PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg Burson (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.

Oliveira
vs
Burson

195 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Oliveira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Greg Burson!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oliveira feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Oliveira controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Burson has his foot on Oliveira's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Oliveira works his way back into a safe position though.
Burson is trying to keep Oliveira in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oliveira is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Burson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Oliveira controlling from the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Oliveira could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira stands and throws Burson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Oliveira remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Thiago Oliveira just wasn't active enough.
Burson just misses with a punch to the body.
Burson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Oliveira.
Oliveira shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Burson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Oliveira thinking.
Oliveira uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Burson.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Oliveira.
A jab from Burson misses.
Oliveira shoots and misses
and Burson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Oliveira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burson swings away with a body shot that misses

so Oliveira counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Burson wants to sweep but no luck.
Burson wants to get back to his feet but Oliveira is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Oliveira manages to pass to side control.
Burson trying to hold on to Oliveira's head to control him but Oliveira postures up.
Burson is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burson is trying to stand back up but Oliveira is controlling him
Oliveira is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Burson!

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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Burson wants to hold on but Oliveira pushes him away.
Oliveira takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Oliveira with the ground and pound from mount.
Burson is just holding on here. Oliveira manages to take his back.
Burson just trying to survive but Oliveira is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A looping hook to the body misses from Burson. Oliveira does a little dance to reset his feet.
A decent looking cross lands there for Burson.

Oliveira closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Burson quickly recovers to half guard.
Oliveira is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Burson!
Oliveira looking to control and managing it successfully.
Oliveira avoids the attempt from Burson to control.
Oliveira looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Oliveira content just to control the position here.
Burson is looking to improve his position but Oliveira isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Oliveira controlling from mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Thiago Oliveira just wasn't active enough.
Burson throws a poor cross that misses

and Oliveira counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Oliveira uses his free foot to push down on Burson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Burson.
Burson is looking to improve his position but Oliveira isn't that keen on the idea.
Oliveira controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burson tries to control Oliveira's body but Oliveira pushes him off. Burson squirms to his side and now Oliveira has his back!
Oliveira is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Burson is trying to stand back up.
Burson can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Oliveira is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Burson trying to control the action but Oliveira just sinks the hooks in.
Burson is in bad spot here.
Oliveira is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Oliveira dominated that second round.
That's time! Oliveira's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A big left from Burson misses.
Burson throws a right hand that misses
and Oliveira counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Burson thinking.

Burson takes the fight into the clinch.
Burson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Burson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Oliveira prevents it.
Burson tries for a takedown but Oliveira manages to get underhooks.
Oliveira has Burson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Burson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Burson tries to work over Oliveira's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Burson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Burson looking for a takedown.
Thiago Oliveira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greg Burson.
Burson stops a takedown attempt from Oliveira.
Oliveira gets underhooks to prevent Burson's takedown attempt.
Burson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Oliveira stops a takedown attempt from Burson.

Oliveira has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Burson regains guard immediately.
Oliveira slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Oliveira wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
A lull in the action here as Oliveira stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Burson is trying to get back to half guard.
Oliveira happy to just control the position for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thiago Oliveira wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Burson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Burson just misses with a punch to the body.
Oliveira takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Oliveira avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Burson closes the distance and pushes Oliveira back into the cage.
Burson is working for takedown but Oliveira is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burson is looking to control Oliveira's arms but Oliveira gets an underhook and turns him. Now Burson has his back to the cage.
Oliveira is working for takedown but Burson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Burson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Oliveira pulls his leg out and moves away.
Oliveira needs to keep his hands up - Burson had a free shot at his head there.
Oliveira walks into a left hand.
Burson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Oliveira was well out of range. Poor timing from Burson.
Burson misses with a body punch

and Oliveira counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Oliveira.
Thiago Oliveira overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Oliveira sitting in guard here, content to control.
Oliveira advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira is controlling the pace.
Oliveira seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Burson for as long as he can get away with.
Burson trying to control but Oliveira postures up.
Oliveira perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Oliveira showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Oliveira, 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Oliveira!