PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Garelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamison Burkina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garelli's entrance music is Patriarch on a Vespa. A fine choice. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Garelli
vs
Burkina

180 cm
33
184 lbs
31 - 18 - 0

184 cm
24
181 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Garelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jamison Burkina!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garelli throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Garelli lands with a hook. Burkina tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd cheers as Burkina lands an impressive looking overhand right. Garelli doesn't seem phased though.
Burkina blocks a leg kick.
Burkina drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Garelli ducks right into an uppercut from Burkina.
Burkina just misses with a punch to the body.

Garelli shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Garelli was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Garelli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burkina keeps working.
Burkina tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Garelli wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burkina is trying to control Garelli's posture but Garelli avoids it.
Burkina is looking for a sweep.

Garelli is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Burkina knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Burkina tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garelli trying to control the action but Burkina is working from the bottom.
Burkina is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Garelli throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Burkina makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Burkina.
Burkina 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.
Garelli controlling from the top position.
Burkina 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.
Garelli sitting in guard here, content to control.

Burkina is looking for a triangle but Garelli pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garelli passes Burkina's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Garelli there.
Garelli prevents Burkina from improving his position.

Garelli is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Burkina is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burkina manages to get to full guard.
Burkina 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.
Burkina keeping full guard, as Garelli tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkina wants to sweep here but Garelli controlling him for the moment.
Garelli is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Garelli slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Garelli won't allow Burkina to sweep him here.
Garelli trying to control the position from guard on top but Burkina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burkina is trying to keep Garelli in close.
Burkina throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Garelli drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Garelli jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Burkina 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.
Burkina is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garelli wants to control from the top but Burkina keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Burkina shoots in for a double leg but Garelli sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Garelli tries a low kick but Burkina avoids it.
Garelli uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Burkina.

Burkina takes the fight into the clinch.
Burkina lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Garelli backwards.
Garelli blocking some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garelli lands with a right to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Garelli works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Burkina has momentary wrist control but Garelli slips an elbow through the middle.
Garelli wants to pass the guard but Burkina is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Garelli 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.

Burkina shoots in for a takedown but Garelli shows good takedown defense.
Garelli lands a nice leg kick that just misses Burkina's sensitive parts.
Garelli scores with a head kick.
Burkina has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Garelli.
Nice uppercut lands for Burkina. That snapped Garelli's head back.
A punch combination from Burkina misses.
Garelli uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Burkina decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Burkina missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garelli tries to get to full guard but Burkina has control of the leg.
Garelli trying to control but Burkina postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burkina thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Garelli is looking to improve his position.
Garelli has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Burkina is working away from the top position though.
Burkina trying to pass the guard but Garelli defending well.
Garelli is trying to control but can't.

Garelli is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Burkina pulls his head out easily.
Burkina misses with a head shot. Garelli uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkina in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Burkina scoring with punches to the head and body.
Burkina missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Burkina throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burkina with a flurry of punches that miss.
Burkina in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Joe Garelli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Garelli is looking for a triangle but Burkina pushes his legs off easily.
Garelli avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garelli is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Burkina postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Burkina passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Garelli manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Burkina is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Garelli has managed to free his arm - good work.
Garelli moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Burkina postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkina content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Garelli has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burkina can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Garelli has Burkina pulled in close to control his posture.
Burkina scoring with punches to the head and body.
Garelli working a defensive guard here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garelli lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Burkina!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garelli lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joe Garelli will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Burkina leaves Garelli with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Garelli is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burkina sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Burkina on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Garelli steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Burkina.
Burkina misses with a jab, cross combination.
Burkina misses with a body shot.
Burkina throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burkina takes a swing at Garelli's ribcage but misses.
Burkina has his takedown stuffed
and Garelli counters with a thumping low kick.
Burkina tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garelli was well out of range. Poor timing from Burkina.
Burkina doesn't manage to clinch there - Garelli circles away.
Jamison Burkina seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burkina stuns Garelli with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Garelli moves away from the strike by Burkina.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garelli moves away from the strike by Burkina.
Garelli chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Garelli gets the takedown into side control.

Garelli tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Garelli has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Burkina is looking for a sweep.
Burkina takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Garelli working the head and body with strikes.
Burkina is looking for a sweep.
Garelli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burkina keeps working.

Burkina is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Garelli's leg. Oh but that's left an opportunity for Garelli! He's got an arm triangle... it looks tight! He's rotating and Burkina has tapped! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Joe Garelli!
Joe Garelli decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.