PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Test Nineteen (ranked 4435 p4p, 4499 weight class) and Travis Burkes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nineteen
vs
Burkes

186 cm
18
208
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
200
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Test Nineteen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Travis Burkes!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Russell Pearce and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burkes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nineteen bucks up and tries to throw Burkes off but instead Burkes has got his back!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Nineteen avoids the strikes from Burkes.

Burkes patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Nineteen is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burkes is persistently looking for the submission but Nineteen is defending it well.

Nineteen fending off the submission attempt from Burkes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Burkes tightening his grip on Nineteen, looking for the choke.
Nineteen rolls, trying to escape but Burkes keeps control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burkes just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Nineteen tries to escape the position.
Burkes misses with punches from the back.
Burkes has good solid back control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkes is not going to allow Nineteen to sit and survive in this position.
What can Nineteen do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Burkes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Nineteen is trying to break free.
Nineteen trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Burkes tightening his grip on Nineteen, looking for the choke.
Nineteen wants to get back to his feet.
Burkes landing with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
I would not like to be Nineteen right now.

Nineteen is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Burkes dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Burkes shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Burkes lands with a punch from half guard.
Nineteen is trying to maintain the position but Burkes is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nineteen wants to sweep but Burkes has passed to side control!
An elbow from Burkes crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burkes taking a breather here.
Nineteen is trying to work for a sweep but Burkes has mounted him!

Nineteen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Burkes.

Burkes wants to finish this one by submission but Nineteen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Burkes.

Burkes jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nineteen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Burkes advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkes controlling the position easily from mount.
More stalling from Burkes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkes pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Burkes working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Burkes looking to secure an arm triangle but Nineteen defends it well.
Burkes controlling the position easily from mount.
Nineteen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Burkes on the ground.

Burkes is working for a guillotine from mount but Nineteen frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkes controlling from mount.

Burkes stands up from mount. Strange move.
Nineteen connects with a leg kick.
Nineteen fails with the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Burkes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nineteen did well to prevent Burkes getting side control.
Nineteen is trying to escape back to his feet but Burkes uses the scramble to pass into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Burkes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Burkes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Burkes gets to his feet - Nineteen follows without any prompting.

Nineteen drives through and clinches with Burkes against the cage.
Nineteen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Burkes has him pressed against the cage.
Nineteen tries to circle away but Burkes has him pinned against the cage.
Nineteen is trying to push Burkes away but Burkes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Burkes lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Burkes thows a huge punch but Nineteen dodges it nicely.
Burkes works his way into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nineteen wants to get back to his feet but Burkes is dominant here and he's now got Nineteen's back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nineteen defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Burkes's arms.
What can Nineteen do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Let's hope that Burkes has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Burkes lands punches and elbows.
Burkes really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Nineteen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Nineteen fending off the submission attempt from Burkes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burkes is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Nineteen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Burkes misses with an elbow to the head.
Burkes is riding his opponent, not letting Nineteen buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Burkes is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Burkes controls the action.
Nineteen grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Nineteen defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Nineteen covering up well under a barage of strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Burkes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Burkes 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Burkes!