PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Burke (ranked 7277 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dustin Poirier (ranked 4373 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Burke
vs
Poirier

154 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

167 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Francesco Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dustin Poirier!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Poirier drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Burke could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Poirier controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Burke looking to control.
Burke looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Poirier not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Burke is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Burke looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poirier controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poirier tries to free his leg and advance position but Burke is retaining full guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burke tries to sprawl but Poirier drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Poirier perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Poirier is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Burke is just riding it out for now. Poirier eventually gives up the hold.
Poirier blocks the strikes from Burke.
Poirier seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Burke does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Burke keeping control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Poirier decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Poirier shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Poirier decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Burke manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Burke is trying to keep Poirier in close.
Burke is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Poirier is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke slips a nice elbow through Poirier's hands, connecting with Poirier's forehead.
Poirier is trying to control but Burke passes into side control!
Poirier is trying to control Burke's posture but Burke avoids it.
Burke misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Burke stands up.
Poirier misses with a combination

and Burke counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poirier tries to work over Burke's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Poirier scores with a shot to the side of Burke's head.

Poirier tightens his grip and picks Burke up, before dumping him to the ground. Burke manages to land in guard.
Burke not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Burke will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Poirier trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Burke manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Burke stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Poirier feints and as Burke raises his hands in defense, Poirier changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Poirier looks winded!
Burke lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dustin Poirier will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Burke is looking to clinch.

Poirier darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Dustin Poirier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burke works his way to full guard. Good work.
Poirier works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Poirier is stalling here. Burke is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Poirier seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Burke has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Poirier wants to control but Burke postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poirier is looking for a sweep.
Poirier tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke working Poirier over with strikes here.
Poirier tries to reverse the position but Burke maintains control.
Burke with good strikes from the mount here!
Burke dominating with strikes here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Poirier can do anything to dispel that myth.

Burke is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Poirier is surviving well by controlling Burke's body position as best he can.
Poirier wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Poirier is breathing heavily.
Poirier looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burke working for a choke but Poirier is defending well.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Burke.

Poirier 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 Burke gets his way!
Poirier is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirier trying to control but not successfully.

Burke has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Poirier has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The referee is taking a good look at Poirier as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Burke!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Burke looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Burke 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.
Poirier is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Poirier tries to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Poirier defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Burke looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Burke dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Poirier closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Burke to the mat! Burke manages to get full guard.
Poirier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burke. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Poirier tries to free his leg and advance position but Burke is retaining full guard.
Poirier sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Burke manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Poirier manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poirier wants to hit a switch here but Burke passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Poirier there!
Burke prevents Poirier from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke landing strikes, looking to finish!
Burke is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Poirier tries to buck Burke off but he can't manage it.

Burke is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Poirier can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Poirier is looking to get to half guard.
Burke lands a heavy elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke with a couple of short strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poirier is just holding on here. Burke manages to take his back.
Poirier just trying to survive but Burke is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Burke's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Poirier showing good submission defense here.
Burke avoiding Poirier 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirier is trying to break free.

Burke working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Poirier tries to break free.
Poirier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burke gets his hands free as Poirier looks to control.

Poirier fending off the submission attempt from Burke.
Burke keeps control of the position as Poirier tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poirier is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Burke trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Burke lands a shot to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Burke patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

And that's the end of the fight!
Francesco Burke showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burke 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francesco Burke!