PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Grigori Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shamus Burby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grigori Rasputin could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Shamus Burby's chin.

Rasputin
vs
Burby

187 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

168 cm
20
152 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grigori Rasputin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shamus Burby!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burby tries to clinch but Rasputin moves out of range.
Rasputin shoots in but no luck this time.
Burby tries to clinch up.
Rasputin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Burby tries to clinch up but Rasputin circles away and keeps his distance.
Rasputin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rasputin doesn't manage to clinch there - Burby circles away.
Shamus Burby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Burby moves into the clinch successfully.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Burby just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rasputin's brow.
A body shot lands from Burby.
Burby misses with a knee strike.
Burby lands with a light punch inside.
The referee calls for Burby to work.
Burby tries to land knees in the clinch but Rasputin avoids the damage to the body.
Burby stalls.
Rasputin wants a takedown.
Burby will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rasputin up against the cage.
Burby lands an elbow inside.
Burby tries a knee to the head but Rasputin blocks it.
Rasputin has had enough of the clinch but Burby keeps him there for the moment.

Burby breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burby shoots in and bounces Rasputin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Burby is looking to stand up but Rasputin won't let him.
Burby looking to sit in guard and control but Rasputin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rasputin controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burby is wriggling around but Rasputin manages to pass to half guard.
Rasputin tries to pass to full mount but Burby defends it.
Burby really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rasputin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Burby tries to kick Rasputin off but Rasputin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rasputin lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Rasputin is going to stand back up.

Burby has one foot on Rasputin's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Burby has managed to clinch.
Rasputin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigori Rasputin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rasputin tries to pull guard but Burby won't allow it.
Rasputin avoiding damage as Burby throws knees to the body.
Rasputin goes for a takedown attempt but Burby pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rasputin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Burby counters by moving into the clinch.
Rasputin is breathing heavily.
Rasputin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Burby smiles and moves away.
Rasputin with a poor takedown

and Burby counters by clinching up.
Good body shot from Burby.

Rasputin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rasputin working a defensive guard here.
Burby tries to stand but Rasputin is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin being controlled here, momentarily.
Burby tries to stand but Rasputin is controlling from the bottom.
Rasputin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burby's guard.
Burby wants to get back to his feet but Rasputin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rasputin trying to control the position from guard on top but Burby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rasputin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Burby is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rasputin is controlling him.
Rasputin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rasputin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Burby wants to stand and escape but Rasputin is having none of it.
Burby has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rasputin has passed into side control.
Burby is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Rasputin stands up.
Rasputin has his takedown stuffed

and Burby holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shamus Burby dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rasputin lands a head kick!
Burby closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rasputin counters with a nice leg kick.
Burby tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rasputin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rasputin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Burby circles away.
Rasputin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Burby tries to clinch up but Rasputin circles away and keeps his distance.
Burby looks to clinch

and Rasputin counters with a takedown into side control.
Burby tries to bench press Rasputin off him but Rasputin keeps the position.
Rasputin tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Burby is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasputin tries for a kimura but Burby is defending well.

Burby throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Burby showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rasputin.
Burby tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rasputin counters with a body kick that stops Burby in his tracks momentarily.
Rasputin wants to clinch

and Burby counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burby.
Rasputin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigori Rasputin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burby scores with a shoulder strike.
Rasputin avoiding damage as Burby throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burby lands with a short shot to the head.

Burby manages to break the clinch.
Rasputin has his takedown stuffed

and Burby counters by clinching up.

Burby breaks from the clinch.
Rasputin shoots and misses

and Burby moves into the clinch.

Burby breaks the clinch.
Burby wants to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Burby escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Burby forces Rasputin back against the cage and clinches.

Rasputin wants the takedown. Burby is fighting it off but Rasputin persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Burby's guard against the cage.
Rasputin is stalling in the full guard.
Rasputin won't allow Burby to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin landing some decent shots from guard.
Burby is striking from the bottom but Rasputin uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Rasputin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rasputin is looking to take a break and control but Burby is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rasputin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Burby has one foot on Rasputin's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rasputin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Burby holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Burby.

Burby manages to break the clinch.
Rasputin shoots and misses

and Burby counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Burby trying to control the position from guard on top but Rasputin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rasputin wants to stand and escape but Burby is having none of it.
Grigori Rasputin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burby accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burby has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rasputin is proving hard to escape from.
Rasputin trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shamus Burby will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rasputin has his takedown stuffed

and Burby counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burby.
Burby lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rasputin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rasputin has had enough of the clinch but Burby keeps him there for the moment.
Rasputin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Burby has him pressed against the cage.
Burby with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Burby manages to break the clinch.
Rasputin shoots and misses

and Burby counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigori Rasputin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rasputin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Burby lands an elbow inside that Rasputin shrugs off.
Burby is working Rasputin over against the cage.
Burby lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rasputin or not.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Burby lands a nice knee to the body.
Burby is leaning against Rasputin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Burby works on Rasputin's body with a couple of short punches.
Burby lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Burby breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rasputin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Burby counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burby works on Rasputin's body with a couple of short punches.
A bit of stalling here from Burby.
Burby tries to stall but Rasputin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Burby tries to land knees in the clinch but Rasputin avoids the damage to the body.
Rasputin jumps guard but Burby stands there with Rasputin around his waist. Rasputin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rasputin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Burby breaks from the clinch.
Rasputin tries for a takedown but Burby circles away easily

and Burby moves into the clinch.
Rasputin tries to break the clinch but Burby is controlling the position.
Rasputin letting Burby take a breather here.
Burby misses with a knee strike.
Burby landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Burby wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Burby wants to stall.

Rasputin pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rasputin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rasputin wants to control the position but Burby says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Rasputin moves into full guard.
Burby working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Burby decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rasputin, up you get!
Rasputin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rasputin lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Burby has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Burby and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Burby tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rasputin counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Burby is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Burby gets a clinch.
Burby lands a knee to the body.
Burby is pressed up against the cage. Rasputin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Burby down to the mat. Burby avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rasputin has his takedown stuffed
and Burby counters with a three punch combo that has Rasputin backing up. Rasputin nods at Burby to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin shoots and misses

and Burby holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rasputin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Burby breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burby wants to clinch up but Rasputin keeps it at a distance.
Good leg kick by Rasputin there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rasputin with a poor takedown

and Burby counters by clinching up.
Rasputin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Burby is keeping busy.
Burby avoiding damage as Rasputin throws knees to the body.
Burby leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rasputin is trying to stall.
Rasputin is leaning against Burby and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Burby scores a nice knee to the body.
Rasputin wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Burby gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Burby cracks Rasputin with a nice body shot.
Burby tries to land knees in the clinch but Rasputin avoids the damage to the body.
Burby prevents Rasputin from breaking the clinch.
Burby pushes Rasputin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Burby tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Burby just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rasputin's brow.
A right hook to the body lands for Burby.

Rasputin pulls guard.

Burby stands up and waves to Rasputin to follow him.
Rasputin misses with a takedown attempt

and Burby counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burby.
Rasputin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rasputin.
A right hand to the body from Burby.
Burby has Rasputin pushed against the cage.
Grigori Rasputin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burby blocks an elbow strike.
Rasputin tries to pull guard but Burby holds him up against the cage and eventually Rasputin drops back down to his feet.
Burby lands a nice uppercut.
Rasputin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Burby.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shamus Burby comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Burby winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shamus Burby!