PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Rack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Burgess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rack
vs
Burgess

185 cm
26
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

180 cm
28
210 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Brandon Rack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tyler Burgess!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Bruno Lombardi and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Rack.
Rack sets himself, and Burgess steps forward looking for the clinch! Rack avoids it this time.

Rack drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Burgess's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rack fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Rack is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Burgess is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Burgess is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Burgess is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rack wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burgess keeps working.
Burgess is trying to get back to half guard.

Rack thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Burgess is looking to reverse the position.
Rack throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rack tries for a kimura but Burgess is defending well.

Rack is trying to get an arm triangle but Burgess is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rack wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Burgess, who protects the arm well.
Rack scoring with punches from side control.
Burgess wants to get back to his feet.
Burgess is trying to work for a sweep but Rack has mounted him!
Burgess is desperately trying to improve his position but Rack has a good base and remains in mount.
Rack can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Burgess is looking to escape.
Burgess is desperately trying to improve his position but Rack has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rack has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Burgess's face.

Rack working for a submission but Burgess is keeping him at bay.
Burgess is trying to escape the mount.
Rack throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Rack has control of Burgess's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Burgess regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Rack is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Burgess to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Burgess shrugs it off.
Rack throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Burgess is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess tries to hold on but Rack postures up.

Rack has hold of Burgess's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Burgess manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rack in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Burgess is looking to get to half guard.

Rack is working for a guillotine from mount but Burgess frees his head quite easily.
Burgess tries to lock up and control but Rack gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rack looking to control but Burgess is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Rack dominated that round.
That's time! Rack's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rack throws a nice looking combination but Burgess bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rack will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Burgess pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Burgess avoids a kick to the body.
Rack shoots in looking for a takedown but Burgess manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rack's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rack looks for a takedown but Burgess sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Rack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burgess is defended easily by Rack.

Burgess gets a takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burgess wants to control but Rack is keeping him busy.

Burgess seems to be working for a kimura but Rack defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burgess is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rack defends it well.
Burgess is thwarting Rack's attempts to control the position.
Rack manages to get to full guard.

Rack looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Burgess has picked Rack up and slammed him! Rack can't keep hold of the triangle and Burgess manages to pass to side control!
Rack can't do much from the bottom here.
Burgess creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burgess tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Burgess wants to control but Rack is keeping him busy.
Burgess tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Rack is looking to reverse the position.
Rack is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Burgess off and has taken his back!
Burgess is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Rack off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Burgess is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Rack gets his way!
I really don't envy Burgess right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess trying to control the hands but Rack won't let him.
Burgess is keeping busy.

Burgess is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Rack gets his way!

Rack looking for the choke from the back.
Burgess really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rack. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Burgess wants to get back to his feet.
Burgess rolls, trying to escape but Rack keeps control of the position.
Rack is looking to control Burgess but Burgess is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess can't escape the position.

Burgess defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rack's arms.

Rack working for the choke.
Burgess is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Burgess turns into Rack and is now in his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rack is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Burgess makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rack wants to sweep but no luck.
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 Brandon Rack will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Burgess moves into the clinch successfully.

Rack is fighting off a takedown attempt but Burgess is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rack to the mat. Rack regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rack is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Burgess is trying to control but can't.
Rack throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Burgess is trying to get back to full guard.

Burgess is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rack pulls his head out easily.
Rack wants to take a breather but Burgess is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burgess is looking to improve his position.
Rack trying to control the action but Burgess is working from the bottom.
Rack thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Rack got a little sloppy there for a moment and Burgess has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rack has managed to get both his arms back between Burgess's legs - danger averted.
Rack postures up in Burgess's guard and throws a big left but Burgess blocks it.

Burgess escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rack gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Burgess takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rack lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Rack drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rack jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rack is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burgess can do to turn this around?
Rack controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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.
Rack landing some decent shots from guard.
Rack tries to free his leg and advance position but Burgess is retaining full guard.

Rack gets to his feet. Burgess looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rack throws a right hand that Burgess ducks under and follows up with a left that Burgess also avoids with ease.
Rack dodges the punch combination from Burgess.
Rack misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Burgess gets caught flat footed, as Rack shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Burgess pushes Rack off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Burgess darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess wants to take a breather but Rack is having none of it.

Burgess is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rack has managed to free his arm - good work.
Burgess takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Burgess wants to pass the guard but Rack is defending well.
Rack slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Burgess trying to control but Rack is working from the bottom.

Rack has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burgess can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tyler Burgess has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rack wants to sweep here but Burgess controlling him for the moment.

Rack looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Burgess passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rack is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tyler Burgess.
I think Rack 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Rack!
Brandon Rack decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.