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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zlatko Zahovic (ranked 3287 p4p, 416 weight class) and Connor Mac Burns (ranked 1910 p4p, 271 weight class). Burns is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: . Connor Mac Burns will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.
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| 175 cm
42
198 lbs
18 - 10 - 0 |
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189 cm
38
215 lbs
31 - 21 - 0 |
Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Very quick |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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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
18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zlatko Zahovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
31 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Connor Mac Burns!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zahovic takes one on the button.
Burns circles away from the clinch attempt
and Burns counters with a straight right hand.
Burns scores with a punch to the head.
Zahovic takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zahovic looking to score a takedown here. Burns is defending well but Zahovic drives through and ends up in Burns's guard.
Zahovic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Zahovic from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zahovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burns is keeping the position for now.
Burns looking to control.
Zahovic distracts Burns with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Burns looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zahovic is one step ahead there.
Burns pushes Zahovic off and gets back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns has closed the distance and engaged Zahovic in a clinch.
Zahovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Burns has him pressed against the cage.
Burns cracks Zahovic with a nice body shot.
Zahovic has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Burns works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Burns digs a right hand underneath Zahovic's ribcage. Zahovic let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Zahovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
It looks like Zlatko Zahovic has been cut.
A frustrated look appears on Zahovic's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Burns scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zahovic avoiding damage as Burns throws knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Burns creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zahovic tightens his grip and picks Burns up, before dumping him to the ground. Burns manages to land in guard.
Zahovic keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Burns's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zahovic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burns swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burns wants to improve his position but instead Zahovic has moved into half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Burns regains full guard. Nicely done.
Burns wants to sweep here but Zahovic controlling him for the moment.
Burns lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Zahovic keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.
Zahovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zahovic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Burns looking to sit in guard and control but Zahovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zahovic is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Burns looking for a sweep. Not yet Burns, not yet.
Burns looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Zahovic from controlling successfully.
Burns can't keep his opponent in guard - Zahovic advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zahovic is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Burns is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zahovic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zahovic's back!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zahovic fending off the submission attempt from Burns.
Burns working for a choke but Zahovic is defending well.
Burns working for the choke.
Zahovic is trying to get back to his feet but Burns has full control of the position and if anything, Zahovic has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Zahovic trying to control the action but Burns just sinks the hooks in.
Burns keeps control of the position easily here as Zahovic tries to buck him off.
Burns is looking for the choke from the back position but Zahovic is controlling his hands well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Connor Mac Burns dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zlatko Zahovic's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Zahovic tries to clinch there but Burns circles away.
Zahovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Burns swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burns is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Zahovic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zahovic tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Burns counters with a good low kick that Zahovic was not able to check.
Burns swats away the attempt to clinch by Zahovic.
Zahovic rushes Burns and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zahovic blocks a body shot from Burns.
Zahovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burns's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zahovic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zahovic prevents a body shot from Burns.
Burns misses with a body punch.
Zahovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Burns controls his hands.
Burns missing with knees to the body.
Zahovic lands a nice uppercut.
Burns tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zahovic's elbow.
Zahovic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Burns avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns is trying to drag Zahovic to the mat but Zahovic just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zahovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burns tests Zahovic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Burns misses with a body shot.
Burns swats away the attempt to clinch by Zahovic.
Burns connects with a body shot.
Zahovic takes a kick to the side of the head.
Zahovic tries to close the distance and clinch but Burns swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burns has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zahovic looks to land a combination but Burns avoids it well.
Burns scores with a shot to the body.
Burns scores with a body shot.
Burns with a jab.
Zlatko Zahovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zahovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burns paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burns lands with a good body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Burns, as that shot connected.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zahovic avoids the body shot from Burns.
It looked like Zahovic wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Burns scores with a decent looking hook.
Zahovic tries to clinch there but Burns circles away.
Zahovic moves in looking to clinch but Burns pushes him off.
Zahovic shoots in for a takedown but Burns shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zahovic takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zahovic drives through and clinches with Burns against the cage.
Burns doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zahovic tries to circle away but Burns has him pinned against the cage.
Burns scores with a hook to the body.
Zahovic stalling in the clinch but Burns improves position.
Zahovic throws a head punch that misses.
Burns with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Zahovic prevents a body shot from Burns.
Nice body punch from Burns - that landed with a thud.
Burns has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zahovic managing to block the knees to the body from Burns.
Burns scores with a nice hook to the head.
Burns lands an uppercut.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands with a short shot to the head.
Burns lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zahovic blocks a body shot from Burns.
Zahovic is trying to stall.
Burns lands a body shot in the clinch.
Burns is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Zahovic is defending well.
Burns lands a body shot in the clinch.
Burns goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zahovic prevents it.
Zlatko Zahovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Mac Burns.
Zahovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zahovic wants to clinch.
Burns ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zahovic tries to clinch there but Burns circles away.
Burns now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands with a nice body punch.
Burns drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Burns sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zahovic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Burns defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burns is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Zahovic is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Zahovic has escaped and now he's on top!
Zahovic scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Connor Mac Burns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zlatko Zahovic's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Burns.
Burns fails to land the takedown.
Burns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zahovic was well out of range. Poor timing from Burns.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zahovic or perhaps it was just good defense by Burns, which made it look bad.
Zahovic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Burns.
Burns works Zahovic's body with a nice hook.
Zahovic wants to clinch but Burns slips to the side
and Burns counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zahovic takes one to the chin there.
An inside leg kick lands from Burns.
Zahovic fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Burns.
Burns walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zahovic checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zahovic clinches up against the cage.
Connor Mac Burns seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zahovic lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Burns backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Burns.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zahovic lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zahovic avoids the elbow strike from Burns, against the cage.
Zahovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Burns.
Burns landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burns goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Burns.
Burns can't find room to land a body shot as Zahovic controls the action.
Zahovic has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Burns is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zahovic is trying to pull guard but Burns has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zlatko Zahovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zahovic tries to break the clinch but Burns is controlling the position.
Burns can't get the takedown.
Zahovic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Zahovic jumps guard but Burns stands there with Zahovic around his waist. Zahovic gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short left from Burns.
A shot in the inside from Burns.
Burns stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A right hand to the body from Burns.
Burns lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zahovic.
Connor Mac Burns is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Burns.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burns with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Zahovic stops a takedown attempt from Burns.
Burns scores with a shot to the side of Zahovic's head.
Burns lands a body shot in the clinch.
Burns lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zahovic backwards.
Burns scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Burns lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zahovic or not.
Burns gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Burns is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zahovic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Burns.
Zahovic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zahovic tries to roll over but Burns keeps him under control.
Burns is looking to take a break and control but Zahovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zlatko Zahovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burns is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Burns is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Zahovic still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Zahovic has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Connor Mac Burns has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zahovic scores with punches from side control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Zahovic's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Zahovic tries for a kimura but Burns is defending well.
Burns gets back to half guard.
Burns is trying to get back to full guard.
Zahovic is working for a kimura but Burns is defending it quite comfortably.
Burns wants to get back to full guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Mac Burns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Burns winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Mac Burns!
A less than humble Connor Mac Burns misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
55% |
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