PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Denis Burlaka (ranked 1574 p4p, 24047 weight class) and Greg Southridge (ranked 185 p4p, 492 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Burlaka
vs
Southridge

178 cm
24
169
5 - 3 - 0

178 cm
24
171
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Denis Burlaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Greg Southridge!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Southridge fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Burlaka avoids it really well and circles away.
Burlaka throws a big counter combination but Southridge scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Nice sprawl there from Burlaka as Southridge shoots in.
Southridge is looking to clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Burlaka.
Southridge tries for a takedown but Burlaka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Denis Burlaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greg Southridge.
The crowd cheers as Burlaka lands an impressive looking overhand right. Southridge doesn't seem phased though.
Burlaka throws a looping overhand right but Southridge ducks down to avoid it.
Denis Burlaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burlaka misses with the combination.
Burlaka misses with a wild combination.
Despite the aggression on Southridge's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burlaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Southridge.
Burlaka misses with an uppercut. Southridge saw that one coming.
Burlaka moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burlaka misses with a looping right.
Southridge fails with an attempt to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Burlaka.
Burlaka's corner calls for a 1-2. Burlaka obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Southridge misses with a takedown attempt
and Burlaka counters with a three punch combo that has Southridge backing up. Southridge nods at Burlaka to acknowledge the strikes.
Southridge slips a jab and a cross from Burlaka.
Southridge wants to counter with a clinch but Burlaka pushes him away.
Burlaka fails to land with a series of punches.
Denis Burlaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Southridge is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Southridge shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burlaka getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Southridge wants to clinch up but Burlaka keeps it at a distance.

Southridge closes the distance and clinches.
Southridge is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Burlaka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Southridge slowing the pace effectively.
Southridge has Burlaka pressed against the cage, preventing Burlaka from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Southridge is trying to drag Burlaka to the mat but Burlaka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burlaka is looking to break free of the clinch but Southridge has double underhooks.
Southridge misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Southridge breaks from the clinch.
Burlaka fails to land with a series of punches.
Burlaka seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Burlaka lands a jab to the nose.
Southridge lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Burlaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Southridge moves away.
Burlaka misses with a double jab.
Burlaka scores with a nice head shot.
Southridge lands a high kick!
Southridge uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Burlaka.
Burlaka dodges the punch combination from Southridge.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Southridge tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Burlaka was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Southridge tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burlaka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Southridge somewhat.
Burlaka fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Southridge on the side of the head.
A jab lands there for Burlaka.

Southridge rushes Burlaka and presses him up against the cage.

Southridge decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Burlaka gets to his feet - Southridge follows without any prompting.
Burlaka scores with a jab to the jaw.
Burlaka swinging wildly here.
Burlaka swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burlaka looks to land a combination but Southridge avoids it well.
Burlaka throws a series of strikes that have Southridge backpedaling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Southridge shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burlaka but Burlaka pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Burlaka swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Southridge walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Southridge is rocked!
Southridge's corner calls for a 1-2. Southridge obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Some wild striking there from Burlaka.
Southridge is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Southridge walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Southridge is still on wobbly legs! Can Burlaka finish him?
Burlaka's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Burlaka duly obliges.
Southridge moves forwards but Burlaka connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Burlaka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Burlaka misses with a two punch combination.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Burlaka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Burlaka wants it to stay on the feet.
Burlaka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Southridge doesn't seem bothered though.
Southridge closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The fight stays on the outside here - Southridge looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burlaka looks to throw the jab but Southridge is out of range.
Burlaka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Burlaka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Southridge circles away quickly and effectively.
Burlaka throws a jab when Southridge was well out of range.
Southridge takes one on the button.
Southridge is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A cross from Burlaka lands.
Burlaka throws the left hand but Southridge avoids the punch easily.
Burlaka is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Burlaka throws a nice looking combination but Southridge bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Good leg kick by Southridge.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Burlaka swings widly with a right hand

and Southridge counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Southridge pulls guard.
Southridge looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Burlaka postures up.

Southridge is working an open guard so Burlaka takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Burlaka missing with a left hand there. Southridge was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Southridge seems to have recovered his senses.
Southridge scores with a kick to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burlaka. Southridge does a little dance to reset his feet.
Burlaka throws a hook but Southridge avoids it easily.
Burlaka swinging wildly here.
A big right from Burlaka misses.
Southridge blocks a jab.
Southridge uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Burlaka.
Southridge walks into a straight right hand from Burlaka.
Burlaka jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Burlaka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Burlaka is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Burlaka misses with a hook.
Burlaka scores with a one two! Southridge had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Southridge tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burlaka defends well and Southridge ends up having to push Burlaka into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Burlaka's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Burlaka duly obliges.
Southridge throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burlaka's waist but Burlaka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Southridge off to one side.
Southridge fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A quick step to the side and Burlaka tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Southridge displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Burlaka throws out the jab.
Burlaka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horrible takedown attempt by Southridge or perhaps it was just good defense by Burlaka, which made it look bad.
Southridge ducks under a wild hook from Burlaka.
Southridge shoots in for a takedown but Burlaka shows good takedown defense.
Southridge has a takedown stuffed.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Burlaka blocks a head kick by Southridge.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burlaka pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Southridge back to the cage. Burlaka follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A punch combination from Burlaka misses.
Nice defenses there by Southridge.
Burlaka is working the combinations to good effect here.
Southridge changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burlaka tries to avoid it but Southridge manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burlaka to the ground. Burlaka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Burlaka is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Southridge connects with a leg kick.
A slow jab from Burlaka misses its intended target.
Burlaka throws a nice looking combination but Southridge bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Southridge closes this distance looking for a takedown but Burlaka circles away.
Southridge looks winded!
Burlaka scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Southridge has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Burlaka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Southridge closes the distance but Burlaka moves to the side
and Burlaka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Burlaka tries to bum rush Southridge with a series of wild strikes but Southridge uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Burlaka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Southridge.
Southridge bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Burlaka throws a hook but Southridge blocks it.
Burlaka scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Southridge's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Burlaka connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Southridge scrambles back to his feet.
Southridge needs to keep his hands up - Burlaka had a free shot at his head there.
Southridge tries to close the distance and clinch up but Burlaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Southridge fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Burlaka fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Southridge to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Southridge looks to clinch but Burlaka throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Southridge taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Denis Burlaka!
A less than humble Denis Burlaka misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.