PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Donovan Burch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Zukerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donovan Burch looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Burch
vs
Zukerman

169 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
132 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Donovan Burch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, David Zukerman!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Zukerman. No joy for Burch on that attempt.
Zukerman looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Burch decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Burch trying to work for an americana but Zukerman has managed to regain full guard.
Burch stands up over Zukerman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Zukerman trying to keep a closed guard but Burch is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burch throws and elbow that misses. Zukerman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Burch's guard. Nice move by Zukerman!
Zukerman prevents Burch from getting back to his feet.
Zukerman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burch is keeping the position for now.
Zukerman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zukerman is looking to work some ground and pound but Burch has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zukerman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zukerman trying to control but Burch is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zukerman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Burch counters with a single leg into guard. Zukerman didn't expect that.
Zukerman keeping moving, preventing Burch from controlling successfully.
Zukerman wants to stand up but Burch is controlling him.
Burch is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zukerman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zukerman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burch.
Zukerman controls Burch momentarily but Burch frees himself.
Burch working some strikes from top position.
Burch slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Zukerman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Burch is pushing Zukerman's head away, looking to escape. Zukerman manages to hold on to the position though.
Burch tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zukerman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zukerman in side control lands a decent elbow.
Burch is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zukerman's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zukerman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Burch 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. Zukerman connects with a nice short shot to Burch's temple.
Zukerman throwing shots but Burch is blocking nicely.
Zukerman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burch wants to get back to full guard.
Zukerman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zukerman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zukerman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Burch counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Burch.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zukerman can do anything to dispel that myth.
Burch tries to free his leg and advance position but Zukerman is retaining full guard.
Burch sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Burch wants to pass the guard but Zukerman is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zukerman drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zukerman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zukerman is looking to work some ground and pound but Burch has wrist control.
Zukerman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zukerman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zukerman wants to control from the top but Burch keeps moving.
Burch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zukerman.
Zukerman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zukerman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Burch has Zukerman up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zukerman prevents a takedown attempt there.

Zukerman has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Burch regains guard immediately.
Burch keeping moving, preventing Zukerman from controlling successfully.
Zukerman works over Burch with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zukerman won't allow Burch to get back to his feet.
Burch looking for a sweep. Not yet Burch, not yet.
Zukerman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zukerman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zukerman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Burch counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Burch is trying to control the action in half guard but Zukerman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Burch is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zukerman is just riding it out for now. Burch eventually gives up the hold.
Burch throwing shots but Zukerman is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burch wants to take a breather but Zukerman is having none of it.
Zukerman is looking to escape.
Zukerman wants to get back to full guard.
Burch wants to take a breather but Zukerman is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A nice combination there by Zukerman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nice defenses there by Zukerman.
Zukerman doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Burch counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Burch wants to control from the top but Zukerman keeps moving.
Zukerman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burch thows a big elbow that misses.
Zukerman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Burch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zukerman wants to stand up but Burch is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donovan Burch dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Burch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burch fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zukerman avoids it really well and circles away.
Zukerman scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
David Zukerman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zukerman with a poor takedown

and Burch counters with a single leg into guard. Zukerman didn't expect that.
Burch working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zukerman's head.
Burch trying to control the position from guard on top but Zukerman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burch preventing the sweep.
Burch throws and elbow that misses. Zukerman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Burch's guard. Nice move by Zukerman!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zukerman postures up in Burch's guard and throws a big left but Burch blocks it.
Burch preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Burch wants to sweep here but Zukerman controlling him for the moment.
Burch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zukerman.
Donovan Burch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zukerman with a poor takedown

and Burch counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zukerman keeping hold of Burch's head, controlling as best he can.

Zukerman looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zukerman is controlling Burch's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Burch is trying to control. Zukerman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zukerman scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Burch manages to mount him!
Burch tries to control but Zukerman wriggling away.
Burch controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zukerman is in all sorts of trouble here.
Burch wants to control the pace but Zukerman is squirming around nicely.
Zukerman tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burch content just to control the position here.
Burch misses with a head shot.
Burch landing strikes, looking to finish!
Zukerman is in a horrible position here. Burch smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Burch with good strikes from the mount here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Donovan Burch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burch, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donovan Burch!