PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Burov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burov comes to the cage accompanied by Russian Rocket. The crowd seem to be enjoying Birmiski's choice of entrance music: I'm Back - T.I. 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.

Burov
vs
Birmiski

171 cm
22
145 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

170 cm
22
140 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

GMMA Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pavel Burov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ari Birmiski!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burov shoots in but Birmiski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Burov lands with an uppercut that bounces Birmiski off the cage and back into rage.
Birmiski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Burov is fending him off so far but Birmiski persists. Nope, Burov circles away and we're back to standing.

Birmiski shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Birmiski showed some decent athleticism there.
Burov trying to control from the bottom.

Birmiski is working for a submission of some sort.
Burov wants to get back to full guard.
Birmiski working over Burov with some ground and pound. Burov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski works his foot free and advances to mount.

Birmiski jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Burov is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Burov and Birmiski has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Birmiski tries for a kimura but Burov is defending well.
Burov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Birmiski's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Birmiski is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Burov is just riding it out for now. Birmiski eventually gives up the hold.

Birmiski seems to be working for a kimura but Burov defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski wants to pass the guard but Burov is defending well.
Burov tries to get to full guard but Birmiski has control of the leg.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Birmiski is trying to work for a kimura but Burov is defending well.

Birmiski is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Birmiski is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Burov defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burov wants to control but Birmiski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Birmiski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Birmiski is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Birmiski seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Burov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Birmiski tries to pass to full mount but Burov defends it.

That's four 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.

Birmiski wants to work for an arm triangle but Burov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Burov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Birmiski is working away from the top position though.

Birmiski is looking for a kimura but Burov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Birmiski to get the leverage.
Burov is staying active underneath Birmiski, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Birmiski trying to control from Burov's half guard. Burov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Burov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Birmiski is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Birmiski tries to free his leg and advance position but Burov is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Birmiski dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burov works the jab nicely.
Birmiski wants to slow Burov down by chopping away at his legs.
Burov shoots and misses
and Birmiski counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Burov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Birmiski throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Burov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Birmiski counters with a leg kick.
A punch combination from Birmiski misses.
Birmiski misses with a looping left.
Burov swats away the attempt to clinch by Birmiski.
Birmiski thows a body shot but no joy.
Birmiski tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Burov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Burov. Birmiski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Burov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Birmiski ducks under a wild hook from Burov.
Burov misses with a hook. Birmiski ducked under it nicely.
Birmiski shoots in for a takedown but Burov shows good takedown defense.
Birmiski misses with a jab, cross combination.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Birmiski.
Burov misses with a hook to the body
and Birmiski counters with a series of strikes. Burov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Birmiski shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Burov as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Burov misses the target.

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.
A solid leg kick lands there for Birmiski.
Burov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Birmiski tries to avoid it but Burov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Birmiski to the ground. Birmiski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pavel Burov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burov misses with a jab to the body
and Birmiski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Burov tries for a takedown but Birmiski circles away easily
and Burov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Burov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Birmiski.
Birmiski swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Burov.
Birmiski takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Burov throws a good cross that connects.
Birmiski throws a jab when Burov was well out of range.
No joy there for Birmiski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Burov with a poor takedown
and Birmiski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski lands with an overhand left.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Birmiski.
Burov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Burov jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Birmiski misses with a looping left.
Burov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Birmiski misses with the combination.
Birmiski throws a half hearted mid kick.
Birmiski looks to score with a jab to the body but Burov is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Burov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Birmiski.
Burov avoids the body shot from Birmiski.
Burov throws a right and a left that Birmiski avoids nicely.
Birmiski connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Birmiski throws a low kick but Burov avoids it.

Birmiski looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Burov!
Birmiski with good strikes from the mount here!

Birmiski working for a guillotine from mount but Burov is in no mood to give up.
Birmiski avoids the attempt from Burov to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Birmiski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Burov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Birmiski fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Burov misses with a hook to the body

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

Birmiski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Burov keeping moving, preventing Birmiski from controlling successfully.

Birmiski drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Burov dives on top into guard.

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

Burov drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Burov seems to have locked his on tight now - Birmiski screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Burov, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Pavel Burov!
Pavel Burov retains his bantamweight title!