PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Burton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasco Sousa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shawn Burton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Burton
vs
Sousa

191 cm
20
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shawn Burton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vasco Sousa!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burton shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sousa's guard.
Burton wants to control from the top but Sousa keeps moving.
Sousa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Burton works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Still in half guard, Burton seems content to control.
Burton seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sousa for as long as he can get away with.
Sousa trying to hold on to Burton's head to control him but Burton postures up.
Sousa is refusing to be controlled, as Burton sits in half guard.
Sousa wants to get back to his feet.
Sousa wants to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Burton connects with a nice short shot to Sousa's temple.
Burton prevents Sousa from standing back up.
Sousa tries to get to full guard but Burton has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa regains full guard. Nicely done.
Burton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sousa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Burton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sousa keeping moving, preventing Burton from controlling successfully.

Burton postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sousa is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Burton, into his guard.
Burton looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sousa puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sousa trying to control the action but Burton is working from the bottom.

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.
Burton is looking to improve his position.
Burton is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sousa trying to pass the guard but Burton defending well.
Burton flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Burton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Burton wants to sweep but no luck.

Burton is looking for a triangle here but Sousa uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Burton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Burton is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sousa decides to stand back up.
Sousa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sousa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Burton is looking to clinch.
Burton throws a right and a left that both miss.

Sousa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sousa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Burton keeping moving, preventing Sousa from controlling successfully.
Burton controls Sousa momentarily but Sousa frees himself.
Burton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burton looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sousa passes into side control.

Sousa stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Burton misses with a looping right.
Sousa slaps away a takedown attempt from Burton, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sousa misses with a double jab.
Sousa fails with the takedown

and Burton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Burton.
Sousa trying to keep a closed guard but Burton is proving a slippery customer.

Sousa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Burton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Burton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shawn Burton will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Burton misses with a double jab

and Sousa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Burton's guard.

Burton has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sousa is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Burton.
Burton manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sousa is trying to stand up here but Burton is controlling him well.
Sousa is refusing to be controlled, as Burton sits in half guard.
Sousa is looking to escape.
Sousa manages to get to full guard.
Burton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sousa is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sousa trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sousa wants to stand up but Burton is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sousa tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Burton counters by moving into the clinch.
Burton misses with a short punch on the inside.

Burton is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Sousa can't fight it off and eventually Burton manages to take the fight to the floor. Sousa looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sousa wants to sweep here but Burton controlling him for the moment.
Sousa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burton's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burton wants to sweep here but Sousa controlling him for the moment.
Sousa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Burton keeping moving, preventing Sousa from controlling successfully.
Sousa is looking to work some ground and pound but Burton has wrist control.
Sousa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sousa wants to stand but Burton is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton regains half guard.
Vasco Sousa has got the better of the ground game so far.

Burton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sousa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sousa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Burton does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sousa connects with a nice short shot to Burton's temple.
Burton gets full guard.
Burton looking to control.
Sousa throws and elbow that misses. Burton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sousa's guard. Nice move by Burton!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sousa wants to sweep but no luck.
Burton keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sousa's head.
Burton slips nicely into half guard.
Sousa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sousa.
Sousa keeping moving, preventing Burton from controlling successfully.
Burton passes into half guard.
Burton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sousa looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vasco Sousa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Burton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sousa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Burton tries to clinch
and Sousa counters with a big head kick but Burton shrugs it off.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sousa.
Burton is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sousa's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sousa has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Burton works to full guard.
Burton working a defensive guard here.

Sousa gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Burton looks to land a left hand but Sousa moved out of range nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Burton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa landing small, sideways elbows.
Sousa pushes Burton off but Burton dives into side control.
Burton trying to control the position but Sousa is working away.
Burton scores with a couple of short elbows.
Sousa is trying to buck Burton off.
Burton connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sousa some visible discomfort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sousa is looking to reverse the position.
The referee asks Burton politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Burton prefers to stall for the moment though.
Burton working the head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burton landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Burton lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Burton scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sousa to see if he's OK.
Sousa is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Burton's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sousa is trying to stand.
Burton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Burton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Burton with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sousa won't allow Burton to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton lands with a punch from half guard.
Burton slips a nice elbow through Sousa's hands, connecting with Sousa's forehead.
Burton is thwarting Sousa's attempts to control the position.
Burton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sousa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sousa trying to control the position.
Sousa being controlled here, momentarily.
Burton trying to control but Sousa is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sousa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burton.
Sousa is trying to control the position but Burton postures up.
Sousa wants to get back to his feet but Burton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Burton looking to pass the guard.

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

Burton shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sousa's guard.

Burton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Burton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sousa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Shawn Burton.
I think Burton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Shawn Burton!