PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dick Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Ricard (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.

Burns
vs
Ricard

200 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
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 New York, Dick Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Ricard!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Dean Styles and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns looks for a takedown but Ricard sprawls well.
Burns throws a sloppy head kick and Ricard moves out of range easily.

Burns rushes Ricard and presses him up against the cage.
Burns stalling in the clinch but Ricard improves position.
Burns wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ricard has him pressed against the cage.

Burns breaks from the clinch.

Ricard scores with a takedown into Burns's guard.
Ricard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ricard wants to pass the guard but Burns is keeping the position.
Burns wants to sweep here but Ricard controlling him for the moment.
Ricard throws a big right hand that misses.
Burns is trying to control the position but Ricard postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns can't keep his opponent in guard - Ricard advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Ricard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Burns wants to control but Ricard is keeping busy.
Burns on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Burns on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Ricard is trying to work for a kimura but Burns is defending well.
Burns tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Burns won't allow Ricard to pass to mount.
Ground and pound from Ricard.
Burns is looking to escape.
Ricard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Ricard is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Burns has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ricard looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Ricard.
Ricard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Burns on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Burns is trying to maintain the position but Ricard is very close to passing his half guard.
Burns pushes Ricard off looking to stand but Ricard dives back in and keeps control.
Burns is trying to maintain the position but Ricard is very close to passing his half guard.
Ricard should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Burns taking some punishment here, with Ricard in his half guard.
Burns regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ricard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burns is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ricard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ricard drops back looking for a leg! Burns is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Burns manages to kick Ricard off! Ricard jumps back into Burns's guard.
Burns lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ricard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns prevents Ricard from getting the reversal.
Ricard throwing hammer fists to the chest of Burns. What's that going to do exactly?
Ricard sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Ricard actively working from the bottom here.
Ricard is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Ricard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ricard bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Ricard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ricard with a nice head shot there.
Ricard won't allow Burns to sweep him here.
Burns wants to get back to his feet but Ricard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Burns not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ricard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ricard stops Burns from standing up.
Ricard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Burns is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Burns is looking to clinch.

Ricard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ricard lands in his opponent's guard.
Ricard scoring with some ground and pound.
Ricard works over Burns with some ground and pound from guard.
Ricard landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Ricard dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Burns is looking to clinch but Ricard is avoiding it.
Burns really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Burns fails with the takedown

and Ricard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ricard.
Ricard postures up and lands a big shot to Burns's brow.
Ricard distracts Burns with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ricard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Burns will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ricard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Burns controls Ricard momentarily but Ricard frees himself.
Ricard throws a big right hand that misses.
Burns tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ricard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ricard lands in his opponent's guard.

Ricard is sitting in close to Burns's body. Burns has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Ricard is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Ricard is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Burns.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Dick Burns!