PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Gruzinsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burns's entrance music is Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic Three - The Roof Is On Fire. A fine choice. Gruzinsky has chosen Россия as his entrance music. Roman Gruzinsky is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Burns
vs
Gruzinsky

193 cm
31
215 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

188 cm
27
215 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bos Energy MMA159.4
Spartan Nutrition

Bos Energy MMA159.4
Hellbent

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 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brian Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roman Gruzinsky!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Albert Achterberg and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns lands a nice looking body shot.
Burns is looking to score with low kicks.
Nice shot lands for Burns.
Gruzinsky blocks a low kick nicely.
Gruzinsky throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Burns's head.
Burns throws out a powerful jab.
A big left from Gruzinsky misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Burns.
We've been hearing reports that Burns has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Gruzinsky throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A jab from Gruzinsky misses.
Gruzinsky swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Burns slips under a jab from Gruzinsky.
Gruzinsky lands with a kick to the temple. Burns shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burns scores with the left hand. Gruzinsky knows he should have avoided that one.
Gruzinsky throws a good cross that connects.
Gruzinsky just misses with a punch to the body.
Gruzinsky lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Burns connects with a body shot that sends Gruzinsky's belly button to the back.
Burns throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gruzinsky sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gruzinsky looks to land a body kick but Burns moved away.
Burns keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gruzinsky slips a jab and a cross from Burns.
Gruzinsky follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Gruzinsky throws an off balance right hand
and Burns counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gruzinsky takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nice jab there from Gruzinsky.
Burns lunges at Gruzinsky with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gruzinsky's hand.
Gruzinsky lands with a cross.
Burns throws a low kick, looking for Gruzinsky's leg but Gruzinsky calmly moves out of range.
Gruzinsky throws a counter combo.
A jab from Burns misses.
Gruzinsky unleashes a big counter combination but Burns bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gruzinsky looks to land a left hand but Burns moved out of range nicely.
Gruzinsky throws a head kick but Burns moves out of range.
Burns misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gruzinsky.
Gruzinsky walks into a straight right hand from Burns.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burns misses with a leg kick
and Gruzinsky counters with a right hand to the body.
Brian Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns throws a looping overhand right but Gruzinsky ducks down to avoid it.
Burns throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Burns fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gruzinsky ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gruzinsky throws a hook to the side of Burns's head but Burns sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slow jab from Gruzinsky misses its intended target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gruzinsky.
Good leg kick by Burns there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Burns.
It seemed like Gruzinsky was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gruzinsky ducks under a wild hook from Burns.
Gruzinsky doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Gruzinsky tries to work over Burns's front leg with a kick but Burns checks it.
Gruzinsky's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Burns connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gruzinsky scrambles back to his feet.
Nice body punch from Burns.
Good standup being displayed there by Gruzinsky as he connects with a hook.
Burns scores with a kick to the midsection.
Gruzinsky takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Burns lunges at Gruzinsky with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gruzinsky's hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruzinsky throws an overhand right that lands on Burns's shoulder, as Burns tries to avoid the shot.

Burns clinches up with Gruzinsky and pushes him back against the ropes.
Gruzinsky fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gruzinsky gets through Burns's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Burns lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Burns misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gruzinsky blocks a body shot from Burns.
Gruzinsky blocks an uppercut.
Burns misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice right hand lands inside from Burns.
Gruzinsky tries to work over Burns's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burns.
Burns misses with some punches.
Gruzinsky blocks a body shot from Burns.
Burns misses with some punches.
Burns pushes Gruzinsky back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Burns goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Gruzinsky throws an elbow but misses.
Gruzinsky tries a body shot but Burns blocks it.
Gruzinsky lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Gruzinsky's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good leg kick by Gruzinsky there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Burns throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gruzinsky! But no joy.
Burns lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gruzinsky just misses with a punch to the body.
Burns throws a shot from downtown. Gruzinsky moves away and avoids it.
Gruzinsky throws out a loose jab but Burns uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gruzinsky tries a head kick but it misses.
Burns scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Burns just misses with a punch to the body.
Gruzinsky let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gruzinsky is out of range.
Despite the aggression on Gruzinsky's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Burns scores with a leg kick.
Burns with a nice cross.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gruzinsky checks a leg kick.
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 Brian Burns will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gruzinsky keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gruzinsky is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Burns throws a body punch but Gruzinsky moves out of range.
Burns finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gruzinsky uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Burns.
Brian Burns is winning the standup battle so far.
Gruzinsky's jab looks to have found its range, popping Burns under the eye.
Burns ducks under a wild hook from Gruzinsky.
Burns dives in and grabs Gruzinsky's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gruzinsky pushes down on Burns's head and hops out.
A punch lands to the side of Gruzinsky 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Burns throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
An inside leg kick from Burns misses.
Burns on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gruzinsky. Gruzinsky obviously looking to wear him down.
Gruzinsky throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Burns with that takedown attempt.
Gruzinsky swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Gruzinsky throws a nice looking combination but Burns bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gruzinsky jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gruzinsky defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Burns.
Gruzinsky unleashes a big counter combination but Burns bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Burns. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns misses with a looping right.
Burns lands a nice looking body shot.
Gruzinsky misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Burns.
Burns throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Burns shoots in for a takedown but Gruzinsky shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Burns needs to keep his hands up - Gruzinsky had a free shot at his head there.
Burns moves out of range as Gruzinsky strikes.
Burns fails to land with a series of punches.
Burns bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Burns tries to counter with a takedown but Gruzinsky is quick to defend against it.
Gruzinsky lands with a hook. Burns tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Burns scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Burns ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gruzinsky moves away.
Burns tries to score with a low kick but Gruzinsky moves his leg out of the way.
Gruzinsky misses with a double jab.
Burns throws a push kick but Gruzinsky slaps the foot to one side.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gruzinsky, as that shot connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burns throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gruzinsky looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Burns takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Gruzinsky swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Burns throws a nice inside leg kick.

Burns shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gruzinsky's guard.
Gruzinsky looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burns trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gruzinsky wants to get back to his feet but Burns is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Burns throwing strikes from guard but Gruzinsky blocks nicely.
Gruzinsky pulls Burns in close to his closed guard and prevents Burns from doing any damage or advancing position.
Burns is looking to work some ground and pound but Gruzinsky has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns postures up.
Burns lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Burns trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Burns postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Burns postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gruzinsky not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Burns throwing strikes but missing.
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.
Gruzinsky working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burns.
Burns throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burns trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gruzinsky keeping full guard, as Burns tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gruzinsky is trying to keep Burns in close.
Burns trying to control the position from guard on top but Gruzinsky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gruzinsky preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gruzinsky utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burns is fighting to break Gruzinsky's control of his arms but Gruzinsky is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Burns throws a good cross that connects.
Burns throws an overhand right that lands on Gruzinsky's shoulder, as Gruzinsky tries to avoid the shot.
Burns tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Gruzinsky manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Burns moves out of range of the body kick.
Burns throws a leg kick which misses Gruzinsky's front leg but catches the back leg as Gruzinsky tries to avoid it.
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 Brian Burns will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Burns blocks a low kick nicely.
Burns thumps Gruzinsky with a low kick.
Burns misses the shot to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Gruzinsky misses.
Gruzinsky throws a leg kick that is checked
and Burns counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gruzinsky misses with an attempted mid kick.

Burns moves into the clinch successfully.

Gruzinsky pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Gruzinsky. Those never looked like landing.
Burns jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Gruzinsky throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Burns is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gruzinsky.
Gruzinsky looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Gruzinsky uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burns.
Burns fails with a takedown attempt.
Gruzinsky connects with a high kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burns with a poor takedown
and Gruzinsky counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns wants to land a leg kick but Gruzinsky is out of range.
Burns changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gruzinsky tries to avoid it but Burns manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gruzinsky to the ground. Gruzinsky escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Burns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gruzinsky checks a leg kick nicely.
Gruzinsky throws a head kick but Burns moves out of range.
Burns feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Roman Gruzinsky is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gruzinsky throws a low kick but it's checked well by Burns.
Burns appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Burns misses with a low kick.
Burns avoids the head kick by Gruzinsky.
Gruzinsky takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Burns misses with a leg kick
and Gruzinsky counters with a nice uppercut.

Burns closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Burns.

Burns breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A punch lands to the side of Burns 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gruzinsky scores with a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Burns misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Burns takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gruzinsky tests Burns's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gruzinsky on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Burns scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Burns throws a hook but Gruzinsky blocks it.
Burns lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gruzinsky's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Gruzinsky connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gruzinsky throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gruzinsky keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gruzinsky moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Burns tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Burns drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Burns 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.
Gruzinsky is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns throws a strike aimed at the side of Gruzinsky's head but Gruzinsky avoids it well.
Gruzinsky tries to buck Burns off but Burns is having none of it.
Burns sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gruzinsky is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Burns tries to score with some ground and pound. Gruzinsky controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Gruzinsky defending against the ground and pound.
Gruzinsky gets back to half guard.
Brian Burns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gruzinsky looks like he's trying to stand up.
Burns throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gruzinsky manages to get to full guard.
Burns postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns is in close to Gruzinsky's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gruzinsky 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.
Gruzinsky avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Burns loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Burns looking to pass the guard.
Burns throws a strike but Gruzinsky rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gruzinsky trying to stand up but can't free himself from Burns's guard.
Gruzinsky engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Roman Gruzinsky.
I think Burns 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight for Roman Gruzinsky!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Brian Burns!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Roman Gruzinsky!

Roman Gruzinsky wins by split decision!
A relieved looking Roman Gruzinsky thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated Brian Burns had this to say: 'Hats off to my opponent. He was better tonight. I hope we meet again in the future.'.