PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ronald Burgandy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and larry james (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Burgandy
vs
james

190 cm
23
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ronald Burgandy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, larry james!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
james shoots in looking for a takedown. Burgandy tries to sprawl out of it but james keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Burgandy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A combination from james does no damage.

james closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Burgandy quickly recovers to half guard.
james wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burgandy keeps working.
james is looking to advance position but Burgandy won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
james trying to control the action but Burgandy is working from the bottom.
It looks like james is going to stand back up.

james decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Burgandy has his takedown stuffed

and james counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by james.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burgandy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and james defends well.
james is looking to work some ground and pound but Burgandy has wrist control.
Burgandy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
james throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
james can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Burgandy.
james is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Burgandy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
james looks gassed!
Burgandy looking to finish james with some ground and pound. This is bad for james!
Burgandy looking to control but james is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Burgandy lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgandy controlling his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Burgandy fails to move to back control.
Burgandy landing strikes, looking to finish!
james tries to hold on but Burgandy postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgandy putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
james tries to hold on but Burgandy postures up.
Burgandy controlling the position easily from mount.
Burgandy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronald Burgandy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Burgandy falls off balance throwing a combination
and james counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
james tries to close the distance and clinch but Burgandy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Burgandy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and james counters by clinching up.

james is trying to trip Burgandy. He has hold of a leg but Burgandy is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. james persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Burgandy is adopting a defensive guard.
james wants to get up but he can't break Burgandy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
james wants to control from the top but Burgandy keeps moving.
Burgandy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in james's guard.
james is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgandy wants to control from the top but james keeps moving.
james trying to keep a closed guard but Burgandy is proving a slippery customer.
james utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
james looking to control.
Ronald Burgandy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by larry james.
Burgandy doesn't manage to clinch there - james circles away.
james closes the distance but Burgandy moves to the side
and Burgandy counters with a straight right hand.
james is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two 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.
james tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burgandy was well out of range. Poor timing from james.

Burgandy takes the fight into the clinch.
Burgandy has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. james avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Burgandy has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics james uses from the top position.
james's corner is telling him to maintain position.
james slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
james is staying tight to Burgandy's torso, preventing him from escaping.
james tries to score with some ground and pound. Burgandy controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgandy manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Burgandy is trying to maintain the position but james is very close to passing his half guard.
Burgandy is trying to stand back up but james is controlling him
Burgandy is looking for a sweep. james is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
james controlling the pace.
james not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four 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.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Burgandy pushes james off looking to stand but james dives back in and keeps control.
Burgandy trying to control but james postures up.
Burgandy is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because james is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

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

and Burgandy counters with a takedown into side control.
james is looking for a sweep.
james is trying to control Burgandy's posture but Burgandy avoids it.
Burgandy working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronald Burgandy dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Burgandy fails with the takedown.

james moves into range and clinches up with Burgandy.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Burgandy as james tries to tie him up.
james tries to circle away but Burgandy has him pinned against the cage.
Burgandy is pressed up against the cage. james has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Burgandy down to the mat. Burgandy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
james throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
james fails with the takedown

and Burgandy counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for james!
Burgandy controlling his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
james is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Burgandy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burgandy controlling from mount.
james is trying to escape the mount.
james wants to hold on but Burgandy pushes him away.
Burgandy controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
james is desperately trying to improve his position but Burgandy has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
james is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Burgandy controlling from mount.
james wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's four 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.
Burgandy trying to control.
james controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Burgandy slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Burgandy is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. james defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Burgandy lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
larry james has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ronald Burgandy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Burgandy has james flattened out and is raining down punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronald Burgandy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burgandy, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronald Burgandy!