PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Balal Lama (ranked 1902 p4p, 2617 weight class) and Benny Burns (ranked 232 p4p, 312 weight class). Benny Burns will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Lama
vs
Burns

195 cm
29
220
6 - 4 - 0

215 cm
25
275
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Balal Lama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Benny Burns!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Lama does no damage.
We've been hearing reports that Lama has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Burns tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lama manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Burns takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lama lands with a shot to the body.
Lama circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lama jabs Burns right on the nose. Burns blinks but takes it well.
Lama dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lama connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Lama rushes Burns and presses him up against the cage.
Lama goes for a takedown attempt but Burns pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Burns tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lama manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lama is looking for a counter combo.
Lama fails with a takedown attempt.
Burns tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lama paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Lama shoots in and scores a nice double leg 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!
Burns wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lama looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Burns with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Lama is nestled in close to Burns, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lama 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.
Lama takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lama takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Lama passes to full mount!
Burns is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
A nice elbow there by Lama.
Lama with the ground and pound from mount.
Lama controlling from mount.

Lama jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Burns manages to avoid the submission attempt.
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.
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.

Lama looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lama passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Burns!
Lama looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lama has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Lama lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Lama landing strikes from the mount.
Burns is in a horrible position here. Lama smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lama is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Burns is surviving well by controlling Lama's body position as best he can.
Burns has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Lama controlling from mount.
Lama scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Burns?
Lama lands a heavy elbow.

Lama is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Burns is surviving well by controlling Lama's body position as best he can.
Lama lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Burns looks winded!
Lama working Burns over with strikes here.
Lama cracks Burns with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lama is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Burns has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Lama unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lama looking to isolate an arm here. Burns doesn't see it coming and as Lama extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Lama!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Balal Lama!
Balal Lama took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Altitude Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.