PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between DJ Burnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Florian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Florian's choice of entrance music: That's what it is. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Kenny Florian enters the cage!

Burnett
vs
Florian

175 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
22
161 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, DJ Burnett!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kenny Florian!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Florian pushes Burnett up against the cage in a clinch.
Burnett jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Florian walks away with a smile on his face. Burnett gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Florian fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Burnett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Florian is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burnett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Florian tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Florian has a takedown stuffed.
DJ Burnett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Florian.
Florian shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burnett pinned against the cage. Burnett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Florian doesn't manage to clinch there - Burnett circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florian checks the leg kick.
Florian shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burnett but Burnett pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Burnett misses with a series of wild punches.
Florian changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burnett tries to avoid it but Florian manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burnett to the ground. Burnett escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Florian fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Burnett throws a right and a left that Florian avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Burnett swats away the attempt to clinch by Florian.
Florian tries to clinch there but Burnett circles away.
A punch combination from Burnett misses.

Burnett looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Florian escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Burnett gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Burnett stands up from Florian's guard - Burnett perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florian with a lazy takedown attempt

and Burnett decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Florian's guard.

Burnett stands and steps away. Florian gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
DJ Burnett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Burnett looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Burnett performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Burnett decides to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Florian slips a jab and a cross from Burnett.
Florian gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Burnett counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Florian looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Florian looking to control.

Florian is looking for a triangle but Burnett pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burnett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Florian is keeping the position for now.
Burnett preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Burnett dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burnett scores with a shot to the body.
DJ Burnett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Florian tries for a takedown but Burnett circles away easily

and Burnett counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Florian!
Burnett in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Burnett scores with a couple of good head shots there.
DJ Burnett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burnett fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Burnett jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Florian is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Florian and Burnett has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Burnett in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florian tries to bench press Burnett off him but Burnett keeps the position.
Florian is breathing heavily.
Burnett wants to control for a moment but Florian uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Florian is pressing down on Burnett's thigh, looking to free his foot. Burnett is holding on for now.
Florian prevents Burnett from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Burnett looking for submissions off his back.
Florian is thwarting Burnett's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Florian is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Florian has hold of Burnett's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Burnett manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Burnett wants to control but Florian is having none of it.
Burnett is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Florian avoids the attempt from Burnett to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnett gives up his back whilst trying to strike.
Florian is hanging on to Burnett's back as he tries to escape.

Florian 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, Burnett has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Burnett breaks Florian's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Florian pushes Burnett off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Florian 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.

Burnett uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Florian keeps the fight on the outside.
Florian swats away the attempt to clinch by Burnett.
Burnett throws a nice looking combination but Florian bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Burnett dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burnett misses with a double jab.

Florian changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Burnett looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Florian avoids the strikes from the bottom by Burnett.
Burnett can't do much from the bottom here.
Florian wants to control but Burnett is keeping him busy.
Burnett is looking for a sweep.

Florian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Florian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Florian throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnett is looking to regain half guard here but Florian keeps moving and retains side control.

Florian is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Burnett has escaped the position, nice work there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Burnett scores with a takedown into Florian's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burnett trying to control but Florian is working from the bottom.
Florian utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Florian controls Burnett momentarily but Burnett frees himself.
Burnett landing some decent shots from guard.
Burnett working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Florian working a defensive guard but Burnett manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnett postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Burnett lands some shots froms side control.

Burnett decides to stand up, so the ref orders Florian to his feet.
Burnett tries to clinch up.
Florian misses with a takedown

and Burnett counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Burnett stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burnett wants to clinch up but Florian keeps it at a distance.
Burnett throws a right and a left that Florian avoids nicely.

Burnett looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Florian working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Burnett doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Burnett manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Burnett passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Burnett clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Florian misses with a takedown attempt

so Burnett counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Burnett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Burnett wants to stand but Florian has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Florian keeping moving, preventing Burnett from controlling successfully.
Florian wants to control but Burnett passes easily into half guard.
Florian tries to roll over but Burnett keeps him under control.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Florian is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnett wants to take a breather but Florian is having none of it.
Florian tries to get to full guard but Burnett has control of the leg.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Burnett.

Burnett tries for a kimura but Florian is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florian manages to work his way to half guard, despite Burnett's best efforts.

Florian looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Burnett postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Florian to stand up.
Burnett swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnett scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Florian misses with a takedown attempt

and Burnett decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Florian's guard.

Florian has his foot on Burnett's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burnett works his way back into a safe position though.

Florian had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Burnett is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Florian Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Burnett's back instead.

Florian looking for the choke but no joy.
Burnett tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burnett can't escape the position.
Florian trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Florian unloads with some shots from mount but Burnett bucks and avoids them well.
Burnett tries to hold on but Florian postures up.
Florian controlling his opponent.

Florian wants to finish this one by submission but Burnett is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Florian.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Burnett had his way with Kenny Florian in that 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. This is the final round!

Burnett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Florian showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Burnett.

Florian gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Florian is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Burnett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnett tries to stand but Florian is controlling from the bottom.
Burnett wants to control from the top but Florian keeps moving.
Burnett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Florian controls Burnett momentarily but Burnett frees himself.
Florian wants to sweep here but Burnett controlling him for the moment.

Burnett gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Florian misses with a takedown attempt

and Burnett counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Burnett.
Florian avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Florian is looking to sweep but instead, Burnett has passed into half guard.
Burnett is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Florian is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florian blocking the ground and pound attempt from Burnett.
Florian keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Burnett not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Burnett working over Florian with some ground and pound. Florian looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Florian looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Florian trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Burnett lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

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.
Florian is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Florian is desperately trying to improve his position but Burnett has a good base and remains in mount.
Burnett unloading with bombs!
Burnett has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Florian's face.
Burnett with a couple of short strikes.
Kenny Florian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burnett landing shots from mount.
Burnett landing strikes from the mount.
Burnett scoring with strikes but Florian is staying in there.
Florian is looking to improve his position but Burnett isn't that keen on the idea.
DJ Burnett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Burnett controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
DJ Burnett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burnett, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 50:45
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DJ Burnett!
DJ Burnett is the new lightweight champion!