PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucca Burt (ranked 4516 p4p, 5672 weight class) and Craig Barns (ranked 86 p4p, 96 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Burt
vs
Barns

178 cm
25
187
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
205
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lucca Burt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Craig Barns!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burt uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barns.
Burt bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Barns's head.
Burt stuffs the takedown attempt from Barns. Barns gets slowly back to his feet.
Burt shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barns pinned against the cage. Barns gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And Barns tries to counter it with a takedown but Burt pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Barns defending well as Burt loads up on a big left hand.
Burt throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barns.
Burt misses the body punch
and Barns counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice defenses there by Barns.
Barns shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burt throws a big counter combination but Barns scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burt connects with a body shot.
Burt lands with a good body shot.
Burt closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes from Barns. Those never looked like landing.
Barns is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burt sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lucca Burt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Barns.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burt looks to land a combination but Barns avoids it well.
A shot to the body from Burt misses
and Barns counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barns shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burt sprawls well. Burt wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barns gets slowly back to his feet.
Burt changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Barns looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Barns drops Burt with a beautiful combination! Burt stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Barns is looking for the KO!

Burt is rocked!

It looks like Lucca Burt has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barns throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Oh Burt is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Burt will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barns tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Burt is looking to wear down Barns with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sloppy strikes from Barns. Those never looked like landing.
No luck for Barns with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barns tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burt sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barns somewhat.
Burt seems to have got his legs back now.

Barns has closed the distance and engaged Burt in a clinch.

Barns breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burt keeps the fight on the outside.
Burt feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Barnss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Burt smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The fighters circle momentarily. Burt darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Barns clinches up against the cage.
Barns prevents a body shot from Burt.
Barns is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Burt has had enough of the clinch but Barns keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burt wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Barns breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barns misses with a wild combination.
The crowd cheers as Burt lands an impressive looking overhand right. Barns doesn't seem phased though.
Barns tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burt sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barns somewhat.
Barns shoots in but Burt avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Barns throws a nice looking combination but Burt bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Burt lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Barns looks for a takedown but Burt sprawls well.
Burt went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burt throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barns is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Burt throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barns will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Burt seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Barns looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Burt is fending him off so far but Barns persists. Nope, Burt circles away and we're back to standing.
Barns looks winded!
Burt dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barns takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Burt tries to bum rush Barns with a series of wild strikes but Barns uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barns takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Burt fails to land with a series of punches.
Barns unleashes a big counter combination but Burt bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Burt misses with a jab, cross combination.
Burt lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Burt lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barns circles away quickly and effectively.
Barns wants to counter with a clinch but Burt pushes him away.
Barns uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lucca Burt dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lucca Burt's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barns fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
As Barns looks to move away, Burt throws a big counter combo but Barns just gets out of the way.
Burt misses with a series of wild punches.
Burt takes a swing at Barns's ribcage but misses.
Barns shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burt pinned against the cage. Burt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Burt sizes up Barns with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barns avoids a punch combination nicely.
Burt misses with a double jab.
Burt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barns moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barns lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burt stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Burt throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barns fails to land the takedown.
Lucca Burt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Barns.
Burt throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barns unleashes a big counter combination but Burt bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Some wild striking there from Burt.

Barns clinches up with Burt and pushes him back against the cage.
Burt goes for a takedown attempt but Barns pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Burt gets tackled into the cage by Barns. Barns maintains the clinch.

Barns jumps guard.
Barns controlling Burt's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barns working for a triangle but Burt defends it easily.
Burt wants to control from the top but Barns keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burt is looking to stand up but Barns won't let him.
Barns is pulling down on Burt's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burt drops back, looking for a kneebar! Barns looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Barns looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Barns!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burt tries to buck Barns off but Barns is having none of it.
Burt is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Barns controlling the position from side mount.
Barns sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Burt is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barns is staying tight to Burt's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Burt gets back to half guard.
Barns really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burt. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Barns sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Burt is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barns slips a nice elbow through Burt's hands, connecting with Burt's forehead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lucca Burt will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lucca Burt's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Barns shoots in but no luck this time.
Burt is looking for a counter combo.
A nice combination there by Burt.
Burt misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barns.
Burt misses with a wild combination.
And Barns tries to counter it with a takedown but Burt pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Burt throws a series of punches but Barns moves out of range.
Lucca Burt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barns moves forwards but Burt connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Burt throws a body shot but no joy.
Burt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barns moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some wild striking there from Burt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burt throws a body shot but no joy.
Burt misses with a combination

and Barns counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Barns.
Burt taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burt wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barns has him pressed against the cage.

Barns breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barns throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burt's waist but Burt gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barns off to one side.
Lucca Burt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Burt gets caught flat footed, as Barns shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Barns stays in close to Burt's body and controls the position.
Barns preventing the sweep.
Barns not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Barns wants to stand but Burt has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Barns showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burt has his foot on Barns's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barns works his way back into a safe position though.
Barns must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barns controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Barns blocks the body kick.
Burt looks to land a left hand but Barns moved out of range nicely.
Barns swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Barns avoids the body shot from Burt.

Barns shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Burt manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Barns scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Burt is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Barns has managed to free his arm - good work.

Barns is defending against the submission attempts here by Burt.
Barns keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Burt trying to control the action but Barns is working from the bottom.

Burt is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barns is just riding it out for now. Burt eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barns wants to sweep but Burt has passed to side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucca Burt showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burt, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucca Burt!