PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Burman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Hitman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Burman
vs
Hitman

189 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Charlie Burman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Hitman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burman tries to close the distance and clinch but Hitman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hitman drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hitman moves out of range of the leg kick from Burman.
Hitman connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Burman gets caught flat footed, as Hitman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Burman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hitman controls the pace.

Hitman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hitman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Burman wants to stand and escape but Hitman is having none of it.
Hitman lands a couple of digs.
Hitman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hitman trying to control but Burman is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burman trying to strike off his back.
Hitman prevents Burman from getting back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hitman clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burman stops a takedown attempt from Hitman.

Hitman manages to break the clinch.
Burman swats away the attempt to clinch by Hitman.
Burman blocks a head kick by Hitman.

Hitman shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Burman pushes Hitman off looking to stand but Hitman dives back in and keeps control.
Burman is looking to get back to is feet but Hitman passes into side control.
Burman is pushing Hitman's head away, looking to escape. Hitman manages to hold on to the position though.

Burman sneaks out the side door and pushes Hitman away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Burman is breathing heavily.
Hitman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Burman avoids it really well and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hitman.
Charlie Burman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Hitman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Burman tries to bum rush Hitman with a series of wild strikes but Hitman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Hitman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Burman prevents the takedown attempt.
Burman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Burman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hitman tries to circle away but Burman has him pinned against the cage.
Burman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Hitman has clasped his hands together around Burman's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hitman tries to move into full mount but can't pass Burman's legs.
Burman is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burman pushes Hitman off and gets back to his feet.
Burman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hitman circles away quickly and effectively.
Hitman lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hitman throws a right and a left that Burman avoids nicely.
Burman connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Hitman rushes Burman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hitman effectively controlling the action here.
Burman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hitman digs a right hand into Burman's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Burman's gas tank.

Hitman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hitman pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burman darts in trying to clinch

and Hitman counters by moving into the clinch.
Burman takes a knee to the side of the body.

Hitman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hitman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Hitman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Hitman closes the distance and clinches.
Burman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hitman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee calls for Hitman to work.

Burman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hitman falls off balance throwing a combination
and Burman counters with a big head kick but Hitman shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Hitman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hitman tries to clinch but Burman is having none of it.
Hitman fails with the takedown.
Charlie Burman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hitman tries to clinch but Burman moves away

and Burman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burman.
Hitman with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Hitman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Burman takes the fight into the clinch.

Hitman manages to break the clinch.
Burman moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Hitman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hitman showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hitman stops Burman from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Burman with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hitman slips a nice elbow through Burman's hands, connecting with Burman's forehead.
Burman is trying to escape back to his feet but Hitman uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Burman is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hitman is controlling him well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Burman tries to clinch up but Hitman circles away and keeps his distance.
Burman throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Burman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Hitman drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hitman stands and throws Burman's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hitman has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Burman wants to try and get back to his feet.
Hitman raining down shots from the mount!
Burman taking shots to the head.
Hitman controlling the position easily from mount.
Burman is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Hitman wants to control the pace but Burman is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burman is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
A nice elbow there by Hitman.
Hitman tries to control but Burman wriggling away.
Burman squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Hitman has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Burman's face.
Burman is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Hitman lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Burman hang on?
Burman wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Burman trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Hitman wants to control the pace but Burman is squirming around nicely.
Hitman landing strikes, looking to finish!
Hitman tries to control but Burman wriggling away.
Hitman might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Burman kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hitman pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hitman wants to control the pace but Burman is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Hitman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Burman doesn't manage to clinch there - Hitman circles away.
Hitman connects with a high kick.
Hitman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burman sprawls well. Burman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hitman gets slowly back to his feet.
Burman throws a one two combo.

Burman closes the distance and clinches.

Burman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hitman lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Burman backs up against the cage.
Burman tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hitman counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Burman's guard now.
Hitman stops Burman from standing up.
Hitman is standing up over Burman. Burman looks to escape but Hitman dives into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burman is looking to get back to his feet here but Hitman is keeping cool and he's managed to take Burman's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitman lands shots from the back.
Burman wants to get back to his feet.
Hitman gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Burman controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Burman rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hitman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hitman looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hitman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hitman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hitman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Burman uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Hitman moves into the clinch.

Burman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hitman gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burman stops Hitman from passing to mount.
Hitman takes a little break here. Burman wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Hitman stands up and beckons Burman to his feet.
Hitman fails with the takedown.
Burman closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hitman counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hitman throws a front kick aimed at Burman's knee but Burman avoids it well.
Hitman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Burman avoids it really well and circles away.
Charlie Burman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Hitman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hitman throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Burman was covering up waiting for the punch and Hitman finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Burman has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hitman off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Hitman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hitman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hitman lands a big shot there that rocks Burman but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hitman dominating with strikes here.
Burman is bucking up trying to escape but Hitman cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Charlie Burman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dave Hitman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Burman is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Hitman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hitman 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Hitman!