PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eugene Burns Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Spackman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burns Jr comes to the cage accompanied by Notorious Thugz- Notorious B.I.G ft Bone Thugz N' Harmony. Spackman is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Forgot about Dre. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that John Spackman was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Burns Jr
vs
Spackman

192 cm
23
214 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

194 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Eugene Burns Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Spackman!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Burns Jr throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Spackman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Spackman trying to control the action but Burns Jr is working from the bottom.
Burns Jr is looking for a sweep. Spackman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Burns Jr is working hard here to advance position.

Spackman is working for a submission of some sort.
Burns Jr is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spackman passes to full mount!
Burns Jr taking shots to the head.
Spackman postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Burns Jr looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns Jr tries to reverse the position but Spackman maintains control.

Spackman has hold of Burns Jr's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Burns Jr manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Spackman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Spackman looks gassed!
Spackman wants to take his opponent's back but Burns Jr doesn't allow it.
Spackman punishing his opponent with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spackman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Burns Jr is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Burns Jr working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Burns Jr wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Burns Jr is working to get back to half guard.
Burns Jr swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Spackman has control of Burns Jr's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Burns Jr regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Burns Jr is desperately trying to improve his position but Spackman has a good base and remains in mount.
Spackman scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Burns Jr?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns Jr regains half guard.

Burns Jr looking for submissions off his back.
Spackman is looking to pass Burns Jr's guard but actually Burns Jr recovers to full guard.

Burns Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Spackman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Spackman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Spackman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Spackman trying to control but Burns Jr is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns Jr keeping full guard, as Spackman tries to pass.

Burns Jr had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Spackman is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Burns Jr Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Spackman's back instead.
Spackman turns into Burns Jr and is now in his guard.
Spackman throws a big right hand that misses.
Spackman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burns Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burns Jr keeping moving, preventing Spackman from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Spackman dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Spackman moves away from the strike by Burns Jr.
Burns Jr throws a series of punches but Spackman avoids them all with ease.
Eugene Burns Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Spackman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Spackman showed some decent athleticism there.
Burns Jr moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Spackman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Burns Jr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Spackman's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Burns Jr drops back looking for a leg! Spackman is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Spackman manages to kick Burns Jr off! Burns Jr jumps back into Spackman's guard.
Burns Jr landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spackman lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Burns Jr!
Burns Jr really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Spackman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Spackman wants to finish this one by submission but Burns Jr is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Spackman.
Burns Jr is wriggling around trying to escape.
Spackman trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Burns Jr is trying to escape the mount.
Burns Jr is squirming around, avoiding Spackman's attempts to control the action.
Spackman lands with some strikes.
Burns Jr is desperately trying to improve his position but Spackman has a good base and remains in mount.
Burns Jr manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Burns Jr is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Spackman pulls his head out easily.
Spackman tries to pass to full mount but Burns Jr defends it.
Burns Jr gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spackman looking to sit in guard and control but Burns Jr gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Spackman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Burns Jr manages to get himself to full guard.
Spackman preventing the sweep.
Spackman trying to control but Burns Jr is working from the bottom.
Spackman might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Burns Jr kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Spackmanis looking to pass into half guard but Burns Jr pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Burns Jr is in guard.
Spackman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burns Jr is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Burns Jr scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Burns Jr wants to get up but he can't break Spackman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Burns Jr throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck for Spackman with that takedown attempt.
A slow jab from Burns Jr misses its intended target.
Burns Jr misses with a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A telegraphed right hand from Burns Jr misses the target.

Spackman scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Burns Jr is staying active underneath Spackman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Spackman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Burns Jr wants to clinch up but Spackman keeps it at a distance.

Spackman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Burns Jr is trying to get back to half guard.
Spackman lands some shots froms side control.
Burns Jr is not content to let Spackman control the position.

Spackman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Burns Jr gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Spackman. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Spackman wants to take a breather but Burns Jr is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Burns Jr manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burns Jr throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Spackman tries to free his leg and advance position but Burns Jr is retaining full guard.
Burns Jr is trying to keep Spackman in close.
Spackman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Burns Jr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Spackman is one step ahead there.
Spackman wants to control from the top but Burns Jr keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Burns Jr misses with a low kick.

Spackman changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Burns Jr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spackman tries to advance to mount but Burns Jr denies him.

Spackman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Spackman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Spackman trying to control the position but Burns Jr is working away.
Burns Jr tries to bench press Spackman off him but Spackman keeps the position.
Spackman trying to control the action but Burns Jr is working from the bottom.
Spackman moves into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns Jr is controlling an arm, preventing Spackman from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
You get the feeling that Burns Jr really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Burns Jr tries to hold on but Spackman pushes him away.
Burns Jr really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Spackman scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Burns Jr?
Burns Jr is in all sorts of trouble here.
Burns Jr manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Spackman is looking to advance position but Burns Jr won't allow it.

That's four 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.
Spackman trying to control from half guard but Burns Jr is working away.

Spackman is looking for a kimura here.

Spackman is working for a submission of some sort.
Spackman is pressing down on Burns Jr's thigh, looking to free his foot. Burns Jr is holding on for now.
Eugene Burns Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spackman blocks the strikes from Burns Jr.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Spackman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Spackman 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Spackman!