PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bartlomiej Burch (ranked 5409 p4p, 509 weight class) and King Rico (ranked 6298 p4p, 552 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Burch
vs
Rico

196 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
181 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bartlomiej Burch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, King Rico!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rico throws a jab but it's blocked by Burch.

Burch gets a double leg takedown into Rico's guard.
Rico is pulling down on Burch's head to control his posture.

Rico is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burch is aware though and is defending well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rico can do anything to dispel that myth.

Rico working for submissions but it's allowed Burch to get to half guard.
Rico is refusing to be controlled, as Burch sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burch controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico controlling the position well.
Burch keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rico looking for submissions off his back.

Rico looking for submissions off his back.
Burch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two 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.

Rico looking for submissions off his back.
Rico is trying is best to control the position here.

Rico is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Burch pulls his head out easily.

Rico actively working from the bottom here.
Burch trying to control the action but Rico is working from the bottom.

Burch decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico is looking to clinch but Burch is avoiding it.

Rico moves into the clinch.
Burch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rico misses with a body punch.
Rico misses with the head strike.
Burch wants to break the clinch but can't.
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.
Rico digs a right hand underneath Burch's ribcage. Burch let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rico tries to throw a body punch but Burch avoids it by throwing Rico back against the cage.
Burch is looking to break free of the clinch but Rico has double underhooks.
Rico lands a left hand that snaps the head of Burch backwards.
Rico lands with a light punch inside.
Rico lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico lands a left hand that snaps the head of Burch backwards.
Rico lands a shoulder strike.
Rico doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rico lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rico tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Rico manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rico misses with an uppercut
and Burch makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Burch gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rico can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Rico 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.

Burch closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rico is trying is best to control the position here.
Burch content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rico trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rico is positioning himself well to prevent Burch advancing to mount.
Burch trying to control from Rico's half guard. Rico has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Rico had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Burch defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rico working for a triangle but Burch defends it easily.

Rico is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Rico has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burch can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rico looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rico 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.
Rico seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Burch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rico has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Burch has managed to get both his arms back between Rico's legs - danger averted.

Rico is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burch is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burch stands and steps away. Rico gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rico darts in and clinches Burch up against the cage.
Rico goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rico throws a punch but it's blocked by Burch.
Rico tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rico lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Rico.
Burch can't break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Rico fails to land.
Rico misses with a short punch on the inside.
Burch blocks an uppercut.
Rico misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Rico.
Burch blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Burch is trying to break free.
Rico tries to work over Burch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rico lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rico misses with a punch on the inside.
Burch is trying to break the clinch but Rico is controlling him.
Rico has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Burch seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rico can turn it around.
Rico prevents Burch from breaking the clinch.
Rico has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rico lands a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rico throws a punch but it's blocked by Burch.
Rico goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rico lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rico tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burch's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Rico showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Burch closes the distance and pushes Rico back into the cage.
Rico lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Burch wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rico has him pressed against the cage.
Rico misses with some punches.
Rico is working Burch over against the cage.
Rico lands with a short shot to the head.
Rico lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Rico escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burch takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Burch walks into a straight right hand from Rico.
Rico uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico throws a body shot but no joy.
Rico loads up on a big right hand but Burch slips the punch.
Rico misses with a hook. Burch ducked under it nicely.
Rico throws out a loose jab but Burch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burch steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rico.
Rico misses with a hook. Burch ducked under it nicely.
Burch swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rico counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Burch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burch shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rico manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Rico has his foot on Burch's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burch works his way back into a safe position though.

Rico throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Burch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Burch has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Burch trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rico manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Rico is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Rico drops back looking for a leg! Burch is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Burch manages to kick Rico off! Rico jumps back into Burch's guard.
Rico's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rico pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burch is keeping the position for now.
King Rico has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rico trying to control but Burch is working from the bottom.

Rico thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rico wants to control from the top but Burch keeps moving.

Rico thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burch trying to keep a closed guard but Rico is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
King Rico comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rico 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... King Rico!
A relieved looking King Rico thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.