PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darren Symonds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Burgess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Burgess will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Symonds
vs
Burgess

165 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Symonds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Burgess!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burgess misses with a head kick.

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

Burgess turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Burgess manages to end up in side control.
Burgess slows the pace down.

Burgess thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Burgess taking a breather here.
Burgess landing strikes.

Burgess is trying to get an arm triangle but Symonds is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Burgess decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Burgess pushes Symonds up against the cage in a clinch.
Symonds connects with a nasty looking knee right to Burgess's face.

It looks like Alex Burgess has been cut.
Burgess avoiding damage as Symonds throws knees to the body.

Burgess breaks the clinch.
Burgess is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Symonds darts in and clinches Burgess up against the cage.
The referee calls for Burgess to work.
Burgess takes a knee to the side of the body.
Burgess stalling in the clinch but Symonds improves position.
Burgess dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Burgess looks gassed!
Symonds crunches a lovely knee into Burgess's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Symonds with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Symonds lands a nice knee to the body.
Burgess tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Symonds just stands there and leans against the cage.
Symonds tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Symonds trying to control the position but instead, Burgess has worked for underhooks and has pushed Symonds into the cage.
A short right from Symonds on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Burgess as Symonds tries to tie him up.
Symonds tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Symonds tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Burgess tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Symonds just stands there and leans against the cage.

Symonds escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burgess shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Symonds pinned against the cage. Symonds gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Darren Symonds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Burgess.
Symonds will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Burgess. Those never looked like landing.

Symonds instigates a clinch.
Burgess takes a knee right on the jaw!
Symonds is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A knee to the head by Symonds.
Burgess takes a knee to the side of the body.
Symonds is trying to maintain a safe position but Burgess gets an underhook and turns Symonds into the cage.
Symonds tries a knee to the head but Burgess blocks it.
Symonds wants to get back to striking at distance but Burgess won't allow it.
Burgess wants to break the clinch but can't.

Symonds gets control of Burgess's arms and successfully pulls guard. Symonds will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Symonds knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Burgess on the ground.
Symonds wants to stand up but Burgess is controlling him.
Symonds trying to keep a closed guard but Burgess is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess stops Symonds from standing up.
Burgess throwing strikes but missing.
Symonds wants to stand but Burgess is controlling the position.
Symonds wants to get back to his feet but Burgess passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Burgess will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alex Burgess's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Symonds displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Burgess.
Symonds tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burgess was well out of range. Poor timing from Symonds.
Burgess scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Burgess fails with the takedown.

Symonds moves into the clinch successfully.
Burgess takes a knee right on the jaw!
Symonds tries to pull guard but Burgess won't allow it.

Symonds decides to pull guard.
Burgess trying to control but Symonds is working from the bottom.
Symonds is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burgess is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Symonds has a closed guard, preventing Burgess from standing up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Burgess in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Symonds trying to keep a closed guard but Burgess is proving a slippery customer.

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

Symonds has Burgess up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two 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.
Symonds connects with a knee to the head.
Burgess fails to pull guard.
Darren Symonds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Burgess.
Burgess jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Symonds walks away with a smile on his face. Burgess gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Symonds throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Burgess's head.

Symonds gets a clinch.
Burgess is trying to force a seperation but Symonds has the dominant position.
A knee to the head by Symonds.
Symonds misses with an elbow over the top.

Symonds breaks the clinch.
Burgess misses with a looping right.

Symonds rushes Burgess and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Symonds is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Symonds lands a knee to the head.

Burgess is rocked!
Burgess takes a knee right on the jaw!
Burgess is still on wobbly legs! Can Symonds finish him?
Symonds unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Symonds has Burgess pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Burgess is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Symonds - that's hurt Burgess badly! Oh, another knee lands and Burgess is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Burgess doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Darren Symonds!