PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nigel Burkshire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Palate Menochi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burkshire kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is It's a Fight - Three 6 Mafia. Nigel Burkshire has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Burkshire
vs
Menochi

198 cm
29
220 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

180 cm
26
224 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nigel Burkshire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Palate Menochi!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burkshire has taken the fight to the clinch.
Menochi tries to land knees in the clinch but Burkshire avoids the damage to the body.
Burkshire has a couple of punches blocked by Menochi.
Burkshire pushes Menochi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Burkshire breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burkshire slips a jab from Menochi.
Burkshire swats away the attempt to clinch by Menochi.

Burkshire forces Menochi back against the cage and clinches.
Burkshire is working for takedown but Menochi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Burkshire fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Burkshire managing to block the knees to the body from Menochi.
Menochi missing with knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Burkshire.
Menochi throws a punch but it's blocked by Burkshire.
Burkshire gets through Menochi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Burkshire has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Menochi clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Menochi wants to control his opponent's hands but Burkshire gets his hands free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burkshire throwing sloppy strikes.
Burkshire is not going to allow Menochi to sit and survive in this position.
Menochi wants to escape the position.
Menochi is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Burkshire.
Menochi breaks Burkshire's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Menochi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Burkshire keeping moving, preventing Menochi from controlling successfully.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Menochi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burkshire can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Menochi wants to sweep but no luck.
Burkshire pushes down on Menochi's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Burkshire decides to return to a standing position.

Burkshire pushes Menochi up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Menochi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Burkshire after a bit of a struggle.
Menochi tries a body shot but Burkshire blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menochi tries a body shot but Burkshire blocks it.
Burkshire prevents a takedown attempt there.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Menochi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Burkshire just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nigel Burkshire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Palate Menochi.
Menochi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Burkshire is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Menochi wants a takedown.
Menochi wants a takedown.
A bit of stalling here from Burkshire.
Menochi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Burkshire pulls his leg out and moves away.
Burkshire thows a body shot but no joy.

Burkshire forces Menochi back against the cage and clinches.

Menochi turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Burkshire can't do much from the bottom here.

Menochi swings around for an armbar but Burkshire sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Menochi's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burkshire thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burkshire throwing strikes but missing.
Menochi keeping moving, preventing Burkshire from controlling successfully.
Burkshire working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burkshire will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Menochi working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Burkshire has passed into half guard!
Menochi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel Burkshire dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Menochi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Burkshire.
Burkshire closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Burkshire rushes Menochi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Burkshire has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Menochi is trying to keep an underhook but Burkshire manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Menochi is looking for a sweep. Burkshire is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Burkshire is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Menochi wants to get back to full guard.
Burkshire working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burkshire is keen to just control but Menochi is a slippery customer.
Menochi is pressing down on Burkshire's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Menochi is on top in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Burkshire is on top in guard.
Menochi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Burkshire stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Menochi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burkshire postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire tries to free his leg and advance position but Menochi is retaining full guard.

Menochi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Burkshire pushes down on Menochi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Burkshire content to control rather than advance.
Burkshire winds up and cracks Menochi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menochi gets full guard.
Burkshire wants to control from the top but Menochi keeps moving.
Nigel Burkshire overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burkshire working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burkshire trying to control but Menochi is working from the bottom.
Burkshire won't allow Menochi to sweep him here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Nigel Burkshire.
Menochi lands an overhand right.
Menochi fails with an attempt to clinch.

Burkshire feints and as Menochi raises his hands in defense, Burkshire changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Burkshire trying to control the position from guard on top but Menochi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Menochi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burkshire trying to control but Menochi is working from the bottom.
Menochi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burkshire can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel Burkshire dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Menochi doesn't manage to clinch there - Burkshire circles away.

Burkshire instigates a clinch.
Menochi prevents Burkshire from breaking the clinch.
Burkshire tries to throw a body punch but Menochi avoids it by throwing Burkshire back against the cage.
Burkshire prevents the takedown attempt.
Menochi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Menochi jumps into guard, dragging Burkshire to the mat.
Burkshire trying to control but Menochi is working from the bottom.

Burkshire got a little sloppy there for a moment and Menochi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Burkshire has managed to get both his arms back between Menochi's legs - danger averted.
Burkshire looking to sit in guard and control but Menochi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Menochi trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Burkshire manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menochi trying to strike off his back.
Burkshire wants to pass the guard but Menochi is keeping the position.
Burkshire scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Burkshire looking to sit in guard and control but Menochi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Menochi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burkshire swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire wants to stand but Menochi is controlling the position.
Menochi looking to pass the guard.
Burkshire is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Menochi throws a big elbow that misses.
Burkshire is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Menochi trying to control the position from guard on top but Burkshire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Palate Menochi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menochi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Menochi trying to move into half guard but instead Burkshire has managed to sweep!

Menochi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Burkshire stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Menochi cracks Burkshire with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A big right from Menochi misses.

Burkshire rushes Menochi and presses him up against the cage.
Burkshire lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Menochi backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menochi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Burkshire is defending well.

Burkshire breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burkshire lands a nice shot that snaps Menochi's head back.
Nigel Burkshire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Burkshire instigates a clinch.
Menochi tries to pull guard but Burkshire won't allow it.
Nigel Burkshire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Palate Menochi.
Menochi is working for takedown but Burkshire is calmly controlling the position for now.
Menochi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burkshire is looking for a takedown.
Burkshire goes for a takedown in the clinch but Menochi prevents it.
Menochi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Menochi is trying to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menochi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Burkshire after a bit of a struggle.
Burkshire lands a hook that snaps the head of Menochi backwards.
Menochi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Burkshire prevents it.
Burkshire lands a nice shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nigel Burkshire.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burkshire, 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nigel Burkshire!