PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dick Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Papa Legba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Papa Legba has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Burns
vs
Legba

176 cm
22
144 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

166 cm
20
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dick Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Papa Legba!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Burns does no damage.
Burns bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Legba's head.
Legba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Burns.
Legba lands with a nice combination. Burns backs away looking to recover.
Burns throws a combination that misses
and Legba counters with a stiff right hand.
Legba staying out of range there.
Legba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burns.
Legba fails to land with a series of punches.
Dick Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Burns misses with a two punch combination.
Legba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Legba misses with a few strikes there.
A nice combination there by Burns.
Burns connects with the punch.
Burns misses with a double jab.
Burns misses with a combination
and Legba counters with a stiff right hand.
Burns scores with a one two! Legba had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Legba dodges the punch combination from Burns.
Burns throws a hook but Legba avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Legba.
Legba scores with a jab to the head.
Burns swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Legba connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A combination from Burns does no damage.
Legba avoids a punch combination nicely.
A punch combination from Burns misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Burns as he connects with a hook.
Burns connects with a body shot.
Burns avoids a punch combination nicely.

Legba bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Burns stops Legba from passing to mount.
Legba sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Burns is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legba creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Burns sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Burns knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Legba on the ground.

Legba looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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

Legba is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Burns knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Burns is pushing Legba's head away, looking to escape. Legba manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns wants to control but Legba postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Burns fails to land with a series of punches.
Burns throws a left and a right that both miss
and Legba counters with a series of strikes. Burns will be more careful next time no doubt.
Legba fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Legba.
Burns rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Legba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Legba misses with a takedown attempt - Burns sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Burns stuffs the takedown.
Burns throws a combination that misses

and Legba counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Burns's guard now.

Legba thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Legba throwing strikes from guard but Burns blocks nicely.

Legba has gone for a leg lock! Burns slips out almost immediately though and dives into Legba's guard.

Legba is looking for a triangle but Burns pushes his legs off easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns stopping the sweep attempt from Legba.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papa Legba dominated that round.
That's time! Burns's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Legba misses with a body shot.
Burns fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burns misses with a two punch combination.
Burns misses with a double jab
and Legba counters with a left to the body.
Legba takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Burns misses with a jab, cross combination.
Burns throws a nice looking combination but Legba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Burns lands a jab-cross combination.
Burns misses with a two punch combination.
Burns throws a series of punches but Legba moves out of range.
Legba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burns throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Legba avoids a punch combination nicely.
Burns moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns misses with a looping right.
Burns throws a series of punches but Legba avoids them all with ease.
Burns keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Burns uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Legba.
Burns keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A left and a right from Burns both land. Nice combination.
Legba tries a head kick but it misses.
Some wild striking there from Burns.
Burns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dick Burns is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burns misses with a double jab.
Legba fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Burns avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice body punch from Legba.
Legba swings for the body but Burns moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns misses with a combination
and Legba counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Burns scores with a three punch combo!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Legba is defended easily by Burns.
Burns misses with a double jab
letting Legba counter with a right hand.
Burns throws a combination. Legba tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Legba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burns moves away.
Burns is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Burns throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Legba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Legba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice jab there from Legba.
Burns swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Legba counters with a nice body shot.
Legba scores with a punch to the head.
Legba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Legba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burns sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Legba somewhat.
Dick Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Papa Legba.
Legba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burns.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Legba shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Burns is trying to defend but Legba finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Legba is trying to control. Burns wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Legba is looking to pass Burns's guard but actually Burns recovers to full guard.
Legba wants to pass the guard but Burns is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Legba wants to pass the guard but Burns is keeping the position.

Legba thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Legba stands and throws Burns's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Legba goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Burns rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Legba's guard! Nice work there by Burns!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Papa Legba will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Burns misses with a looping right.
Legba dodges the punch combination from Burns.
Burns throws a nice looking combination but Legba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Burns misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Burns falls off balance throwing a combination

and Legba counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Burns working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Legba.
Legba throws a strike but Burns rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Burns wants to stand but Legba has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns content to stall in guard here.
Legba wants to sweep but no luck.

Legba working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Burns doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Burns manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Burns advances position into side control!
Legba tries to bench press Burns off him but Burns keeps the position.

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

Burns decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burns throws a looping overhand right but Legba ducks down to avoid it.
Burns throws a nice looking combination but Legba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fighters circling - Burns throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burns misses with a series of wild punches.
Legba lands a slapping body shot.
A nice combination there by Burns.
Burns misses with a series of wild punches.
Dick Burns is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burns takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Burns throws a right and a left that Legba avoids nicely.
Burns throws a looping overhand right but Legba ducks down to avoid it.

Legba rushes Burns and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba is leaning against Burns and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burns. Legba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Burns takes a swing at Legba's ribcage but misses.
Legba scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Some wild striking there from Burns.
Legba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Burns swivels and escapes.
Legba looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Legba avoids the body shot from Burns.
Burns lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Burns ducks right into an uppercut from Legba.
Legba ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Burns swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Legba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Burns swivels and escapes.
Legba moves away from the strike by Burns.
Burns misses with a combination
and Legba connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns misses with a combination
and Legba counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Burns will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Legba fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Legba lands a head shot.
Legba throws a series of strikes that have Burns backpedaling.

Burns is rocked!
Burns dodges the punch combination from Legba.
Legba lands a jab to Burns's midsection.
Burns misses with a combination
and Legba cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns misses with a double jab
and Legba cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dick Burns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Papa Legba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Horrible takedown by Legba or perhaps it was just good defense by Burns which made him look bad.

And that's the end of the fight!
Papa Legba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Legba 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papa Legba!