PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lester Burnham (ranked 691 p4p, 228 weight class) and Balagot Liu (ranked 83 p4p, 32 weight class). Burnham comes to the cage accompanied by All Star Chuck Taylors. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Burnham
vs
Liu

170 cm
25
143
12 - 3 - 0

173 cm
22
146
9 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear
Groove Gear

HELLS BALLS RECOVERY
SynCity Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lester Burnham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Balagot Liu!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Skip Squint and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burnham closes the distance and clinches.
Liu gets underhooks to prevent Burnham's takedown attempt.
A head punch on the inside from Liu fails to land.
Burnham goes for a takedown attempt but Liu pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Burnham closes the distance looking to clinch
and Liu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Good leg kick by Liu.
Burnham is looking to clinch but Liu is avoiding it.
We've been hearing reports that Burnham has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Burnham tries to clinch but Liu is having none of it.
Burnham tries to clinch up but Liu circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burnham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burnham backing away here, and Liu unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Burnham moves in looking to clinch but Liu pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burnham doesn't manage to clinch there - Liu circles away.
Liu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burnham moves away.
Liu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Liu scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Burnham tries to clinch but Liu moves out of range.
Liu stalks Burnham and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Burnham's face. Burnham staggers backwards, shaken.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Liu tries to keep at a distance but Burnham has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Liu.
Burnham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Liu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Burnham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot in the inside from Liu.
Liu has a couple of punches blocked by Burnham.
Liu is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Liu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
That kick from Liu tenderised Burnham's leg. Burnham is trying to keep his angry face on.
Liu connects with an inside leg kick.
Burnham stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Liu.
Burnham tries to close the distance and clinch but Liu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Liu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Burnham closes the distance and pushes Liu back into the cage.

Burnham has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Liu is trying to keep an underhook but Burnham manages to get the takedown into half guard.
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!
Liu is looking to control Burnham's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Liu avoid being mounted?
Liu wants to get back to full guard but Burnham has passed into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burnham decides to stand up, so the ref orders Liu to his feet.
Liu lands an overhand right.
Burnham tries to close the distance and clinch up but Liu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burnham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Liu let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Burnham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Liu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burnham tries to clinch up but Liu circles away and keeps his distance.
Burnham is looking to clinch but Liu is avoiding it.
Burnham wants to clinch up but Liu keeps it at a distance.
And Liu responds with a good body kick, but Burnham manages to step out the way in time.
Burnham wants to clinch up but Liu keeps it at a distance.
Burnham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Liu paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnham takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Liu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liu has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Burnham is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Burnham is looking to clinch.
Burnham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Liu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Liu scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A good leg kick by Liu.

Burnham forces Liu back against the cage and clinches.
Liu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Liu throws a punch but it's blocked by Burnham.
Burnham can't get the takedown.
Liu tries a body shot but Burnham blocks it.
Liu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Liu misses with the head strike.
Liu throws a head punch that misses.
Liu prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burnham drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Liu gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Liu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burnham's elbow.
Liu misses with a punch to the body.
Burnham changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Liu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Burnham tries to clinch but Liu is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burnham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burnham tries to clinch
and Liu counters with a left to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burnham is looking to clinch.
Liu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lester Burnham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burnham closes the distance looking to clinch
and Liu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Burnham is looking to clinch.
Liu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Burnham has time to react.
Liu lands a two punch combo.
Liu circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Balagot Liu dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Liu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Burnham tries to clinch there but Liu circles away.
Liu swats away the attempt to clinch by Burnham.
Burnham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Burnham tries to close the distance and clinch but Liu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice body punch from Liu.
Burnham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Liu misses.
Burnham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Burnham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burnham tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burnham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burnham tries to close the distance and clinch but Liu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burnham tries to clinch but Liu is having none of it.
Liu slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Liu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Burnham tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Liu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnham blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Liu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Liu has a couple of punches blocked by Burnham.
Liu misses with the head strike.
Liu misses with a body punch.
Liu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burnham's elbow.
Liu misses with a punch on the inside.
Liu tries a body shot but Burnham blocks it.
Liu lands with a short shot to the head.
Liu is trying to push Burnham away but Burnham has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Burnham has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Liu avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Balagot Liu seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Liu misses with a punch to the body.
Burnham blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Liu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu prevents a takedown attempt there.
A head punch on the inside from Liu fails to land.
Liu working aggressively here.
Liu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Liu.
Liu working aggressively here.
A body shot lands from Liu.
Liu misses with a body punch.
Liu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Liu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Liu misses with a body punch.

Liu breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burnham moves to clinch but Liu breaks away
and Liu counters with a one-two to the body.

Burnham is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnham tries to close the distance and clinch but Liu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Liu feints a counter leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Liu lands a body punch in the clinch.
Burnham blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Liu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Liu.
Liu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Liu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Liu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Liu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Burnham blocking some punches.
Liu is pressed up against the cage. Burnham has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Liu down to the mat. Liu avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Burnham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Liu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Liu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Burnham wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Burnham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Liu appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Burnham tries to clinch up but Liu circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice side step and Liu releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Burnham tries to clinch up.
Liu throws a big counter head kick but Burnham avoids it with no problem.
Liu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Burnham looks to clinch
and Liu counters with a one-two to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burnham steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Liu. That one must have hurt.
Burnham tries to clinch up but Liu circles away and keeps his distance.
A shot to the liver by Liu. Beautiful body shot.
Liu swats away the attempt to clinch by Burnham.
Burnham is looking to clinch but Liu is avoiding it.
Liu smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Liu throws a one two combo.
Oh Burnham is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Burnham tries to close the distance and clinch up but Liu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burnham seems to have got his legs back now.
Burnham fails with an attempt to clinch.
Liu connects with a single shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Balagot Liu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Liu swinging wildly here.
Liu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Burnham manages to avoid it.
Burnham wants to clinch up but Liu keeps it at a distance.
Burnham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burnham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Burnham takes the fight into the clinch.
Liu tries a body shot but Burnham blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Liu fails to land.
Burnham wants a takedown but no success here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liu throws a head punch that misses.
Liu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Liu misses with a body punch.
Burnham blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnham is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Liu is defending well.
Liu misses with a punch on the inside.
Liu can't find room to land a body shot as Burnham controls the action.
Burnham blocks a body shot from Liu.

Liu manages to break the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Liu.
Liu takes a swing at Burnham's ribcage but misses.
Liu lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Burnham is looking to clinch.
Burnham fails with an attempt to clinch.
Liu lands with a right hand.
Burnham avoids the body shot from Liu.

Liu gets tackled into the cage by Burnham. Burnham maintains the clinch.
Burnham is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Liu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Burnham blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Liu.
Lester Burnham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Liu misses with some punches.
Liu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Liu.
Liu is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Burnham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Liu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Liu throws a head punch that misses.
Liu lands with a left to the head.
Liu tries a body shot but Burnham blocks it.
Liu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burnham's elbow.

Liu breaks the clinch.
Burnham wants to clinch.
Liu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnham is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Liu.
Burnham doesn't manage to clinch there - Liu circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burnham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burnham tries to clinch but Liu is having none of it.
Burnham moves in looking to clinch but Liu pushes him off.
Burnham moves in looking to clinch but Liu pushes him off.
Liu misses with a looping right.
Burnham tries to clinch there but Liu circles away.
Liu throws a leg kick that misses.
Burnham checks a low kick from Liu.
Burnham closes the distance looking to clinch
and Liu counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Liu thumps Burnham with a low kick.
Nice shot by Liu.
Liu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Liu scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burnham walks forward, straight into a front kick from Liu.

Burnham has closed the distance and engaged Liu in a clinch.
Liu blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Burnham blocking some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Liu.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Liu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Liu lands a shoulder strike.
Burnham wants to take the fight to the mat but Liu manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Burnham's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Liu misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Burnham.
Burnham blocks a body shot from Liu.
Burnham blocks a body shot from Liu.
Burnham misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Liu.
Liu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Liu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Balagot Liu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Liu 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 26:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Balagot Liu!
Our winner, Balagot Liu, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.