage but misses.
Burns takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bixby jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A slapping leg kick lands for Burns .
We've been told by Burns 's head coaches at Canadian Elite Bruins Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Alex John Conor Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns misses with a wild body shot.
Bixby tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A slow jab from Bixby misses its intended target.
Alex John Conor Burns is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bixby swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bixby throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bixby closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Burns 's guard.
Bixby throws a big right hand that misses.
Bixby throwing strikes but missing.
Bixby has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Burns has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Bixby has passed into side control.
Bixby happy to just control the position for now.
Burns tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bixby is looking to take a break and control but Burns is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bixby landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns struggling a bit here.

Bixby thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Burns sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Burns is trying to get back to full guard.
Bixby seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Burns does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nice strikes from Bixby there.
Bixby trying to control from half guard but Burns is working away.
Bixby throws a strike but Burns avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bixby is one step ahead there.
Bixby's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bixby slips nicely into half guard.
Bixby not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bixby not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bixby missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Burns trying to hold on to Bixby's head to control him but Bixby postures up.
Bixby wants to control but Burns is keeping him busy.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Bixby working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Bixby working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alex John Conor Burns will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bixby throws a hook but Burns avoids it easily.
Burns on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Alex John Conor Burns is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice defenses there by Bixby.
Burns bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Burns on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Burns throws a shot to the body.
Burns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bixby was well out of range. Poor timing from Burns .
Bixby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Burns throws a leg kick but Bixby sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Bixby tries for a takedown but Burns sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Burns throws a low kick but Bixby avoids it.
And Bixby tries to counter it with a takedown but Burns pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns scores with a decent looking hook.
Burns wants to slow Bixby down by chopping away at his legs.
Good work by Bixby as he checks the leg kick.
Bixby with the counter takedown but Burns avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Burns . That snapped Bixby's head back.
Burns thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bixby changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bixby misses with a looping left.
Good shot there by Bixby.
Burns swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bixby counters with a single leg into guard. Burns didn't expect that.
Burns lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Burns knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bixby on the ground.

Bixby has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burns can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Burns is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bixby keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bixby trying to keep a closed guard but Burns is proving a slippery customer.

Bixby looking for a guillotine here but Burns defends easily.
Bixby keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.
Bixby is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bixby keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.
Burns being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Burns controlling from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bixby is on top in guard.

Bixby pushes down on Burns 's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bixby prevents Burns from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns wants to get back to his feet.
Burns trying to control but Bixby postures up.
Burns wants to improve his position but Bixby is controlling well.

Bixby is looking for a kimura but Burns is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bixby to get the leverage.
Bixby passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Burns !
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
BOOM! Bixby connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buzz Bixby showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bixby on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Burns tries a low kick but Bixby avoids it.
Burns lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bixby throws a right hand that misses
and Burns counters with a right hand to the body.
Bixby takes one to the chin there.
Bixby throws a body shot but no joy.
A jab lands there for Bixby.
Nice defenses there by Bixby.
Burns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bixby manages to avoid it.
Burns swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bixby is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bixby pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Burns ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bixby moves away.
Bixby takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bixby shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns wants to improve his position but Bixby is controlling well.
Burns wants to get back to his feet.
Burns is looking to control Bixby's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Burns avoid being mounted?
Burns wants to improve his position but Bixby is controlling well.
Burns trying to control but Bixby postures up.
Burns is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bixby trying to control the action but Burns is working from the bottom.
Burns controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Burns blocks a jab.
Burns quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Bixby throws the left hand but Burns avoids the punch easily.
Burns misses with a low kick.
Bixby checks a leg kick.
Bixby is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Burns .
Bixby ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bixby changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bixby uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Burns .
Burns throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Burns fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bixby checks it well.
Bixby misses with a looping right.
Burns lands with a kick to the temple. Bixby shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Burns throws a series of punches but Bixby moves out of range.
Bixby feints the counter takedown.
Nice defenses there by Bixby.
Bixby with the counter takedown but Burns avoids it easily.
Burns paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bixby moves out of range as Burns strikes.
Burns with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bixby comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Burns feints and then cracks Bixby's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bixby down.
Burns lands a jab.
Bixby dips to his left and cracks Burns with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burns uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bixby has time to react.
Bixby slips under a jab from Burns .
Bixby swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Burns .
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Burns , right into the meat.
Bixby wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Burns throws a body shot but no joy.
Burns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Burns misses with a low kick.
Burns thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bixby throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Burns throws a lazy right hand but Bixby sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Burns looks to land a body kick but Bixby moved away.
Burns throws a front kick that sends Bixby stumbling back into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex John Conor Burns showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burns 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alex John Conor Burns !
A very excited looking Alex John Conor Burns made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.