PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stuart Burrows (ranked 1777 p4p, 1721 weight class) and Tiaoali Lvavatai (ranked 142 p4p, 136 weight class). Burrows comes into the arena with Baba O'Riley blaring out of the sound system. Lvavatai comes into a darkened arena with his song building. You Can Get It If You Really Want kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Burrows
vs
Lvavatai

162 cm
31
135
17 - 5 - 1

171 cm
33
144
19 - 18 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Furnace Performance 🔥

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 17 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Stuart Burrows!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tiaoali Lvavatai !
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Lvavatai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Burrows sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Burrows feinted with a counter takedown.
Lvavatai throws a shot from downtown. Burrows moves away and avoids it.
The fighters circling - Lvavatai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lvavatai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lvavatai tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burrows ducks under a wild hook from Lvavatai .
Burrows feinted with a counter takedown.
Lvavatai lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lvavatai looks to land a left hand but Burrows moved out of range nicely.
Burrows changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Lvavatai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Burrows changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Lvavatai has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Lvavatai looks to land a left hand but Burrows moved out of range nicely.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Lvavatai misses with a hook. Burrows ducked under it nicely.
Burrows feinted with a counter takedown.
Lvavatai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lvavatai looks to score with a jab to the body but Burrows is just out of range.
Burrows drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lvavatai sprawls and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Burrows.
Lvavatai throws a series of punches but Burrows avoids them all with ease.
Lvavatai bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Burrows's head.
Lvavatai looks to land a right hand but Burrows moved out of range.
Lvavatai throws out a loose jab but Burrows uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burrows half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Lvavatai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Burrows tries to counter with a takedown but Lvavatai is quick to defend against it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Burrows decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lvavatai 's guard.
Lvavatai wants to stand up but Burrows is controlling him.
Burrows working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burrows is looking to work some ground and pound but Lvavatai has wrist control.
Burrows throws a big elbow that misses.
Burrows throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lvavatai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burrows.
Lvavatai wants to get back to his feet but Burrows is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Burrows throws a strike but Lvavatai rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Burrows tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows tries to strike from the bottom.
Burrows throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Burrows throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Burrows is striking off his back. Lvavatai thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Burrows 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.
Burrows missing with punches from the bottom.
Burrows missing with punches from the bottom.
Burrows moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burrows throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Burrows is working an open guard so Lvavatai takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Lvavatai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Burrows changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tiaoali Lvavatai dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Burrows displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lvavatai throws out the jab.
Lvavatai throws a body punch but Burrows moves out of range.
Lvavatai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Burrows changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Lvavatai connects with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lvavatai throws a lazy right hand but Burrows sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A low kick from Lvavatai misses

and Burrows counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lvavatai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Burrows.
Lvavatai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Burrows.
Lvavatai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Burrows thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burrows throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lvavatai pushes Burrows off looking to stand but Burrows dives back in and keeps control.
Lvavatai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Burrows looks to land a strike but Lvavatai avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burrows accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burrows postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Burrows missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Burrows with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lvavatai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lvavatai wants to stand and escape but Burrows is having none of it.
Burrows throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burrows missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burrows accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burrows throws a big right hand that misses.
Lvavatai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Burrows throwing strikes but missing.
Burrows loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lvavatai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burrows is looking to work some ground and pound but Lvavatai has wrist control.
Lvavatai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burrows accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lvavatai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burrows.
Burrows throws a strike but Lvavatai rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Burrows throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Lvavatai decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A leg kick checked by Burrows.
A slow jab from Lvavatai misses its intended target.
Lvavatai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Burrows changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Lvavatai throws a looping overhand right but Burrows ducks down to avoid it.
Tiaoali Lvavatai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lvavatai throws a jab when Burrows was well out of range.
Burrows attempts a counter takedown but Lvavatai avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burrows takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Tiaoali Lvavatai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lvavatai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Burrows keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lvavatai tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lvavatai throws out a loose jab but Burrows uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burrows drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lvavatai sprawls and moves away.
Lvavatai tries to land a body kick

and Burrows counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tiaoali Lvavatai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Burrows staying out of range there.
Burrows changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Burrows slips a straight right by Lvavatai .
Lvavatai throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Lvavatai throws a sloppy head kick and Burrows moves out of range easily.
Tiaoali Lvavatai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lvavatai throws a nice looking combination but Burrows bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Burrows gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lvavatai .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows moves away from the strike by Lvavatai .
Lvavatai throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Burrows counters with a single leg into guard. Lvavatai didn't expect that.
Lvavatai wants to stand but Burrows is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burrows accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burrows postures up in Lvavatai 's guard and throws a big left but Lvavatai blocks it.
Burrows trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lvavatai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burrows is looking to work some ground and pound but Lvavatai has wrist control.
Burrows missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tiaoali Lvavatai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burrows throwing strikes but missing.
Burrows postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lvavatai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burrows.
Burrows is looking to work some ground and pound but Lvavatai has wrist control.
Burrows throws an elbow that misses. Lvavatai uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Burrows's guard. Nice move by Lvavatai !

Burrows throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Burrows tries to strike from the bottom.
Stuart Burrows overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burrows thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Burrows trying to strike off his back.
Burrows throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Lvavatai slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Burrows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Burrows flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Burrows missing with punches from the bottom.
Lvavatai blocks the strikes from Burrows.
Burrows flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Lvavatai blocks the strikes from Burrows.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lvavatai lunges at Burrows with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Burrows's hand.
Burrows uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lvavatai .
Burrows appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Lvavatai scores with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai lands a head kick. Burrows smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Lvavatai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A big left from Lvavatai misses.
Burrows attempts a counter takedown but Lvavatai avoids it well and moves away.
Lvavatai throws a lazy head kick

and Burrows counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lvavatai !
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burrows creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lvavatai sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Stuart Burrows has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burrows misses with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiaoali Lvavatai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lvavatai 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiaoali Lvavatai !
An out of breath Tiaoali Lvavatai thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.