PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sandis Nilenders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Burkman (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.

Nilenders
vs
Burkman

177 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
206 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sandis Nilenders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Carlos Burkman!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nilenders has taken the fight to the clinch.
Burkman tries for a takedown but Nilenders manages to get underhooks.

Nilenders breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burkman throws a head kick but Nilenders moves out of range.

Nilenders fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Burkman sprawls well initially but Nilenders persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Burkman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Burkman tries to get to full guard but Nilenders has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burkman trying to hold on to Nilenders's head to control him but Nilenders postures up.
Burkman missing with punches from the bottom.
Burkman taking some punishment here, with Nilenders in his half guard.
Burkman is not content to let Nilenders control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burkman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nilenders's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nilenders's back!
Nilenders trying to control the position but Burkman manages to sink in the hooks.
Burkman trying to control.
Nilenders tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Nilenders is squirming around, avoiding Burkman's attempts to control the action.
Burkman prevents Nilenders from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nilenders tries to hold on but Burkman pushes him away.
Burkman trying to control but Nilenders is having none of it.
Nilenders regains half guard.
Nilenders is controlling Burkman's trapped leg to prevent Burkman from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Carlos Burkman.
Burkman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burkman shoots for a double leg takedown but Nilenders sprawls well. He's pushed Burkman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Burkman shoots for a takedown but Nilenders saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sandis Nilenders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Burkman.

Nilenders has closed the distance and engaged Burkman in a clinch.
Burkman is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nilenders is defending well.

Nilenders has hold of one of Burkman's legs. Burkman is fighting the takedown attempt but Nilenders gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Nilenders is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nilenders prevents Burkman from getting back to his feet.
Burkman trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nilenders controls the pace.
Nilenders trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nilenders knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Burkman on the ground.
Nilenders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Nilenders gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Burkman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nilenders has him pressed against the cage.

Nilenders gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Burkman regains guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burkman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nilenders wanted to stand there but Burkman had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandis Nilenders dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A jab from Burkman does it's job there.
Nilenders fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burkman shoots and misses

and Nilenders decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Burkman's guard.
Nilenders landing some decent shots from guard.
Nilenders controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nilenders working some strikes from top position.
Burkman trying to keep a closed guard but Nilenders is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nilenders tries to free his leg and advance position but Burkman is retaining full guard.
Nilenders throwing strikes but missing.
Nilenders wants to stand and escape but instead Burkman has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Burkman trying to control but Nilenders is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Burkman tries to stand but Nilenders is controlling from the bottom.
Nilenders keeping moving, preventing Burkman from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Carlos Burkman wasn't active enough on the ground.

Nilenders closes the distance and clinches.
Nilenders lands an elbow that stopped Burkman in his tracks for a moment.

Nilenders breaks the clinch.
Nilenders leaves Burkman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Burkman misses with a body kick.
Sandis Nilenders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burkman is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Nilenders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkman takes a swing at Nilenders's ribcage but misses.

Nilenders has managed to clinch.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Nilenders here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Burkman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nilenders walks away with a smile on his face. Burkman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sandis Nilenders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Burkman.
Nilenders lands with a slapping head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burkman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nilenders counters with a series of strikes. Burkman will be more careful next time no doubt.

Nilenders pushes Burkman up against the cage in a clinch.
Nilenders blocks a body shot from Burkman.

Nilenders breaks from the clinch.

Nilenders moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nilenders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Burkman.
Carlos Burkman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burkman misses with a leg kick

and Nilenders counters by clinching up.

Nilenders pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Burkman dives in and grabs Nilenders's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nilenders pushes down on Burkman's head and hops out.
Burkman wants to clinch but Nilenders slips to the side

and Nilenders counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Burkman!
Nilenders scores with a couple of short elbows.
Burkman tries to bench press Nilenders off him but Nilenders keeps the position.

Nilenders swings around for an armbar but Burkman sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Nilenders's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burkman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nilenders is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandis Nilenders dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nilenders keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Burkman tries to clinch there but Nilenders circles away.

Nilenders shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nilenders showed some decent athleticism there.
Burkman is looking to improve his position.

Nilenders stands up out of the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burkman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Burkman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nilenders closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nilenders is looking to take a break and control but Burkman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nilenders scoring with punches from side control.
An elbow from Nilenders crashes against the mat.
Burkman wants to control but Nilenders postures up.

Nilenders decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nilenders keeps the fight on the outside.
Burkman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sandis Nilenders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Burkman.
Burkman tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Nilenders moves into the clinch.

Nilenders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nilenders gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nilenders breaks from the clinch.
Burkman tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nilenders connects with an inside leg kick.
Burkman throws a sloppy head kick
and Nilenders counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Burkman with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nilenders decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Burkman's guard.
Nilenders lands a couple of digs.

Nilenders decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Burkman, up you get!
Burkman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Nilenders pushes Burkman up against the cage in a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Nilenders escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nilenders avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Nilenders 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nilenders wants to pass the guard but Burkman is keeping the position.
Nilenders is looking to stand up but Burkman won't let him.
Nilenders throws a strike but Burkman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Burkman trying to control the position from guard on top but Nilenders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Burkman stands up and waves to Nilenders to follow him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sandis Nilenders showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nilenders has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight for Sandis Nilenders!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Sandis Nilenders!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Sandis Nilenders!

Sandis Nilenders wins by unanimous decision!