PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Khalifman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Burton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Khalifman
vs
Burton

185 cm
20
179 lbs
6 - 0 - 1

172 cm
24
160 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

[JMFC] Proof Supplements

Sublime Supplements
Virtual Fighter Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Khalifman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Burton!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalifman lands a glancing blow to the side of Burton's head.
Burton looks to score with a jab to the body but Khalifman is just out of range.
Khalifman misses with a straight left.
Khalifman throws a body punch but Burton moves out of range.
Khalifman lands a slapping body shot.

Burton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Burton is looking to break free of the clinch but Khalifman has double underhooks.
Burton can't find room to land a body shot as Khalifman controls the action.
Burton softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

It looks like Alexander Khalifman has been cut.
Burton is trying to stall.

Khalifman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burton misses with a hook. Khalifman ducked under it nicely.
Khalifman scores with a shot to the body.
Burton throws a head kick but Khalifman moves out of range.
Khalifman lands a jab to the nose.

Khalifman feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Khalifman wants to control from the top but Burton keeps moving.
Burton trying to control the position.
Khalifman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Khalifman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Burton looking to control.
Khalifman seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Burton looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Khalifman has picked Burton up and slammed him! Burton can't keep hold of the triangle and Khalifman manages to pass to side control!
Khalifman is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Burton is looking for a sweep.
Burton manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Burton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Burton trying to control the position.
Khalifman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burton is keeping the position for now.
Khalifman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Khalifman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burton is keeping the position for now.
Burton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khalifman controls the pace.
Burton wants to sweep but no luck.
Khalifman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Burton trying to control the position.
Khalifman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burton is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khalifman controls the pace.

Burton working for a triangle but Khalifman defends it easily.
Khalifman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burton is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Khalifman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Burton.
Nice uppercut there from Khalifman.
Burton pivots, looking for a leg kick but Khalifman is out of range and Burton settles back down.
Khalifman avoids the head kick by Burton.
Burton misses with a body kick.
Burton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Khalifman swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman shoots in and drives through. Burton sprawls well.
Khalifman is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Khalifman getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Khalifman steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Burton. That one must have hurt.
Burton with a lazy takedown attempt
and Khalifman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Khalifman with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Burton misses with a takedown
enabling Khalifman to counter with a crisp jab.
Alexander Khalifman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Burton.
Burton looks gassed!
Khalifman scores with a one two! Burton had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Burton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Khalifman circles away.
Burton throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Khalifman getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Khalifman darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Khalifman stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Khalifman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Khalifman's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Khalifman moves into range and connects with a jab.
Burton thows a body shot but no joy.
Khalifman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Burton.
Khalifman lands a jab to Burton's midsection.
Nice defenses there by Khalifman.
Khalifman digs a good body shot into Burton's ribs.
Khalifman staying out of range there.
Burton throws a jab but it's blocked by Khalifman.
A telegraphed right hand from Burton misses the target.

Burton closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Khalifman to the mat! Khalifman manages to get full guard.
Khalifman wants to sweep but no luck.
Khalifman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Khalifman lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Burton!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifman is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Burton can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Khalifman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Burton wants to control but Khalifman is having none of it.
Khalifman landing shots from mount.
Khalifman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khalifman is trying to control here but Burton has managed to regain half guard.
Burton wants to get back to full guard but Khalifman has passed into side control.
Khalifman controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman with a couple of short strikes.
Burton is in a horrible position here. Khalifman smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Burton tries to lock up and control but Khalifman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Khalifman landing strikes from the mount and Burton is in trouble!
Khalifman unloading with bombs!
Burton throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Burton is looking to improve his position but Khalifman isn't that keen on the idea.
Khalifman trying to control but Burton is having none of it.
Khalifman with shots to the head and body - Burton looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman lands a big elbow.
Khalifman controlling the pace for now.
Khalifman looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Burton takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Burton is bucking up trying to escape but Khalifman cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Khalifman tries to control but Burton wriggling away.
Khalifman scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Burton?
Khalifman scoring with strikes but Burton is staying in there.
Burton bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Khalifman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman keeping moving, preventing Burton from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Khalifman holds on and takes a little breather.
Burton passes into half guard.
Burton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Khalifman gets full guard.
Burton trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalifman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khalifman looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Khalifman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Khalifman's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Burton throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Khalifman.
Burton misses with a kick to the body.
Burton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Khalifman throws a combination. Burton tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Jack Burton has been cut.
Jack Burton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burton looks to land a body kick but Khalifman moved away.
Burton throws a lazy right hand but Khalifman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khalifman lands with an uppercut that bounces Burton off the cage and back into rage.
Khalifman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Burton doesn't seem bothered though.
Burton falls off balance throwing a combination
and Khalifman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Khalifman tests Burton's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Burton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burton misses with a hook.
Khalifman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Burton manages to avoid it.
Alexander Khalifman is winning the standup battle so far.
Khalifman scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Khalifman lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burton throws a low kick but Khalifman avoids it.
Khalifman cracks Burton with a good jab.
Khalifman ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Khalifman cracks Burton with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Khalifman lands a really nice looking cross but Burton seems unphased.

Khalifman bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Khalifman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burton keeps working.
Khalifman working the body and head with strikes.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
You can see the frustration on Burton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Khalifman connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Burton some visible discomfort.
Khalifman works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Alexander Khalifman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman wants to control but Burton is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Burton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Khalifman is looking to take a break and control but Burton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burton dodges the ground and pound from Khalifman.
Khalifman controlling the position from side mount.
Burton is trying to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Khalifman scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A nice combination there by Burton.
Burton looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Khalifman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burton was well out of range. Poor timing from Khalifman.
Burton throws a left and a right that both miss
and Khalifman counters with a left to the body.
Khalifman lands a nice looking body shot.
Khalifman lands with an uppercut that bounces Burton off the cage and back into rage.
Khalifman cracks Burton with a good jab.
Burton throws an overhand right that lands on Khalifman's shoulder, as Khalifman tries to avoid the shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Khalifman. That snapped Burton's head back.
Khalifman connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Burton momentarily.
A big right from Burton misses.
Burton on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Khalifman throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman scores with the left hand. Burton knows he should have avoided that one.
A shot to de liver by Khalifman. Beautiful body shot.
Burton misses with a double jab
and Khalifman counters with a left to the body.
Khalifman scores with a decent looking hook.
Khalifman checks the leg kick nicely there.
A thudding body kick lands there by Burton!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch lands to the side of Burton 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Burton is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Burton looks for the body kick but Khalifman saw that one coming.
Burton dodges the punch combination from Khalifman.
Khalifman swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Burton.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Khalifman tries to avoid it but Burton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Khalifman to the ground. Khalifman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Khalifman scores with a jab to the head.
Khalifman lands a jab to Burton's midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Khalifman clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burton looks to clinch
letting Khalifman counter with a right hand.
Burton tries to land a front kick but Khalifman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Burton feints and as Khalifman raises his hands in defense, Burton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Khalifman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Khalifman is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Burton!
Khalifman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Khalifman landing strikes from the mount.
Burton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Khalifman landing shots from mount.
Khalifman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Burton is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Burton manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifman not doing much here.
Burton is staying active underneath Khalifman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Khalifman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Burton moves into full guard.
Khalifman preventing the sweep.
Khalifman stays in close to Burton's body and controls the position.
Burton controls Khalifman momentarily but Khalifman frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Khalifman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Burton trying to control the position.
Khalifman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Khalifman passes Burton's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Khalifman lands a nice short elbow.
Burton trying to control but Khalifman postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Khalifman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Khalifman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Burton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Burton moves into full guard.
Khalifman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Burton has control of Khalifman's left arm, preventing Khalifman from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Khalifman trying to control but Burton is working from the bottom.
Khalifman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Khalifman wants to control from the top but Burton keeps moving.
Burton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Burton is looking for a triangle but Khalifman pushes his legs off easily.
Khalifman wants to control from the top but Burton keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Burton misses with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Alexander Khalifman will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Burton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burton has his takedown stuffed
enabling Khalifman to counter with a crisp jab.
Burton misses with a jab to the body
and Khalifman counters with a nice uppercut.
Khalifman cracks Burton with a good jab.
Khalifman lands a jab.
Khalifman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Burton manages to avoid it.
Burton tries to clinch
and Khalifman counters with a stiff right hand.
Khalifman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Khalifman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Burton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Khalifman blocks a jab.
Khalifman fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Burton is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Burton drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burton misses with an uppercut. Khalifman saw that one coming.
Khalifman lands with a right hand.
Burton tries to clinch
and Khalifman counters with a nice body shot.
Khalifman takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Khalifman connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
No joy there for Khalifman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Burton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khalifman.
Khalifman connects with a crisp jab.
Khalifman swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Burton counters with a body kick that stops Khalifman in his tracks momentarily.
Khalifman fails with a takedown attempt.
Burton throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Khalifman.

Burton closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Khalifman to the mat! Khalifman manages to get full guard.
Khalifman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Khalifman has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Burton's face.
Khalifman scoring with strikes but Burton is staying in there.
Burton wants to hold on but Khalifman pushes him away.
Burton is trying desperately to improve position.
Burton is squirming around, avoiding Khalifman's attempts to control the action.
Khalifman content just to control the position here.
Burton gets back to half guard.
Alexander Khalifman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton tries to get to full guard but Khalifman has control of the leg.
Burton is trying to stand back up but Khalifman is controlling him
Burton makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Burton.
Burton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Khalifman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Khalifman forces his way into half guard.
Jack Burton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khalifman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Burton's head.
Burton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Khalifman looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Burton punching from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alexander Khalifman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Khalifman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 50:45
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 50:45
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Khalifman!
Alexander Khalifman retains his welterweight title!