PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Franklyn Burris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and PJ Hairston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hairston has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. The key to victory for Franklyn Burris has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Burris
vs
Hairston

169 cm
20
278 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franklyn Burris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, PJ Hairston!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burris fails with a takedown attempt.
Burris tries to clinch up.
Burris tries to clinch up but Hairston circles away and keeps his distance.
A little jabbing left from Hairston on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Burris wants to clinch up but Hairston keeps it at a distance.
Hairston tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Burris takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hairston gets underhooks to prevent Burris's takedown attempt.
Burris is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Burris successfully pulls guard.
Hairston showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hairston looks winded!
Burris is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Burris really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burris is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hairston trying to control the position from guard on top but Burris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burris is looking to sweep but instead, Hairston has passed into half guard.
Burris is looking for a sweep. Hairston is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Burris is trying to stand back up but Hairston is controlling him
Hairston is taking a breather. Burris says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

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.

Burris looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burris moves into full guard.

Burris has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hairston can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Burris is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Burris knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hairston on the ground.
Hairston is looking to work some ground and pound but Burris has wrist control.
Hairston passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Burris is looking for a sweep.
Burris is letting Hairston control him for a moment.
Hairston trying to control the action but Burris is working from the bottom.
Burris sneaks back into half guard.

Burris is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hairston pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Burris looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hairston is trying to control. Burris wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Burris fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burris shoots in and drives through. Hairston sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franklyn Burris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burris is looking to clinch but Hairston is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Franklyn Burris will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hairston closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Hairston decides to stand up, so the ref orders Burris to his feet.
Hairston goes for a double leg but Burris avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burris continues to drive forward.
Hairston displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Burris.
Hairston drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Burris defends it well.
Burris tries to close the distance and clinch but Hairston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And Hairston tries to counter it with a takedown but Burris pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burris tries to clinch but Hairston is having none of it.
Hairston unleashes a big counter combination but Burris bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Hairston keeps the fight on the outside.
Hairston with the counter takedown but Burris avoids it easily.
Hairston is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burris tries to close the distance and clinch but Hairston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hairston swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burris shoots in and drives through. Hairston sprawls well.
Burris looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hairston is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franklyn Burris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hairston swats away the attempt to clinch by Burris.

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.

Burris decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hairston trying to control here.
PJ Hairston has got the better of the ground game so far.

Burris stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Hairston to get to his feet.
Burris moves in looking to clinch but Hairston pushes him off.

Burris clinches up against the cage.
Burris is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hairston gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Hairston is fighting off a takedown attempt but Burris is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Hairston to the mat. Hairston regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burris throws a big elbow that misses.
Burris throws a big elbow that misses.
Burris throws an elbow that misses. Hairston uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Burris's guard. Nice move by Hairston!

Burris utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Burris is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hairston is aware though and is defending well.

Hairston drops back looking for a leg! Burris is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Burris manages to kick Hairston off! Hairston jumps back into Burris's guard.

Burris looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hairston controlling from the top position.
Hairston wants to pass the guard but Burris is keeping the position.

Burris escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hairston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Burris keeping moving, preventing Hairston from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but PJ Hairston will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Burris has Hairston up against the cage in a clinch.
Burris can't find room to land a body shot as Hairston controls the action.
Burris putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hairston in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Burris wants a takedown.

Burris has hold of one of Hairston's legs. Hairston is fighting the takedown attempt but Burris gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Burris throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hairston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burris has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burris is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hairston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Burris is working Hairston over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Burris trying to control the position from guard on top but Hairston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hairston has a closed guard, preventing Burris from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burris is looking to clinch but Hairston is avoiding it.
Hairston is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Burris wants to clinch up but Hairston keeps it at a distance.

That's two 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.
Burris has a takedown stuffed.
Hairston wants to counter with a clinch but Burris pushes him away.

Burris clinches.
Hairston wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Burris has him pressed against the cage.
Burris jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hairston walks away with a smile on his face. Burris gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franklyn Burris. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Burris instigates a clinch.
Hairston looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burris looking for a takedown.

Burris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burris is looking to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Burris. No joy for Hairston on that attempt.
Burris tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hairston sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Burris somewhat.
Burris tries to clinch but Hairston moves out of range.
Hairston feints the counter takedown.

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.

Burris gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Burris prevents a takedown attempt there.

Burris has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hairston uses from the top position.
Hairston wants to control from the top but Burris keeps moving.
Burris looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hairston puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Burris moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Burris working for a triangle but Hairston defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Burris working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hairston has passed into half guard!

And that's the end of the fight!
Franklyn Burris showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burris has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... PJ Hairston!