PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Beckett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Burke (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.

Beckett
vs
Burke

178 cm
23
200 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

178 cm
24
183 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

TWGC Champion
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Conquer
LOD: Affordable Quality

Alpha-Male Nutritional Supplements (q160)
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert Beckett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Burke!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beckett throws a sloppy head kick and Burke moves out of range easily.
A shot to the body from Burke misses
and Beckett counters with a nice leg kick.
Burke throws a head kick that misses.
James Burke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circle momentarily. Beckett darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

It looks like James Burke has been cut.

Burke closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Beckett quickly recovers to half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Beckett is controlling Burke's trapped leg to prevent Burke from advancing to side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burke missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Burke is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Burke has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Burke is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckett throws a leg kick but Burke sees it coming and moves out of range.
Beckett walks into a left hand.
Beckett looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Burke uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Beckett has time to react.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Burke has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Beckett 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 Burke has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Burke and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Beckett chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Burke can pounce on him.
Burke lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Burke throws a jab when Beckett was well out of range.
Burke drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Beckett checks the leg kick.
Burke blocks a leg kick.

Burke shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burke trying to mount his opponent but Beckett defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beckett wants to get back to full guard.

Burke is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Burke is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Beckett has managed to free his arm - good work.
Burke thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Beckett's head.
Burke wants to pass to mount but Beckett is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett gets back to full guard.
Burke is pushing down on Beckett's leg trying to pass to half guard. Beckett is fighting to maintain full guard but Burke has managed to sneak the leg through.
Burke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Beckett is trying to control but can't.
Burke missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Beckett wants to control but Burke is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Beckett wants to get back to full guard but Burke has mounted him!

Burke goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Beckett is on top in guard.
Beckett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke looking for a sweep. Not yet Burke, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Burke is looking for a triangle here but Beckett uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Burke gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Burke is looking to improve his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Burke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Burke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Burke's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Beckett throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Burke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Beckett as he connects with a hook.
Burke lands with a shot to the body.
Burke misses with a wild body shot.
Burke missing with a left hand there. Beckett was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Burke scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Burke scores with a shot to the body.
Burke getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burke tries to move into range but Beckett moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Beckett stuffs the takedown attempt from Burke. Burke gets slowly back to his feet.
Burke throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Beckett counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckett misses with the head strike.
Beckett lands a nice knee to the body.
Beckett landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Burke is breathing heavily.
Beckett unloads a knee to the mid-section. Burke lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Beckett lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Burke backwards.
Burke scores with a nice hook to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Burke has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Beckett is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Beckett tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Burke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice jab there from Burke.
Beckett swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Beckett.
Burke scores with a jab.
Beckett lands a nice shot that snaps Burke's head back.
Robert Beckett is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke takes a jab right on the kisser.
Robert Beckett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burke moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Beckett motions for Burke to come forward. Beckett throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Beckett, right into the meat.

Burke drives through with a takedown into Beckett's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Burke looking to pass the guard.
Beckett is looking to sweep but instead, Burke has passed into half guard.
Burke is thwarting Beckett's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Burke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Burke tries to free his leg and advance position but Beckett is retaining full guard.
Beckett trying to control the position.
Burke advances position into side control!
Burke throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Burke goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Beckett rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Burke's guard! Nice work there by Beckett!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Beckett has passed into side control.
Burke is looking to regain half guard here but Beckett keeps moving and retains side control.
The referee asks Beckett politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Beckett prefers to stall for the moment though.
Beckett trying to control the position but Burke is working away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Beckett wants to stand but Burke is controlling his arm.
Burke tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Beckett wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Robert Beckett will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Burke's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Burke there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Beckett throws a sloppy head kick

and Burke decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Beckett's guard.
Burke tries to free his leg and advance position but Beckett is retaining full guard.
Beckett utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burke pushing down on Beckett's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Burke trying to control from half guard but Beckett is working away.
Burke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Beckett is controlling Burke's trapped leg to prevent Burke from advancing to side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Beckett tries to get to full guard but Burke has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckett is trying to control but can't.
Beckett is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Robert Beckett.
A low kick from Beckett is predictable there

and Burke decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Beckett's guard.
Burke throws a big elbow that misses.

Beckett has his foot on Burke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burke works his way back into a safe position though.
Beckett keeping moving, preventing Burke from controlling successfully.
Burke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Beckett working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke throws a big right hand that misses.
Beckett pulls Burke in close to prevent any damage.
Burke tries to free his leg and advance position but Beckett is retaining full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burke trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Burke wants to control from the top but Beckett keeps moving.
Beckett has control of Burke's left arm, preventing Burke from doing any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Beckett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burke is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Burke takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Burke.
Burke fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Beckett is out of range.
Beckett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Burke.
Burke feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Becketts jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Beckett feints and then cracks Burke's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Burke down.
Beckett throws a leg kick

and Burke counters with a shoot takedown. Beckett fights it but they end up in guard.
Burke looking to pass the guard.
Burke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Beckett is looking for a triangle but Burke pushes his legs off easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burke trying to control but Beckett is working from the bottom.
Burke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Beckett keeping full guard, as Burke tries to pass.
Burke trying to control but Beckett is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James Burke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Beckett is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Burke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Burke has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Burke!
A relieved looking James Burke thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.