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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Joao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Joao has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 213 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
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185 cm
21
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafael Joao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bob Burke!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Colin Fray.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joao shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burke but Burke pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Joao misses with a double jab.
Burke stuffs the takedown attempt from Joao. Joao gets slowly back to his feet.
Joao looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Joao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joao misses with a double jab.
Joao 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 throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Joao takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Joao closes the distance but Burke moves to the side
and Burke moves into the clinch.
Burke utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Burke successfully pulls guard.
Joao will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Joao is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Joao trying to control but Burke is working from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Joao is trying to push Burke away but Burke has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Joao gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Burke has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Joao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Burke controlling the position.
Burke looking for a sweep. Not yet Burke, not yet.
Burke keeping moving, preventing Joao from controlling successfully.
Joao won't allow Burke to get back to his feet.
Joao looking to sit in guard and control but Burke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joao avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Burke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Joao works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burke stands up from Joao's guard - Burke perhaps looking for a knockout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joao shoots for a takedown but Burke saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Joao is breathing heavily.
Burke fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Joao sprawls well initially but Burke persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Joao tries to get to full guard but Burke has control of the leg.
Joao makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Burke with that takedown attempt.
Burke rushes Joao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Joao can't get the takedown.
Burke pulls Joao into guard.
Burke pulls Joao in close to prevent any damage.
Burke wants to sweep here but Joao controlling him for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke has Joao pulled in close to control his posture.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bob Burke.
A punch combination from Burke misses.
Burke shoots in for a takedown but Joao shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Burke avoids the head kick by Joao.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burke is defended easily by Joao.
Joao shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burke sprawls well. Burke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Joao gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joao tries to keep at a distance but Burke has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Bob Burke dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Burke looks to land a combination but Joao avoids it well.
Joao moves into the clinch.
Burke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Burke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Joao.
Burke closes the distance and clinches.
Burke tries to pull guard but Joao holds him up against the cage and eventually Burke drops back down to his feet.
Joao manages to break the clinch.
Joao throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burke's waist but Burke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Joao off to one side.
Joao slaps away a takedown attempt from Burke, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Burke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Joao.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Joao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burke shoots in for a takedown but Joao shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burke lands a head kick. Joao smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Joao throws a head kick that half lands.
Burke scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Joao has a takedown stuffed.
Rafael Joao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Joao, pushing him back against the cage.
Burke tries to pull guard but Joao holds him up against the cage and eventually Burke drops back down to his feet.
Joao looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Burke tries for a takedown but Joao manages to get underhooks.
Burke has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Joao after a bit of a struggle.
Burke breaks from the clinch.
Joao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burke tries to avoid it but Joao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burke to the ground. Burke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Joao fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Burke avoids it really well and circles away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Joao, pushing him back against the cage.
Burke is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Burke landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Burke unloads a knee to the mid-section. Joao lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Joao prevents a takedown attempt there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burke is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Joao is defending well.
Joao can't break the clinch.
Burke manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Burke keeping moving, preventing Joao from controlling successfully.
Joao stands up from Burke's guard - Joao perhaps looking for a knockout.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joao looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Burke is fending him off so far but Joao persists. Nope, Burke circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Burke or perhaps it was just good defense by Joao which made him look bad.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Joao.
Burke avoids the head kick by Joao.
Joao misses with a takedown attempt
and Burke holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Burke lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Burke.
Burke tries for a takedown but Joao manages to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Joao's face as he tries to break the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke has Joao pressed against the cage, preventing Joao from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The referee is keeping an eye on Burke - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Joao tries to break the clinch but Burke is controlling the position.
Joao wants to get back to striking at distance but Burke won't allow it.
Burke is trying to drag Joao to the mat but Joao just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Burke presses Joao against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joao drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burke lands with a right to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Bob Burke will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Burke tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joao sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Burke somewhat.
Burke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Joao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burke tries to avoid it but Joao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burke to the ground. Burke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Joao stops a takedown attempt from Burke.
Joao wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Joao wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Burke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Joao tries for a takedown but Burke manages to get underhooks.
Burke avoiding damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Joao wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Burke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Burke.
Rafael Joao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Burke.
Joao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice sprawl there from Burke as Joao shoots in.
Burke shoots in looking for a takedown. Joao tries to sprawl out of it but Burke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Joao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Burke will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rafael Joao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joao will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Joao with a lazy takedown attempt
and Burke counters with a body kick that stops Joao in his tracks momentarily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joao leaves Burke with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Joao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burke tries to avoid it but Joao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burke to the ground. Burke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Burke shoots in looking for a takedown. Joao tries to sprawl out of it but Burke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Joao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Joao.
Burke misses with a takedown attempt - Joao sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Burke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Joao.
Joao gets tackled into the cage by Burke. Burke maintains the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Burke.
Burke looking for a takedown.
Joao is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Joao takes a knee right on the jaw!
Joao is trying to pull guard but Burke turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Burke successfully pulls guard.
Joao engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Burke 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joao trying to control the position from guard on top but Burke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joao is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Burke is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rafael Joao has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Burke shoots in looking for a takedown. Joao tries to sprawl out of it but Burke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Joao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Joao displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Joao. No joy for Burke on that attempt.
Burke shoots in for a double leg but Joao sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joao tries to clinch
and Burke counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Joao darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joao seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Burke does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
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 Rafael Joao.
Well Burke has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Bob Burke!
Judge Josh West scores the fight for Bob Burke!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Bob Burke!
Bob Burke wins by unanimous decision!
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C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
62% |
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