PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eugene Carl Alexander Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tamao Serizawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tamao Serizawa is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Carl Alexander Burns
vs
Serizawa

170 cm
27
209 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

184 cm
27
204 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Eugene Carl Alexander Burns!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tamao Serizawa!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Serizawa with a poor takedown

and Burns counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Serizawa's guard now.
Burns has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Serizawa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Serizawa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Burns controls the pace.

Burns is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Serizawa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Serizawa has escaped and now he's on top!

Serizawa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Burns has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Serizawa has managed to get both his arms back between Burns's legs - danger averted.
Burns 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.

Serizawa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Serizawa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serizawa passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Serizawa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Serizawa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Serizawa wants to control for a moment but Burns uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Burns looking for submissions off his back.
Burns gets back to full guard.
Serizawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burns is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns working a defensive guard but Serizawa passes into half guard.
Burns tries to roll over but Serizawa keeps him under control.
Burns is pressing down on Serizawa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Serizawa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Serizawa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Burns wants to stand but Serizawa is controlling the position.
Burns keeping full guard, as Serizawa tries to pass.

Burns looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Serizawa wants to control from the top but Burns keeps moving.
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!
Serizawa won't allow Burns to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serizawa wants to control from the top but Burns keeps moving.
Serizawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burns is keeping the position for now.
Burns seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Serizawa tries to clinch but Burns moves out of range.
Serizawa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Burns counters with a single leg into guard. Serizawa didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns tries to free his leg and advance position but Serizawa is retaining full guard.
Serizawa being controlled here, momentarily.
Serizawa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Serizawa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Burns pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Serizawa is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Serizawa has control of Burns's left arm, preventing Burns from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eugene Carl Alexander Burns dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Burns looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Serizawa!
Burns tries to move into full mount but can't pass Serizawa's legs.

Burns working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Serizawa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Burns is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Serizawa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burns tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Burns has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Burns prevents Serizawa from escaping the position.
Eugene Carl Alexander Burns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burns wants to lay and pray for a moment but Serizawa keeps working.

Burns goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Serizawa rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Burns's guard! Nice work there by Serizawa!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Serizawa has gone for a leg lock! Burns slips out almost immediately though and dives into Serizawa's guard.
Burns showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Burns postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Serizawa is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Burns, into his guard.
Serizawa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Serizawa from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns wants to get back to his feet but Serizawa passes into half guard.
Burns is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Serizawa is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Burns doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Serizawa.

Serizawa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Serizawa seems to be working for a kimura but Burns defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Burns is pressing down on Serizawa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Burns is pulling down on Serizawa's head. It's preventing any offense from Serizawa, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Burns looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Burns keeping full guard, as Serizawa tries to pass.
Burns might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Serizawa wants to control from the top but Burns keeps moving.
Serizawa wants to pass the guard but Burns is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eugene Carl Alexander Burns dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Burns displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Serizawa.

Burns manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Serizawa on his heels. He'll look to pass Serizawa's guard now, I'm sure.
Serizawa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Burns throws an elbow that misses. Serizawa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Burns's guard. Nice move by Serizawa!

Burns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Serizawa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Burns keeping full guard, as Serizawa tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns pulls Serizawa in close to prevent any damage.

Burns looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Serizawa has picked Burns up and slammed him! Burns can't keep hold of the triangle and Serizawa manages to pass to side control!
Burns is trying to get back to half guard.

Serizawa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Serizawa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Serizawa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Burns sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Serizawa is working away from the top position though.
Serizawa uses his free foot to push down on Burns's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Burns.
Burns is wriggling around trying to escape.
Burns has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Serizawa looking for the choke from the back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Burns defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Burns breaks Serizawa's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Serizawa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Burns not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Serizawa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Serizawa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Burns controls the pace.

Burns is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Serizawa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Serizawa has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Serizawa preventing the sweep.
Burns pulls Serizawa in to control the position.
Serizawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Burns looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Eugene Carl Alexander Burns.
Serizawa fails in his attempt to clinch.

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 Eugene Carl Alexander Burns.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burns, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eugene Carl Alexander Burns!
Eugene Carl Alexander Burns is the new light heavyweight champion!
Eugene Carl Alexander Burns decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.