PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Burkman (ranked 6706 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Sicila (ranked 7922 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Sicila is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Burkman
vs
Sicila

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
205 lbs
3 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, George Burkman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sam Sicila!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sicila swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Burkman chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sicila misses with a series of wild punches.

Burkman rushes Sicila and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sicila is trying to break free.
Burkman lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sicila wants to break the clinch but can't.

Burkman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burkman closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sicila looks winded!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burkman clinches with his opponent.
Burkman content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sicila is looking to break free of the clinch but Burkman has double underhooks.
Sicila is looking to control Burkman's arms but Burkman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sicila has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burkman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sicila avoids the head kick by Burkman.
Sicila lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Burkman darts in and clinches Sicila up against the cage.
Burkman lands an uppercut.

Burkman manages to break the clinch.
Sicila tries to clinch up.
Burkman throws a big counter combination but Sicila scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sicila tries to bum rush Burkman with a series of wild strikes but Burkman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Burkman clinches up against the cage.
Burkman slows down the pace here.
Burkman with a knee to the head.

Burkman manages to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Burkman is on top in guard.

Burkman definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burkman decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sicila, up you get!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Burkman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sicila's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Sicila's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Burkman jumps into guard, dragging Sicila to the mat.
Burkman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Burkman gets to his feet. Sicila looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A combination from Sicila does no damage.

Burkman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sicila is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Burkman successfully pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Burkman is pulling down on Sicila's head. It's preventing any offense from Sicila, at least for the moment.
Sicila in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Burkman is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Sicila presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
A short uppercut from Burkman.
Burkman lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sicila backwards.
Sicila is trying to stall.
Burkman lands a hook to the side of the head.
Burkman lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sicila pulls his leg out and moves away.

Burkman has closed the distance and engaged Sicila in a clinch.
Burkman using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Burkman.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Burkman.
Burkman digs a right hand into Sicila's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sicila's gas tank.
A frustrated look appears on Sicila's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sicila's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short uppercut from Burkman.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sicila tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Burkman lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Burkman moves into the clinch.

Burkman breaks the clinch.
Sicila throws out a loose jab but Burkman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sicila is looking to clinch.

Burkman darts in and clinches Sicila up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Burkman.
A short uppercut from Burkman.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Burkman.
Burkman makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Burkman scores with a shot to the side of Sicila's head.
Burkman changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sicila fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Burkman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sicila jumps guard but Burkman stands there with Sicila around his waist. Sicila gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sicila is breathing heavily.
A short uppercut from Burkman.
Sicila wants to break the clinch but can't.
Burkman lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sicila backwards.
Burkman throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Burkman lands a right hand.
A hook to the body from Burkman.
Nice body punch from Burkman - that landed with a thud.

Burkman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Burkman pushes Sicila up against the cage in a clinch.
Sicila takes a shot to the head.

Burkman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Burkman takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkman lands a nice uppercut.
Sicila is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Burkman to keep the fight standing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burkman lands a knee to the head.

Burkman manages to break the clinch.

Burkman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short right from Burkman.
Come on Burkman - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Burkman pressing his opponent against the cage.

Burkman jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkman pulls Sicila in close to prevent any damage.

Burkman manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Burkman manages to break the clinch.

Burkman drives through and clinches with Sicila against the cage.

Burkman ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Burkman no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Burkman wants to hit a switch here but Sicila passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Burkman there!
Burkman tries to lock up and control but Sicila gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Burkman somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burkman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burkman avoiding damage.
Burkman landing knees to the body.
Come on Burkman - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Burkman creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Burkman manages to pull guard.
Burkman seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Sicila looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Burkman dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Burkman closes the distance and clinches.
Burkman manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Burkman scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Burkman manages to pull guard.

Burkman has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Sicila has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Burkman breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burkman tries to clinch but Sicila moves out of range.
Sicila takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burkman tries to close the distance and clinch but Sicila swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sicila goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sicila tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burkman closes the distance and clinches.
A shot in the inside from Burkman.
Burkman presses Sicila against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Burkman lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Burkman softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Burkman throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sicilas head.

Burkman breaks the clinch.
Burkman fails with an attempt to clinch.

Burkman closes the distance and clinches.
Burkman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sicila lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Burkman lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sicila is trying to escape back to his feet but Burkman uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burkman in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burkman stands up and we're back to a striking position.
George Burkman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Burkman takes the fight into the clinch.

Burkman pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burkman has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Sicila has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Burkman lands with a light punch inside.

Burkman manages to pull guard.

Burkman is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Sicila presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Burkman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick from Burkman lands but Sicila takes it in his stride.

Burkman moves into range and clinches up with Sicila.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burkman manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Burkman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sicila can do to turn this around?
Burkman lands a good knee to the midsection. Sicila won't want to take too many of those.
Burkman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sicila gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sicila is trying to break the clinch but Burkman has him pressed against the cage.
Burkman lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sicila backwards.
Burkman makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sicila tries to pull guard but Burkman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Burkman.
Burkman can't get the takedown.
Burkman lands with a right to the head.
Burkman avoiding damage as Sicila throws knees to the body.
Sicila prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Burkman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sicila tries a knee to the head but Burkman blocks it.
George Burkman has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Sicila pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sam Sicila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
George Burkman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Burkman moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Burkman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Burkman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:25
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:26
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Burkman!