PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tiarnan Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Mintolla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tiarnan Burke has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Burke
vs
Mintolla

190 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
146 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tiarnan Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Mintolla!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burke doesn't manage to clinch there - Mintolla circles away.
Mintolla avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mintolla throws a right hand that Burke ducks under and follows up with a left that Burke also avoids with ease.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burke is defended easily by Mintolla.
Some wild striking there from Mintolla.

Mintolla closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Burke did well to prevent Mintolla getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mintolla prevents Burke from standing back up.
Burke is trying to get back to full guard.
Burke regains full guard. Nicely done.

Mintolla gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Burke digs a good hook to Mintolla's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mintolla is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burke throws a series of punches but Mintolla avoids them all with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Burke. Those never looked like landing.

Mintolla closes the distance and pushes Burke back into the cage.
Burke fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mintolla is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Burke is defending well.
Burke has had enough of the clinch but Mintolla keeps him there for the moment.
Burke really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Burke tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiarnan Burke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mintolla is trying to pull guard but Burke turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mintolla fails to pull guard.
Burke gets underhooks to prevent Mintolla's takedown attempt.
Mintolla wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Burke has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke keeps control of Mintolla as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mintolla jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Burke walks away with a smile on his face. Mintolla gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mintolla shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burke sprawls well. Burke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mintolla gets slowly back to his feet.
Burke shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mintolla as he avoids it easily.
Burke fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mintolla avoids it really well and circles away.
Mintolla misses with a kick to the body.
Mintolla fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mintolla tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Mintolla or perhaps it was just good defense by Burke which made him look bad.
A head kick misses from Burke.
Burke ducks under a wild hook from Mintolla.
Mintolla stuffs the takedown attempt from Burke. Burke gets slowly back to his feet.
Burke is breathing heavily.
Burke closes the distance and clinches up with Mintolla, looking for a takedown. Burke pushes Mintolla against the cage but Mintolla circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Burke will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Burke closes the distance and clinches up with Mintolla, looking for a takedown. Burke pushes Mintolla against the cage but Mintolla circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Burke showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mintolla.
Burke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mintolla looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Mintolla closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Burke's guard.

Mintolla avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mintolla is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mintolla advances to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mintolla not doing much here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burke keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Mintolla dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mintolla misses with a series of wild punches.
Tiarnan Burke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mintolla shoots in and drives through. Burke sprawls well.
Mintolla throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mintolla shoots in and drives through. Burke sprawls well.
Mintolla swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Burke tries to land a leg kick but Mintolla saw it coming and moves away.

Burke gets caught napping as Mintolla dives in and scores a takedown. Burke manages to retain guard.
Burke is looking to stand up but Mintolla isn't so interested in that idea.
Mintolla trying to control but Burke is working from the bottom.
Mintolla stays in close to Burke's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mintolla wanted to stand there but Burke had control of the position.

Mintolla gets to his feet. Burke looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The fight stays on the outside here - Burke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mintolla tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Burke counters with a one-two to the body.
Burke shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mintolla as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burke tries to clinch up but Mintolla circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mintolla displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Burke.
Mintolla stuffs the takedown attempt from Burke. Burke gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiarnan Burke. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mintolla gets the takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Mintolla is working Burke over with some ground and pound from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mintolla controlling the position from side mount.

Mintolla stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mintolla doesn't manage to clinch there - Burke circles away.
Mintolla motions for Burke to come forward. Mintolla throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Burke throws a sloppy head kick and Mintolla moves out of range easily.
Burke misses with a kick to the body.
Mintolla avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Burke gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mintolla jumps guard but Burke stands there with Mintolla around his waist. Mintolla gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Burke drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mintolla tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mintolla is trying to drag Burke to the mat but Burke just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mintolla tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A frustrated look appears on Mintolla's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Burke gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mintolla.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Burke manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Mintolla 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! This is the final round!

Mintolla shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Burke as he jumps to the side.
Burke is looking to clinch.
Burke has a takedown stuffed.
Mintolla tries to clinch up.
Burke fails with a takedown attempt.
Tony Mintolla seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Burke changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mintolla tries to avoid it but Burke manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mintolla to the ground. Mintolla escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiarnan Burke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burke doesn't manage to clinch there - Mintolla circles away.
Mintolla throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Mintolla scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mintolla sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tony Mintolla has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mintolla avoids the attempt from Burke to control.
Burke tries to reverse the position but Mintolla maintains control.
Burke tries to hold on but Mintolla pushes him away.
Mintolla content just to control the position here.
Mintolla throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mintolla tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mintolla breaks from Burke's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Burke wants to control but Mintolla is having none of it.
Mintolla content just to control the position here.
Burke tries to improve his position but instead Mintolla has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mintolla is working for a rear naked choke. Burke is not defending it well and Mintolla has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Burke refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Burke's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tony Mintolla!