PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saopish Burdala (ranked 5383 p4p, 5241 weight class) and Rice Flair (ranked 552 p4p, 542 weight class). Rice Flair has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Burdala
vs
Flair

175 cm
25
155
1 - 2 - 0

167 cm
21
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Saopish Burdala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rice Flair!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burdala shoots in but no luck this time.
Flair closes the distance looking to clinch

and Burdala counters with a single leg into guard. Flair didn't expect that.

Burdala drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Flair manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Burdala has Flair in his guard.

Burdala has momentary wrist control but Flair slips an elbow through the middle.
Flair controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Burdala is adopting a defensive guard.
Burdala's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've been hearing good reports from Burdala's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Flair has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burdala has his foot on Flair's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Flair works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burdala controlling Flair's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burdala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Flair landing with the ground and pound.
Flair engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Burdala is looking for a triangle but Flair pushes his legs off easily.
Burdala looking for a sweep. Not yet Burdala, not yet.

Burdala looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Burdala working for a triangle but Flair defends it easily.
Burdala can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Flair controls the pace.

Burdala is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Flair is aware though and is defending well.
Burdala looking for a sweep. Not yet Burdala, not yet.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burdala escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Flair gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Burdala is breathing heavily.
Flair controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Burdala utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burdala wants to hit a sweep here but Flair passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Burdala there!
Flair avoids the attempt from Burdala to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flair scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Flair unloading with bombs!
Flair lands a couple of good shots and Burdala has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Burdala is rocked!
Burdala looking very determined here, making life difficult for Flair.
Oh Burdala is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Burdala is really stuck here.
Burdala grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Burdala tries to escape but Flair has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burdala looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Flair is punishing Burdala with some ground and pound.
Flair lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flair gets his hands free as Burdala looks to control.

Flair patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Flair is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Burdala is defending well though. Flair let's go of the attempt for now.
Burdala tries to break free.
Flair has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Burdala.

Flair has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Burdala defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Flair's arms.
Even with his hooks in, Flair manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Burdala tries to escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rice Flair dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Flair gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Burdala to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Burdala seems to have got his legs back now.
Burdala looking to pass the guard.
Burdala slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Flair wants to control but Burdala postures up.

Burdala tries for a kimura but Flair is defending well.
Flair wants to control but Burdala postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burdala working the head with strikes.
Flair can't do much from the bottom here.
Flair has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Flair sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burdala lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Burdala is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Flair doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Burdala.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Burdala lands a nice short elbow.
Flair has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Burdala is working away from the top position though.
Flair is positioning himself well to prevent Burdala advancing to mount.

Burdala is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Burdala is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Flair doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Burdala.

That's two 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.
Burdala is nestled in close to Flair, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Flair is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Flair is looking to improve his position.
Burdala controlling the pace.
Flair wants to control but Burdala is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Flair desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burdala is looking for a kimura but Flair is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Burdala to get the leverage.

Burdala is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Flair is just riding it out for now. Burdala eventually gives up the hold.
Burdala is looking to stall here but Flair recovers full guard.

Burdala avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Burdala trying to control the position from guard on top but Flair is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Burdala postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Flair is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Burdala, into his guard.

Flair working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Burdala's head.
Flair wants to control from the top but Burdala keeps moving.
Flair passes Burdala's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Flair with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Flair prevents Burdala from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burdala wants to get back to full guard but Flair has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Burdala's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Saopish Burdala dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Flair leaves Burdala with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Burdala shoots in for a double leg but Flair sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Flair closes the distance looking to clinch

and Burdala counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Burdala.
Burdala scoring with punches to the head and body.
Burdala loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Flair is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burdala is aware though and is defending well.

Burdala drops back, looking for a kneebar! Flair looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Flair looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Flair!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burdala is working to avoid the ground and pound but Flair connects with a decent elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burdala tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Burdala wants to control but Flair postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flair wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burdala keeps working.
Burdala tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Flair wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Flair works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Flair happy to just control the position for now.
Flair cracks Burdala with a big right hand but Burdala just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Flair tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Flair connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Burdala some visible discomfort.

Flair is trying to get an arm triangle but Burdala is defending well.
Burdala tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flair is trying to get an arm triangle but Burdala is defending well.
Flair working the ground and pound.

Flair thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Burdala tries to buck Flair off but Flair is having none of it.
Flair works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Flair scores with punches from side control.
Burdala is trying to get back to half guard.
Flair misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burdala being controlled for a moment.
Burdala is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Flair is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Burdala is looking to improve his position but Flair isn't that keen on the idea.

Flair looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Burdala is working to get back to half guard.
Burdala regains half guard.
Flair trying to control the action but Burdala is working from the bottom.

Burdala looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flair seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Burdala is looking to improve his position.
Burdala has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Flair is working away from the top position though.

Burdala is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Flair pulls his head out easily.
Flair passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Burdala!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flair punishing his opponent with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rice Flair comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Flair 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rice Flair!