PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chester Barcelona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Burns has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barcelona
vs
Burns

195 cm
23
230 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

200 cm
26
258 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chester Barcelona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Burns!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barcelona moves out of range of the strikes.

Barcelona moves into the clinch successfully.
Burns trying to stall but Barcelona improves his position.
Burns throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Barcelona is pushing Burns up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Burns breaks the clinch.
Burns tries to clinch up

and Barcelona counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Barcelona is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barcelona prevents Burns from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barcelona pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burns is keeping the position for now.

Barcelona got a little sloppy there for a moment and Burns has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barcelona has managed to get both his arms back between Burns's legs - danger averted.
Barcelona trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barcelona throwing strikes but missing.
Barcelona working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Barcelona tries to free his leg and advance position but Burns is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Burns or perhaps it was just good defense by Barcelona, which made it look bad.
It looked like Barcelona was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Barcelona has Burns up against the ropes in a clinch.
Burns is trying to pull guard but Barcelona has him pressed against the ropes.

Barcelona gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Barcelona trying to control from half guard but Burns is working away.
Barcelona stops Burns from getting back to his feet.
Barcelona not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barcelona not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barcelona missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Barcelona tries to pass to full mount but Burns defends it.
Barcelona is trying to control the action in half guard but Burns is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Burns is looking to clinch but Barcelona is avoiding it.
Burns tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barcelona sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Burns somewhat.
Chester Barcelona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Burns.
Barcelona changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burns tries to avoid it but Barcelona manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burns to the ground. Burns escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Burns fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barcelona scores with a body shot.
Burns takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Burns looks winded!
Burns displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barcelona.

Barcelona has Burns up against the ropes in a clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Burns is trying to push Barcelona away but Barcelona has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barcelona lands a nice shot to the body.

Barcelona is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Burns can't fight it off and eventually Barcelona manages to take the fight to the floor. Burns looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Barcelona slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Barcelona pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burns is keeping the position for now.

Barcelona postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Burns is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Barcelona, into his guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barcelona working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burns.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barcelona fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Burns looks for a takedown but Barcelona sprawls well.
Barcelona tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burns defends well and Barcelona ends up having to push Burns into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Barcelona throws a right hand that Burns ducks under and follows up with a left that Burns also avoids with ease.

Barcelona has closed the distance and engaged Burns in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Burns pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've been told by Barcelona's head coaches at Turka Elite Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Barcelona tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burns sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barcelona somewhat.
Burns tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chester Barcelona. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barcelona tries to close the distance and clinch but Burns swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burns forces Barcelona back against the ropes and clinches.
Burns is trying to push Barcelona away but Barcelona has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Barcelona lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like James Burns has been cut.
Barcelona is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burns can do to turn this around?
Barcelona with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barcelona misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barcelona has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Burns uses from the top position.
Barcelona has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Burns won't allow Barcelona to get back to his feet.
Burns postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Burns with a nice head shot there.
Barcelona is trying to keep Burns in close.
Barcelona looking for a sweep. Not yet Barcelona, not yet.

Burns drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Barcelona dives on top into guard.

Burns keeping full guard, as Barcelona tries to pass.
Burns working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barcelona stands up from Burns's guard - Barcelona perhaps looking for a knockout.
Barcelona fails with the takedown.
Burns doesn't manage to clinch there - Barcelona circles away.

Barcelona gets the takedown into side control.
Barcelona tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Barcelona taking a breather here.
Burns wants to get back to his feet but Barcelona drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barcelona working the body and head with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Burns's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Barcelona decides to stand back up.
Nice takedown defense from Burns. No joy for Barcelona on that attempt.
Burns blocks the body kick.
Barcelona tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burns defends well and Barcelona ends up having to push Burns into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barcelona.
Burns wants to counter the offense by Barcelona and move into the clinch position.
Barcelona looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Barcelona shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Barcelona shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Burns's guard.
Chester Barcelona overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns trying to keep a closed guard but Barcelona is proving a slippery customer.

Burns working for a triangle but Barcelona defends it easily.

Barcelona has gone for a leg lock! Burns slips out almost immediately though and dives into Barcelona's guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barcelona is on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chester Barcelona dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Burns'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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barcelona closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Burns's guard.
Barcelona throws a big elbow that misses.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Barcelona from controlling successfully.
Burns is trying to keep Barcelona in close.
Barcelona looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barcelona stays in close to Burns's body and controls the position.
Barcelona trying to control but Burns is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Barcelona drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Burns wants to sweep but no luck.
Barcelona wants to control from the top but Burns keeps moving.
Burns tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barcelona stands and throws Burns's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barcelona trying to control the action but Burns is working from the bottom.
Barcelona scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Burns to see if he's OK.
Barcelona landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Barcelona trying to control the position but Burns is working away.
Barcelona tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Barcelona misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns tries to escape but Barcelona is in control.
Burns takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Barcelona goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Burns rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Barcelona's guard! Nice work there by Burns!
Barcelona wants to stand up but Burns is controlling him.

Barcelona has his feet on Burns's thighs here. He's pushed Burns off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Burns screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Chester Barcelona!