PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Burke (ranked 6893 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Daniels (ranked 4848 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Daniels will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Burke
vs
Daniels

154 cm
24
178 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

197 cm
24
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Francesco Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Daniels!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burke closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Daniels is looking to get back to is feet but Burke passes into side control.
You can see the frustration on Daniels's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Daniels dodges the ground and pound from Burke.
Burke tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Daniels dodges the ground and pound from Burke.
Burke really is a fat lump.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniels is looking to reverse the position.

Burke is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Daniels knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Daniels can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels manages to work his way to half guard, despite Burke's best efforts.
Daniels is looking to improve his position.
Daniels makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Daniels.

Burke stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Daniels is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Daniels throws a leg kick that is checked

and Burke counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Burke.
Burke postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke landing with the ground and pound.
Burke stopping the sweep attempt from Daniels.
Daniels avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Daniels looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burke is one step ahead there.
Burke stops Daniels from standing up.
Daniels looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Daniels trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Burke manages to get himself to full guard.

Burke working a defensive guard here.
Daniels passes into half guard.
Burke keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Burke manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burke is adopting a defensive guard.
Daniels wants to control from the top but Burke keeps moving.
Daniels is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels trying to control the position from guard on top but Burke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Burke might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Burke is trying to control the position but Daniels postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Daniels misses with a jab to the body

and Burke counters with a single leg into guard. Daniels didn't expect that.

Daniels is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Burke presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burke changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Daniels fights it off and pushes away nicely.
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 Francesco Burke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Francesco Burke's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Daniels walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Burke checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Burke is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Daniels.
Burke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Daniels shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Burke's guard.
Burke is pulling down on Daniels's head. It's preventing any offense from Daniels, at least for the moment.
Daniels throws an elbow that misses. Burke uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Daniels's guard. Nice move by Burke!

Burke got a little sloppy there for a moment and Daniels has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Burke has managed to get both his arms back between Daniels's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burke is working Daniels over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels trying to control the position.

Daniels escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Burke gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Burke is looking to stand up but Daniels won't let him.
Daniels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Burke wants to stand but Daniels has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Burke chips away with some ground and pound.
Daniels trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Daniels wants to stand and escape but Burke is having none of it.
Burke is looking to stand up but Daniels won't let him.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Burke prevents Daniels from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnny Daniels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Daniels swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Daniels throws a right hand that Burke ducks under and follows up with a left that Burke also avoids with ease.
Daniels stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Daniels wants it to stay on the feet.
Daniels throws a sloppy head kick and Burke moves out of range easily.

Daniels shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Burke napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Daniels is breathing heavily.
Burke tries to buck Daniels off but Daniels is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels taking a breather here.
Burke is trying to control Daniels's posture but Daniels avoids it.
Daniels wants to control but Burke is keeping him busy.
Burke is trying to control Daniels's posture but Daniels avoids it.
Johnny Daniels has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Daniels avoids the strikes from the bottom by Burke.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Burke throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

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

Burke gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Burke lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Daniels is trying to control the position but Burke postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Daniels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Burke drops back looking for a leg! Daniels is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Daniels manages to kick Burke off! Burke jumps back into Daniels's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Daniels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Francesco Burke's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Daniels clinches with his opponent.

Daniels has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Burke uses from the top position.
Burke landing with the ground and pound.
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.
Burke would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniels wants to stand and escape but Burke is having none of it.

Burke decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Daniels, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Daniels moves into the clinch.
Daniels gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Burke.

Burke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Francesco Burke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Daniels gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Burke is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Daniels is defending well for now.

Daniels gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Burke tries to strike from the bottom.
Daniels postures up in Burke's guard and throws a big left but Burke blocks it.
Daniels wanted to stand there but Burke had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke working a defensive guard here.
Burke controlling Daniels's posture.
Burke is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Daniels must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Daniels wants to control from the top but Burke keeps moving.
Burke wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Daniels is now in half guard.
Burke landing a few short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Daniels is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Daniels is trying to control the action in half guard but Burke is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Daniels rushes Burke and presses him up against the cage.
Burke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Daniels's elbow.
Daniels wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Burke has him pressed against the cage.

Burke has clasped his hands together around Daniels's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Daniels can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burke thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Daniels struggling a bit here.
Burke landing a few strikes.
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Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Burke stands up and we're back to a striking position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Daniels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Daniels has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Daniels!