PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ron Burgundy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Burgundy
vs
Smith

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ron Burgundy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Smith!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith wants to clinch up but Burgundy keeps it at a distance.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smith laying and praying for a moment but Burgundy takes advantage and regains half guard.
Burgundy is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Burgundy is controlling Smith's posture.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burgundy is keeping the position for now.

Burgundy pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
Burgundy misses with a series of wild punches.
Burgundy misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Burgundy lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Burgundy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Smith has Burgundy up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith tries for a takedown. No joy.
Burgundy wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.

Burgundy successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burgundy wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Burgundy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burgundy seems keen to control Smith's posture.
Burgundy wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Burgundy is breathing heavily.
Burgundy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Burgundy is working from the bottom.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burgundy is keeping the position for now.
Burgundy is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Smith is looking to clinch but Burgundy is avoiding it.
Burgundy misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgundy throws a hook but Smith blocks it.
Smith scores with a kick to the body.
A combination from Burgundy does no damage.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ron Burgundy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Smith.
Burgundy throws a series of strikes that have Smith backpedaling.
Some wild striking there from Burgundy.
No joy there for Burgundy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Burgundy throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Burgundy doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Smith as Burgundy shoots in.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burgundy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A good leg kick by Smith.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Burgundy.

Smith rushes Burgundy and presses him up against the cage.
Burgundy has Smith pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Burgundy.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Burgundy closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Burgundy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ron Burgundy dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burgundy's corner calls for a 1-2. Burgundy obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Smith changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ron Burgundy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burgundy with a lazy takedown attempt
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Smith tries to clinch up but Burgundy circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Burgundy is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Burgundy circles away and we're back to standing.
Burgundy slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Burgundy throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Smith takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burgundy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Smith moves into the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Burgundy throws a left and a right that both miss

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burgundy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Burgundy misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Burgundy swivels and escapes.
Ron Burgundy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Smith.
Burgundy throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Burgundy gets back to half guard.
Burgundy is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith wants to take a breather but Burgundy is having none of it.
Burgundy is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burgundy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Burgundy's head.
Burgundy tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burgundy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith wants to control from the top but Burgundy keeps moving.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith trying to control but Burgundy is working from the bottom.
Burgundy pulls Smith in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgundy trying to control the position.
Burgundy wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Burgundy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burgundy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Smith avoids the head kick by Burgundy.
Burgundy throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ron Burgundy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Danga de danga de dang - Burgundy scores with a four punch combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Burgundy takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Burgundy swinging wildly here.
Burgundy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.

Smith drives through and clinches with Burgundy against the cage.
Burgundy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Burgundy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Burgundy drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith fails to pull guard.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Burgundy.

Burgundy manages to break the clinch.
Burgundy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smith counters with a nice low kick that buckles Burgundy's knee momentarily.
Burgundy throws a leg kick but Smith moved away.
Burgundy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Burgundy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Burgundy throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Smith blocks the leg kick.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Burgundy.
Burgundy misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a nice body kick.
Burgundy keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Burgundy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Burgundy has his takedown stuffed

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith tries to pull guard but Burgundy holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Burgundy tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith successfully pulls guard.
Burgundy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith is trying to control the position but Burgundy postures up.
Burgundy looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Michael Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burgundy looking for a sweep. Not yet Burgundy, not yet.
Smith trying to control but Burgundy is working from the bottom.
Burgundy wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Burgundy throws out a leg kick but Smith moves out of range and Burgundy only half commits.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Smith feints and as Burgundy raises his hands in defense, Smith changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Burgundy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
Burgundy trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Burgundy keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith pushes down on Burgundy's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smith blocks the strikes from Burgundy.
Burgundy wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgundy is looking to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Smith clinches up with Burgundy and pushes him back against the cage.

Burgundy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Burgundy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Smith fakes the leg kick and cracks Burgundy in the body.
Smith works over Burgundy's head and body with a nice combination.
Burgundy throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith counters with a thumping low kick.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Burgundy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Burgundy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Burgundy tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Burgundy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Burgundy throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Burgundy backing up. Burgundy nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
Burgundy misses with a combination
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Horrible takedown by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Burgundy which made him look bad.
Ron Burgundy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Smith.
Nice sprawl there from Burgundy as Smith shoots in.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burgundy but Burgundy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Burgundy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into side control. Burgundy won't be happy with that.
Burgundy wants to control but Smith postures up.
Burgundy pushes Smith away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Smith gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Burgundy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith working the strikes but Burgundy uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Smith!