PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lester Burnham (ranked 871 p4p, 903 weight class) and Aaron McGinnis (ranked 46 p4p, 47 weight class). Burnham comes to the cage accompanied by All Star Chuck Taylors. The crowd seem to be enjoying McGinnis's choice of entrance music: Star.One - Original Badman Feat. Takura & Assassin. Lester Burnham has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Burnham
vs
McGinnis

170 cm
27
143
15 - 8 - 0

179 cm
38
148
22 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Core Combat

Voodoo Nutrition
SpeeDee BBQ

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lester Burnham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron McGinnis!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGinnis lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

McGinnis takes the fight into the clinch.
Burnham's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McGinnis lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Burnham is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. McGinnis can't fight it off and eventually Burnham manages to take the fight to the floor. McGinnis looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McGinnis keeping moving, preventing Burnham from controlling successfully.
McGinnis working a defensive guard here.
Burnham looking to pass the guard.
McGinnis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McGinnis pulls Burnham in close to prevent any damage.

Burnham drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Burnham jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnham wants to pass the guard but McGinnis is keeping the position.
McGinnis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Burnham wants to improve his position but McGinnis is controlling well.
McGinnis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burnham keeps working.

Burnham looking for submissions off his back.
Burnham looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGinnis content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
McGinnis is continuing to stall.
McGinnis's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burnham looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McGinnis is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
McGinnis misses the jab.
Burnham shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McGinnis as he jumps to the side.
McGinnis throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Burnham feinted with a counter takedown.
McGinnis scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Burnham shoots in for a takedown but McGinnis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
McGinnis misses with a straight right.
McGinnis throws a half hearted mid kick.
Burnham changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
McGinnis looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Burnham looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Burnham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burnham has a takedown stuffed.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burnham tries for a takedown but McGinnis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Burnham fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McGinnis avoids it really well and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron McGinnis dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

McGinnis keeps Burnham at a distance using the push kick.
Burnham looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McGinnis lands an overhand right.
McGinnis connects with a right hand. Burnham shakes it off.

Burnham is rocked!
Burnham shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McGinnis as he jumps to the side.
Oh Burnham is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Burnham fails with a takedown attempt.
Burnham seems to have got his legs back now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Burnham. 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.
Burnham tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McGinnis defends well and Burnham ends up having to push McGinnis into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Burnham tries to work over McGinnis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Burnham.
McGinnis working aggressively here.
McGinnis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
McGinnis lands a left hand.

Burnham has dropped down and is working for a takedown. McGinnis is trying to keep an underhook but Burnham manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnham is keen to just control but McGinnis is a slippery customer.

Burnham is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
McGinnis is trying to maintain the position but Burnham is very close to passing his half guard.
McGinnis is looking to improve his position.

Burnham is working for a kimura but McGinnis is defending it quite comfortably.
Burnham works his foot free and advances to mount.

Burnham jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… McGinnis is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by McGinnis and Burnham has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGinnis wants to control but Burnham postures up.

Burnham tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Burnham has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Burnham creates some space and throws a big elbow, but McGinnis sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Burnham wants to take a breather but McGinnis manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Burnham.
Burnham is looking to work some ground and pound but McGinnis has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnham wants to control from the top but McGinnis keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGinnis is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Burnham wants to control from the top but McGinnis keeps moving.
Burnham missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Burnham trying to control but McGinnis is working from the bottom.
McGinnis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burnham's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McGinnis trying to control but Burnham is working from the bottom.
Burnham being controlled here, momentarily.

McGinnis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGinnis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron McGinnis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

McGinnis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Burnham.

McGinnis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Burnham misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burnham.
McGinnis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Burnham lands a body shot.
A short left from Burnham.
McGinnis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McGinnis blocking some punches.
McGinnis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Burnham throws a punch but it's blocked by McGinnis.
McGinnis tries to throw a body punch but Burnham avoids it by throwing McGinnis back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Burnham fails to land.
McGinnis lands a hook to the side of the head.
Burnham has a couple of punches blocked by McGinnis.
A short uppercut from McGinnis.
McGinnis misses with a short punch on the inside.
McGinnis lands with a left to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short left from McGinnis.
A short right from Burnham.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Burnham creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Burnham drops down looking for an ankle pick but McGinnis pulls his leg out and moves away.
Burnham doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McGinnis counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Burnham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnham has his takedown stuffed
and McGinnis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burnham checks a leg kick.
Burnham slips under a jab.
Burnham dives in for a single leg takedown but McGinnis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McGinnis.
McGinnis has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Burnham has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McGinnis after a bit of a struggle.
McGinnis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Burnham scores with a shoulder strike.
McGinnis misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from McGinnis fails to land.
Burnham misses with a body punch.
Burnham tries to work over McGinnis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McGinnis lands a right hand.
McGinnis lands a nice uppercut.
Burnham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McGinnis cracks Burnham with a nice body shot.
Burnham swings wildly with an uppercut but McGinnis uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGinnis lands with a right to the head.
Lester Burnham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burnham misses with a hook to the ribs.
McGinnis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burnham.
McGinnis blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McGinnis tries to work over Burnham's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McGinnis blocks an uppercut.
Burnham lands a left hand that snaps the head of McGinnis backwards.
A short right from Burnham on the inside.
A short body shot lands from McGinnis as the two fighters clinch.
McGinnis lands a right hand that snaps the head of Burnham backwards.
McGinnis scores with a shot to the side of Burnham's head.
Burnham tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hand to the body from McGinnis.
Nice body punch from McGinnis - that landed with a thud.
Burnham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McGinnis gets through Burnham's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
McGinnis misses with the head strike.
Burnham misses with a punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Burnham.
McGinnis can't find room to land a body shot as Burnham controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnham blocking some punches.

Burnham gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, McGinnis regains guard.
Burnham looking to sit in guard and control but McGinnis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Burnham is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McGinnis is aware though and is defending well.
Burnham can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McGinnis controls the pace.
McGinnis trying to control but Burnham is working from the bottom.
McGinnis content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burnham is looking for a triangle here but McGinnis uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
McGinnis controlling the position from side mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron McGinnis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McGinnis 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron McGinnis!
After winning the bout, Aaron McGinnis thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.