PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sloat Gresham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Burkhart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gresham
vs
Burkhart

173 cm
26
153 lbs
13 - 11 - 1

163 cm
25
146 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Bloodsport Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Sloat Gresham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Burkhart!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gresham throws a head kick but Burkhart moves out of range.

Burkhart pushes Gresham up against the cage in a clinch.

Gresham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick by Burkhart misses
and Gresham counters with a stiff right hand.
Burkhart lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A telegraphed right hand from Gresham misses the target.

Burkhart has Gresham up against the cage in a clinch.

Gresham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Burkhart gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Burkhart lands a hook that snaps the head of Gresham backwards.
Burkhart lands a shoulder strike.
Gresham landing knees to the body.
Burkhart misses with a punch to the body.

Gresham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Burkhart has closed the distance and engaged Gresham in a clinch.
Gresham tries to stall but Burkhart uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gresham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Burkhart digs a right hand underneath Gresham's ribcage. Gresham let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Burkhart tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gresham's elbow.

Gresham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burkhart throws a body kick the misses
and Gresham makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Burkhart really felt that one!
Burkhart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gresham breaks from the clinch.
Burkhart fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gresham on the side of the head.
Gresham showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Burkhart.

Burkhart closes the distance and pushes Gresham back into the cage.
Burkhart takes a shot to the head.
Gresham lands a right hand that snaps the head of Burkhart backwards.

Gresham manages to break the clinch.
Sloat Gresham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Burkhart closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Burkhart goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Burkhart.
Burkhart tries to throw a body punch but Gresham avoids it by throwing Burkhart back against the cage.
Burkhart misses with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Burkhart scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gresham trying to stall but Burkhart improves his position.
Gresham digs a right hand underneath Burkhart's ribcage. Burkhart let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gresham trying to land knees to the body.
Burkhart misses with a hook to the ribs.
Burkhart misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Burkhart tries to throw a body punch but Gresham avoids it by throwing Burkhart back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkhart avoids a wild elbow strike from Gresham.
Gresham is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gresham trying to stall but Burkhart improves his position.
Burkhart lands a shoulder strike.
Burkhart can't find room to land a body shot as Gresham controls the action.
Gresham lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gresham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Burkhart is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gresham gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Burkhart can't find room to land a body shot as Gresham controls the action.
Burkhart misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gresham lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gresham lands a body shot.
A knee to the head by Gresham.
Burkhart tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gresham's elbow.
Burkhart misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Burkhart lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gresham misses with a punch on the inside.
Gresham scores with a knee to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Burkhart.
Gresham tries to break free but Burkhart pushes him back against the cage.
Gresham taking a breather.
Burkhart lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gresham backwards.
Gresham unloads a knee to the mid-section.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gresham.

Gresham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Burkhart throws a sloppy head kick
and Gresham counters with a nice low kick that buckles Burkhart's knee momentarily.
Gresham moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gresham on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Burkhart throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gresham counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Burkhart instigates a clinch.
Burkhart lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gresham.
Gresham with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Burkhart misses with a hook to the ribs.
Burkhart misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gresham swings wildly with an uppercut but Burkhart uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burkhart can't find room to land a body shot as Gresham controls the action.
Burkhart tries to throw a body punch but Gresham avoids it by throwing Burkhart back against the cage.
Burkhart lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gresham or not.
Gresham lands with a short shot to the head.
Burkhart avoids the elbow strike from Gresham, against the cage.
Burkhart misses with some punches.
Gresham putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Burkhart in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gresham landing knees to the head.
Gresham is breathing heavily.
Burkhart tries to throw a body punch but Gresham avoids it by throwing Burkhart back against the cage.
Gresham has had enough of the clinch but Burkhart keeps him there for the moment.
Burkhart is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gresham pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gresham has a couple of punches blocked by Burkhart.
Gresham lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gresham blocks a body shot from Burkhart.
Gresham throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Burkhart blocks it with crossed arms.
Burkhart tries a body shot but Gresham blocks it.
Gresham tries to land a knee to the head but Burkhart blocks with his arms.
Gresham wants to stall.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Gresham obliges.
Burkhart lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gresham backwards.
A shot in the inside from Burkhart.
Gresham prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sloat Gresham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Burkhart.
Gresham misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gresham misses with a punch on the inside.
Burkhart lands a nice shot to the body.

Burkhart pulls guard.

Gresham is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Burkhart is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Burkhart has escaped and now he's on top!
Burkhart makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burkhart throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Burkhart postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sloat Gresham will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Burkhart instigates a clinch.
Gresham blocks a body shot from Burkhart.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Burkhart.
Burkhart tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gresham's elbow.
Burkhart can't find room to land a body shot as Gresham controls the action.
Burkhart lands a body shot.
Burkhart scores with a hook to the body.

Gresham breaks from the clinch.
Gresham looks to land a combination but Burkhart avoids it well.
Burkhart misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Gresham gets tackled into the cage by Burkhart. Burkhart maintains the clinch.
Burkhart lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gresham prevents a body shot from Burkhart.
Burkhart tries for a takedown but Gresham manages to get underhooks.

Gresham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Burkhart forces Gresham back against the cage and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burkhart softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gresham looking to throw knees to the head but Burkhart is blocking nicely.
Burkhart tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gresham's elbow.
Burkhart goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Burkhart blocks an elbow strike.
Burkhart works on Gresham's body with a couple of short punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Burkhart.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gresham connects with a knee to the head.

Gresham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burkhart throws a head kick that misses.
Burkhart gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Gresham counters with a nice uppercut.

Burkhart drives through and clinches with Gresham against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Burkhart.
Burkhart lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gresham backwards.
Alex Burkhart seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gresham prevents the takedown attempt.
Gresham using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Burkhart has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gresham throws a head punch that misses.
A knee to the head by Gresham.
Burkhart tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gresham lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Burkhart is working Gresham over against the cage.
Burkhart digs a right hand into Gresham's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gresham's gas tank.
Burkhart scores with a hook to the body.
Burkhart lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gresham backwards.
Gresham with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Burkhart lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Burkhart cracks Gresham with a nice body shot.
Gresham blocks a body shot from Burkhart.
A right hand to the body from Burkhart.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Burkhart.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkhart digs a right hand underneath Gresham's ribcage. Gresham let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gresham missing with knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Burkhart.
Burkhart digs a right hand underneath Gresham's ribcage. Gresham let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Burkhart pushes Gresham back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Burkhart makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Burkhart digs a right hand underneath Gresham's ribcage. Gresham let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A right hand to the body from Burkhart.
Burkhart misses with a punch to the body.
Burkhart lands a body shot in the clinch.
Burkhart scores with a hook to the body.
Burkhart works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Burkhart misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gresham misses with a knee strike.
Burkhart is leaning against Gresham and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Burkhart lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Burkhart can't find room to land a body shot as Gresham controls the action.
Burkhart lands a nice shot to the body.
Burkhart is leaning against Gresham and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A body shot lands from Burkhart.
A short body shot lands from Burkhart as the two fighters clinch.
Burkhart lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gresham or not.
Burkhart lands a body shot in the clinch.
Burkhart pushes Gresham back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Burkhart lands a body punch.
Burkhart lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Burkhart.

Burkhart pulls Gresham into guard.
Burkhart bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gresham's guard.
Burkhart passes into half guard.
Gresham wants to get back to his feet.
Burkhart looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gresham with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Burkhart not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Burkhart stops Gresham from getting back to his feet.
Burkhart slips a nice elbow through Gresham's hands, connecting with Gresham's forehead.
Gresham is looking to escape.
Burkhart slips a nice elbow through Gresham's hands, connecting with Gresham's forehead.
Burkhart landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Burkhart working over Gresham with some ground and pound. Gresham looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Burkhart is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkhart frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Burkhart is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gresham can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gresham really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Burkhart looking to finish Gresham with some ground and pound. This is bad for Gresham!
Burkhart pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Gresham is trying to escape the mount.
Gresham is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burkhart landing shots from mount.
Burkhart has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gresham's face.
Gresham is trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Burkhart 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! And we move into the final round!

Burkhart forces Gresham back against the cage and clinches.
Gresham misses with a knee strike.
Gresham doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gresham lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gresham lands a damaging elbow.
Burkhart works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A shot in the inside from Burkhart.
Gresham looking to throw knees to the head but Burkhart is blocking nicely.
Gresham throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Burkhart scores with a shot to the side of Gresham's head.
Burkhart lands a left hand.
Burkhart tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gresham's elbow.
Burkhart keeps control of Gresham as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gresham lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Burkhart lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gresham backwards.
Burkhart pushes Gresham back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Burkhart misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice body punch from Burkhart.
A right hook to the body lands for Burkhart.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gresham tries to land a knee to the head but Burkhart blocks with his arms.
Burkhart misses with a hook to the ribs.
Good body shot from Burkhart.
Burkhart presses Gresham against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Burkhart lands a shot to the body.

Burkhart tightens his grip and picks Gresham up, before dumping him to the ground. Gresham manages to land in guard.
Burkhart throwing strikes from guard but Gresham blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gresham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Burkhart postures up in Gresham's guard and throws a big left but Gresham blocks it.
Burkhart makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Burkhart postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Burkhart landing some decent shots from guard.
Burkhart stops Gresham from standing up.
Burkhart loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Burkhart landing with the ground and pound.
Burkhart working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Burkhart throwing strikes from guard but Gresham blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gresham wants to stand up but Burkhart is controlling him.
Burkhart scoring with some ground and pound.
Burkhart is in close to Gresham's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gresham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burkhart.
Burkhart is looking to work some ground and pound but Gresham has wrist control.
Burkhart cracks Gresham with a solid left hand.
Burkhart tries to free his leg and advance position but Gresham is retaining full guard.

Gresham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Burkhart throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burkhart missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gresham is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burkhart is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkhart connects with a couple of short punches.
Burkhart lands a couple of digs.
Burkhart postures up and lands a big shot to Gresham's brow.
Burkhart in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gresham wants to stand up but Burkhart is controlling him.
Burkhart distracts Gresham with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Burkhart missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Burkhart postures up in Gresham's guard and throws a big left but Gresham blocks it.
Burkhart is working Gresham over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Burkhart thows a big elbow that misses.
Burkhart prevents Gresham from getting back to his feet.

Gresham is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Burkhart defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gresham tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Gresham is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burkhart is aware though and is defending well.
Gresham wants to stand and escape but Burkhart is having none of it.
Burkhart missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Burkhart is looking to work some ground and pound but Gresham has wrist control.
Burkhart scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Burkhart working some strikes from top position.
Burkhart throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gresham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Gresham scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Burkhart gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gresham tries a knee to the head but Burkhart blocks it.
Burkhart works on Gresham's body with a couple of short punches.
A hook to the body from Burkhart.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Burkhart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Burkhart has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Burkhart!