PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Burneika (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abraham Safforn (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.

Burneika
vs
Safforn

210 cm
23
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

205 cm
21
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Burneika!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abraham Safforn!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Glass and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Safforn throws a nice inside leg kick.

Safforn has closed the distance and engaged Burneika in a clinch.
Safforn lands with a left to the head.
Burneika misses with a punch on the inside.
Safforn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Burneika as the two fighters clinch.
Safforn blocks a body shot from Burneika.
Burneika blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Safforn.
Burneika blocking some punches.
Safforn swings wildly with an uppercut but Burneika uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Safforn.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Safforn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Safforn breaks the clinch.
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!
Burneika tries to clinch but Safforn is having none of it.
Some bone on bone action there as Burneika checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Burneika throws a sloppy head kick and Safforn moves out of range easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Burneika checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Burneika scores with a jab to the head.
Safforn throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Robert Burneika is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Safforn lands but Burneika takes it in his stride.
Burneika throws a half hearted mid kick.

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

Safforn breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Safforn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Safforn lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Burneika uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Safforn.
Safforn connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Safforn just misses with a punch to the body.
Burneika tries to clinch but Safforn moves away
and Safforn counters with a thumping low kick.
Burneika ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Safforn moves away.
Safforn misses the jab.
Safforn looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Burneika throws a head kick that misses.
Safforn lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Burneika fails with an attempt to clinch.
Safforn lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safforn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Safforn blocks a head kick by Burneika.
Safforn throws a leg kick but Burneika sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Safforn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Burneika.
Burneika closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Abraham Safforn has been cut.
Burneika takes a swing at Safforn's ribcage but misses.
Safforn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Burneika wants to clinch up but Safforn keeps it at a distance.
Burneika checks a leg kick.
Good shot there by Burneika.
Burneika scores with a nice head shot.
Robert Burneika seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burneika stuffs the takedown attempt from Safforn. Safforn gets slowly back to his feet.
Burneika throws a sloppy head kick

and Safforn counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Burneika!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Safforn postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Burneika can't do much from the bottom here.
Safforn working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safforn misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Safforn landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Burneika takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Safforn trying to control the position but Burneika is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burneika is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Safforn off and has taken his back!
Safforn rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Safforn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Burneika wants to stand up but Safforn has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Safforn is staying active underneath Burneika, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Safforn is trying to get back to full guard.
Safforn has his hands clasped together around Burneika's back. He's all about the action.
Safforn wants to get back to full guard.
Safforn is staying active underneath Burneika, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Robert Burneika wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Safforn moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Burneika keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Safforn avoids the head kick by Burneika.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Safforn gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Safforn changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Burneika tries to move into range but Safforn moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abraham Safforn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abraham Safforn's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Burneika cracks the inside of Safforn's front leg.
Burneika avoids the body shot from Safforn.
Safforn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Burneika is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Safforn throws a sloppy head kick and Burneika moves out of range easily.
Safforn connects with a high kick.
Abraham Safforn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Burneika moves in looking to clinch but Safforn pushes him off.
Burneika stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Safforn.
Safforn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Safforn thuds a left hand into Burneika's body.
Burneika works over Safforn's head and body with a nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Burneika darts in and clinches Safforn up against the cage.
Safforn working aggressively here.
Burneika's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Burneika lands a right hand.
Nice body punch from Burneika.
Safforn blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safforn tries a body shot but Burneika blocks it.
Burneika goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Safforn can't break the clinch.
Safforn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right from Safforn on the inside.

Safforn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Safforn.
Safforn throws a jab but it's blocked by Burneika.
Safforn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Burneika misses with the combination.
Safforn ducks right into an uppercut from Burneika.
Burneika lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Burneika fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Safforn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Safforn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burneika was well out of range. Poor timing from Safforn.
Burneika is looking to clinch but Safforn is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safforn walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Burneika checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Burneika looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burneika looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Safforn drives through with a takedown into Burneika's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Burneika is trying to keep Safforn in close.
Safforn trying to control the position from guard on top but Burneika is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burneika is looking to sweep but instead, Safforn has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burneika trying to hold on to Safforn's head to control him but Safforn postures up.
Burneika controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Safforn scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Burneika is not content to let Safforn control the position.
Safforn performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Safforn moves in looking to clinch but Burneika pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burneika tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Safforn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Safforn is looking to slow Burneika down with leg kicks.
Burneika tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Burneika.
Robert Burneika is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burneika moves out of range as Safforn throws a body kick.
Safforn connects with a high kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burneika throws a head kick but Safforn moves out of range.
Burneika avoids the head kick by Safforn.
The fight stays on the outside here - Burneika looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A swing and a miss from Burneika.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Burneika tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Safforn throws a hook to the side of Burneika's head but Burneika sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Safforn takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Burneika is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Burneika lands a two punch combo.
Burneika blocks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Abraham Safforn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Abraham Safforn's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Burneika ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Safforn moves away.
Safforn throws a low kick, looking for Burneika's leg but Burneika calmly moves out of range.
Burneika fails in his attempt to clinch.
Burneika wants to clinch up but Safforn keeps it at a distance.
Safforn swats away the attempt to clinch by Burneika.
Burneika tries to close the distance and clinch up but Safforn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Safforn avoids the head kick by Burneika.
Safforn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Burneika looks to clinch
and Safforn counters with a right hand to the body.
Safforn lunges at Burneika with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Burneika's hand.
Safforn scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Safforn avoids a punch combination nicely.
Burneika tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Safforn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good shot there by Safforn.
Burneika tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Safforn paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safforn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Burneika showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Safforn.
Safforn cracks the inside of Burneika's front leg.
Safforn ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Burneika closes the distance but Safforn moves to the side
and Safforn counters with a stiff right hand.
Safforn plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Burneika is rocked!
Safforn walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Burneika checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Burneika cracks Safforn with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Burneika keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Safforn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Burneika as he avoids it easily.
Burneika doesn't manage to clinch there - Safforn circles away.
Burneika avoids the body shot from Safforn.
Burneika fails in his attempt to clinch.

Safforn takes the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burneika lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burneika can't find room to land a body shot as Safforn controls the action.
Burneika blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Safforn trying to stall but Burneika improves his position.
Safforn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Safforn tries to stall but Burneika uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Safforn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Safforn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Burneika backwards.
Oh Burneika is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Safforn tries to stall but Burneika uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Burneika.
A short right from Safforn on the inside.
Burneika tries a body shot but Safforn blocks it.
Nice body punch from Safforn - that landed with a thud.
Burneika seems to have got his legs back now.
Safforn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Burneika backwards.
Burneika tries to throw a body punch but Safforn avoids it by throwing Burneika back against the cage.
Safforn taking a breather.
Safforn is looking to control Burneika's arms but Burneika gets an underhook and turns him. Now Safforn has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burneika goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Burneika misses with some punches.
Safforn misses with a body punch.
A short uppercut from Safforn.
Safforn can't find room to land a body shot as Burneika controls the action.
Safforn can't find room to land a body shot as Burneika controls the action.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Burneika tries a body shot but Safforn blocks it.
Safforn wants to take the fight to the mat but Burneika manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Burneika is trying to break free.
Burneika blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Safforn.
Burneika prevents a body shot from Safforn.
A right handed body shot lands from Burneika.
Burneika misses with a short punch on the inside.
Burneika holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Safforn is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burneika misses with a hook from the clinch.
Safforn displaying some good clinch control by pressing Burneika up against the cage.
Burneika is looking to break free of the clinch but Safforn has double underhooks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burneika prevents a body shot from Safforn.
Burneika misses with some punches.
Burneika is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Safforn is keeping busy.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Safforn.
Safforn is pushing Burneika up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Robert Burneika has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burneika scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Safforn blocks a body shot from Burneika.
Abraham Safforn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Burneika as Safforn tries to tie him up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abraham Safforn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Safforn has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abraham Safforn!
A very excited looking Abraham Safforn made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.