PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rob Rayburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Burt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rayburn kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Rocket Man. Burt has chosen "I Luv It" - Young Jeezy as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rayburn
vs
Burt

178 cm
19
164 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

166 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rob Rayburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Henry Burt!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rayburn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rayburn throws a series of punches but Burt moves out of range.
Burt avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rob Rayburn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rayburn.
Burt tries to clinch but Rayburn is having none of it.
Rayburn misses with a wild combination.
Rayburn works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rayburn closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A punch lands to the side of Burt 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Burt is looking to clinch.
Rayburn swats away the attempt to clinch by Burt.
A right-left combo lands from Rayburn.
Rayburn connects with a crisp jab.
Burt wants to clinch up but Rayburn keeps it at a distance.
Burt shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rayburn sprawls well. Rayburn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Burt gets slowly back to his feet.
Burt stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rayburn.

Rayburn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burt, pushing him back against the cage.
Burt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Burt tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rayburn lands a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burt throws an elbow but it misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Burt just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rayburn's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Rayburn.
Burt stalling in the clinch but Rayburn improves position.
Rayburn lands a right hand that snaps the head of Burt backwards.
Burt tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rob Rayburn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Burt.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rayburn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rayburn is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rayburn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rayburn prevents Burt from breaking the clinch.
Rayburn lands a left hand.
Rayburn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nice body punch from Rayburn - that landed with a thud.
Burt looks gassed!
Rayburn lands a right hand.

Rayburn breaks from the clinch.
Rayburn lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Burt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rayburn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burt takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice uppercut there from Rayburn.
Rayburn scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Henry Burt has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rayburn is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Burt's half guard.
Burt has hold of Rayburn's hands but Rayburn slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rayburn working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rayburn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burt on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rayburn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rayburn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Burt's head.
Rayburn working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rayburn working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Burt flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rayburn lands a nice short elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rayburn lands a nice short elbow.
Rayburn will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rayburn working Burt over with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rayburn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rayburn is nestled in close to Burt, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Rayburn.
Rayburn scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ground and pound from Rayburn.
Rayburn looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Burt with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rayburn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rayburn drops an elbow to the side of Burt's head.
Rayburn scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rayburn controlling the action here.
Burt is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rayburn lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rayburn sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Burt defending well though.

Rayburn gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Rayburn moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rayburn scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rayburn!
Rayburn is working the combinations to good effect here.
Burt tries to clinch up

and Rayburn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Burt's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rayburn connects with a couple of short punches.
Rayburn is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rayburn scoring with some ground and pound.
Rayburn trying to control but Burt is working from the bottom.
Rayburn working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Rayburn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Henry Burt's cut.
That's time! Rayburn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A decent looking cross lands there for Rayburn.
Rob Rayburn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rayburn closes the distance and clinches.
Burt drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rayburn gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Rayburn breaks the clinch.
Rayburn ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Burt is looking to clinch but Rayburn is avoiding it.
Burt tries to close the distance and clinch but Rayburn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burt tries to clinch

and Rayburn counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rayburn.
Rayburn with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rayburn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rayburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Burt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rayburn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rayburn landing with the ground and pound.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayburn lands a couple of digs.
Rayburn throwing strikes from guard but Burt blocks nicely.
Rayburn stands up over Burt, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rayburn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rayburn throwing strikes but missing.

Burt is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rayburn lands a couple of elbows.
Rayburn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burt can do to turn this around?

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.
Rayburn connects with a couple of short punches.

Rayburn stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Burt takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rayburn with a hook.

Rayburn moves into the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Rayburn.
Rayburn is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Rayburn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rayburn goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rayburn bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Burt's head backwards.
Burt with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rayburn to score with a decent uppercut.
Burt tries to clinch

and Rayburn counters by moving into the clinch.
Burt wants to stall.

Rayburn has picked Burt up - he's going for a ride! Rayburn dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rayburn looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Rayburn gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Decent striking displayed by Rayburn there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayburn fails to land with a series of punches.
Burt wants to clinch but Rayburn slips to the side
enabling Rayburn to counter with a crisp jab.
Burt closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rayburn counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Rayburn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burt, pushing him back against the cage.
Burt is trying to break free.

Rayburn gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Burt regains guard.
Rayburn throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rayburn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burt is keeping the position for now.
Rayburn throws and elbow that misses. Burt uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rayburn's guard. Nice move by Burt!
Burt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burt throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rayburn pulls Burt in close to his closed guard and prevents Burt from doing any damage or advancing position.
Burt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Burt throws a strike but Rayburn rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rayburn trying to control but Burt is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rayburn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Burt has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rayburn has managed to get both his arms back between Burt's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Rayburn dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Henry Burt's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rayburn's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Rayburn duly obliges.
Rob Rayburn is winning the standup battle so far.
Burt wants to clinch
enabling Rayburn to counter with a crisp jab.
Rayburn throws a good cross that connects.
Rayburn scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rayburn is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Burt clinches with his opponent.

Rayburn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rayburn circles away from the clinch attempt
and Burt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rayburn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rayburn keeps the fight on the outside.

Rayburn has taken the fight to the clinch.

Rayburn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rayburn closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rayburn looks up at the clock and then as Burt takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rayburn smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rayburn lands some shots froms side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burt dodges the ground and pound from Rayburn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayburn sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Burt is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Rayburn trying to control the position but Burt is working away.
Burt manages to get back to half guard.
Burt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rayburn.
Rayburn looks to land a strike but Burt avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Rayburn is looking to work some ground and pound but Burt has wrist control.
Rayburn thows a big elbow that misses.
Rayburn thows a big elbow that misses.
Rayburn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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

Rayburn stands up and waves to Burt to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rayburn circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rayburn counters with a nice uppercut.

Rayburn darts in and clinches Burt up against the cage.

Rayburn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Burt tries to clinch

and Rayburn counters with a nice double leg into side control. Burt won't be happy with that.
Burt pushes Rayburn away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rayburn gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Burt is looking to regain half guard here but Rayburn keeps moving and retains side control.
Rayburn working the ground and pound from side control.
Rayburn tries to score with some ground and pound. Burt controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rayburn cracks Burt with a big right hand but Burt just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burt takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Rayburn is putting a hurting on Burt here, landing some big shots from side control.
Burt dodges the ground and pound from Rayburn.
Rob Rayburn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rayburn tries to score with some ground and pound. Burt controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rayburn is chipping away with strikes.
Burt throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rayburn connects with a jab.
Rayburn throws a shot to the body.
Rayburn lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Rayburn gets the takedown into side control.
Rayburn lands an elbow.
Rayburn lands a few punches from side control.
Rayburn lands some shots froms side control.
Rob Rayburn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burt tries to escape but Rayburn is in control.
Burt misses with an elbow from the bottom.
A lull in the action here.
Rayburn prevents Burt from escaping the position.
Rayburn postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rayburn working the head and body with strikes.
Rayburn creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rayburn tries to advance to mount but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rayburn misses with a wild body shot.
Henry Burt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rayburn paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Rayburn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rayburn has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:26
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:26
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Rayburn!