PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andy Burda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valera Zugin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Burda
vs
Zugin

171 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
149 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Burda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Valera Zugin!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zugin with a poor takedown
and Burda cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zugin fails with the takedown
and Burda counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zugin doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Burda counter with a right hand.
Andy Burda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valera Zugin.
A cross from Burda lands.
Zugin blocks the body kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Burda moves into the clinch.
Zugin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Burda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Zugin gets control of Burda's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zugin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Burda gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Burda misses with a combination

and Zugin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Burda's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zugin trying to control but Burda is working from the bottom.
Zugin is looking to stand up but Burda won't let him.
Burda is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zugin is controlling him.
Zugin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zugin trying to control but Burda is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Burda is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zugin wants to control from the top but Burda keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Valera Zugin was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Good leg kick by Burda there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Burda wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zugin looks gassed!
Burda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Burda lands with a slapping head kick.

Burda throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Zugin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Burda is in Zugin's guard.

Burda gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burda gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Zugin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Burda wants to stand but Zugin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Burda got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zugin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Burda has managed to get both his arms back between Zugin's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Burda stands up from Zugin's guard - Burda perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burda is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zugin looks to clinch

and Burda counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zugin!
Zugin is looking to get to half guard.

Burda stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zugin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Burda is fending him off so far but Zugin persists. Nope, Burda circles away and we're back to standing.
Zugin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zugin misses with a takedown
and Burda cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Burda has Zugin up against the cage in a clinch.
Burda prevents the takedown attempt.
Burda prevents a takedown attempt there.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Zugin gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Burda regains guard.
Burda is looking to stand up but Zugin isn't so interested in that idea.

Zugin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Burda is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Burda has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burda stands up and waves to Zugin to follow him.
Burda connects with an inside leg kick.
Zugin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Burda defends it nicely.
Burda lands with a slapping head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zugin misses with a takedown

and Burda counters by clinching up.

Burda lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zugin looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Burda dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zugin shoots in and drives through. Burda sprawls well.
Zugin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burda pinned against the cage. Burda gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Burda staying out of range there.
Zugin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Burda finds it's way round the side to connect with Zugin's head.

Burda gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Burda wants the takedown. Zugin is fighting it off but Burda persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Zugin's guard against the cage.

Burda stands and steps away. Zugin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Zugin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Burda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zugin's guard.
Andy Burda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valera Zugin.
Zugin doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Zugin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zugin working a defensive guard here.
Burda might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burda stands and steps away. Zugin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Danga de danga de dang - Burda scores with a four punch combination!
Zugin closes the distance and clinches up with Burda, looking for a takedown. Zugin pushes Burda against the cage but Burda circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Burda throws a head kick that misses.
Zugin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zugin tries for a takedown but Burda circles away easily

and Burda counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zugin!
Zugin slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Burda stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Zugin tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zugin shoots and misses
and Burda makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Burda shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Burda showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Burda stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burda throws a nice looking combination but Zugin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zugin with a poor takedown
and Burda counters with a three punch combo that has Zugin backing up. Zugin nods at Burda to acknowledge the strikes.
Zugin tries for a takedown but Burda circles away easily
and Burda counters with a head kick. That will keep Zugin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Burda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zugin fails with the takedown.
Zugin misses with a takedown
and Burda counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zugin misses with a takedown attempt
and Burda counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Burda circles away from the clinch attempt
and Burda counters with a nice uppercut.
Burda moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zugin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Burda misses with a wild body shot.
Burda thows a body shot but no joy.
Zugin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burda sprawls well. Burda wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zugin gets slowly back to his feet.

Burda scores a takedown into full mount!
Burda takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Zugin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zugin is trying to stand up.

Burda gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burda cracks Zugin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Burda throws a series of strikes that have Zugin backpedaling.
Zugin moves out of range as Burda throws a body kick.
Zugin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Burda connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Burda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zugin tries for a takedown but Burda sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zugin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zugin with a poor takedown
and Burda counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Zugin thinking.
Burda is looking to land body kicks.
Burda connects with a high kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zugin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Zugin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Burda is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Burda dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zugin has a takedown stuffed.
Zugin takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Burda feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zugin's calf.
Burda lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Burda keeps the fight on the outside.
Zugin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Burda counters with a low kick, right behind Zugin 's knee.
Zugin tries for a takedown but Burda circles away easily
and Burda counters with a good low kick that Zugin was not able to check.
Andy Burda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valera Zugin.
Zugin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Burda darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Burda gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zugin gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burda gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Burda wants to stand but Zugin is controlling his posture from full guard.
Burda postures up.
Zugin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zugin wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Burda is now in half guard.
Burda stops Zugin from getting back to his feet.
Zugin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zugin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Burda decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Burda rushes Zugin and presses him up against the cage.

Burda gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Zugin looks like he's trying to stand up.
Burda blocks the strikes from Zugin.
Zugin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Zugin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Zugin wants to improve his position but Burda is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burda stands up out of the half guard.
Zugin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Burda counters with a big head kick but Zugin shrugs it off.
Zugin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Burda counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zugin tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Burda counters with a single leg into guard. Zugin didn't expect that.
Zugin wants to sweep here but Burda controlling him for the moment.
Zugin trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burda gets to his feet. Zugin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Zugin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zugin has his takedown stuffed
and Burda counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Andy Burda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Burda fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zugin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Zugin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Burda as he jumps to the side.
Zugin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Burda avoids it really well and circles away.

Zugin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Andy Burda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zugin tries to control but Burda wriggling away.
Valera Zugin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Zugin swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Burda is now in Zugin's guard. A big mistake from Zugin there, giving up the dominant position!

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Burda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Burda has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Burda!