PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Denis Burlaka (ranked 3923 p4p, 5589 weight class) and Lorenzo Smashotti (ranked 443 p4p, 516 weight class). Denis Burlaka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Burlaka
vs
Smashotti

178 cm
21
169
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
21
165
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Denis Burlaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lorenzo Smashotti!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smashotti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smashotti throws a counter combo.

Smashotti has taken the fight to the clinch.

Burlaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burlaka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smashotti.
Smashotti looks to land a combination. Burlaka sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Denis Burlaka has been cut.

Smashotti instigates a clinch.
Burlaka will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Smashotti up against the cage.
Smashotti jumps guard but Burlaka turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burlaka's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Burlaka is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Burlaka has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smashotti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burlaka seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Smashotti just misses with a punch to the body.
Burlaka was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Smashotti moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smashotti throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smashotti misses with a two punch combination.
Smashotti misses with a combination
and Burlaka counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Burlaka walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Smashotti lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Smashotti throws a right hand that Burlaka ducks under and follows up with a left that Burlaka also avoids with ease.
Smashotti throws a combination. Burlaka tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
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!
Smashotti tries to clinch
and Burlaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A decent looking cross lands there for Burlaka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smashotti tries to clinch but Burlaka is having none of it.
Burlaka appears to be looking for a big counter.
Smashotti throws a poor cross that misses
and Burlaka counters with a nice body shot.
Smashotti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burlaka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burlaka fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smashotti looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Smashotti darts in and clinches Burlaka up against the cage.
Burlaka wants to get back to striking at distance but Smashotti won't allow it.

Burlaka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smashotti throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Burlaka's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Smashotti dives in looking to finish as Burlaka flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Smashotti's strikes! Smashotti is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Burlaka's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Burlaka was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lorenzo Smashotti!
Lorenzo Smashotti bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.