PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk Lazarus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burke kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Manish Boy. Kirk Lazarus will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Burke
vs
Lazarus

178 cm
25
183 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

200 cm
23
276 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, James Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kirk Lazarus!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lazarus defending well as Burke loads up on a big left hand.
Lazarus is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lazarus throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
We've been hearing reports that Burke has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Lazarus avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Lazarus dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Burke. That did some damage!
Lazarus throws a body kick that misses.

Lazarus instigates a clinch.
Lazarus misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Burke.
Burke is trying to maintain a safe position but Lazarus gets an underhook and turns Burke into the cage.
Burke lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lazarus avoids the elbow strike from Burke, against the cage.
Burke lands with a short shot to the head.
Burke misses with an elbow over the top.
Lazarus is trying to stall.
Lazarus misses with a knee strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lazarus missing with knees to the body.
Lazarus stalling in the clinch but Burke improves position.
A bit of stalling here from Lazarus.
Burke blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazarus tries to land knees in the clinch but Burke avoids the damage to the body.
Burke throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lazarus lands a knee to the head.

It looks like James Burke has been cut.
Lazarus lands a nice shot to the body.
Burke lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lazarus backwards.
Lazarus misses with a knee strike.
Lazarus misses with a knee to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lazarus is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Burke tries to pull guard but Lazarus holds him up against the cage and eventually Burke drops back down to his feet.
Burke takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lazarus leaning his opponent against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lazarus keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Burke's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Burke.
Lazarus taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Burke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Burke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lazarus tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lazarus is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Burke is defending well for now.
Burke scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lazarus lands a knee to the head.
Lazarus throws a knee to the head but misses.
Burke lands an elbow just above Lazarus 's eye.
Lazarus goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lazarus is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lazarus.
Burke misses with a body punch.
Burke pushes off an throws an elbow but Lazarus leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burke works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Burke stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lazarus swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Lazarus had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Burke defends it easily.
Burke postures up and lands a big shot to Lazarus's brow.

Burke avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Burke postures up in Lazarus's guard and throws a big left but Lazarus blocks it.

Lazarus working for submissions but it's allowed Burke to get to half guard.
Burke is thwarting Lazarus's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke is looking to take a break and control but Lazarus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burke is looking to stall here but Lazarus recovers full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lazarus has his foot on Burke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burke works his way back into a safe position though.
Burke has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Lazarus had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Burke defends it easily.
Burke trying to control but Lazarus is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lazarus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Lazarus is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burke is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Lazarus dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Burke's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lazarus throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Lazarus - that will leave a mark!
Burke moves out of range of the body kick from Lazarus.
Lazarus pivots, looking for a leg kick but Burke is out of range and Lazarus settles back down.
Lazarus looks to score with a jab to the body but Burke is just out of range.
Lazarus looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Burke throws a jab when Lazarus was well out of range.
Lazarus misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Burke counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lazarus is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Burke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lazarus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lazarus throws his legs up looking for a submission but Burke uses it to pass to side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Burke thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lazarus sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke trying to mount his opponent but Lazarus defends it.
Lazarus trying to hold on to Burke's head to control him but Burke postures up.
Burke wants to pass the guard but Lazarus is defending well.
Lazarus trying to control from the bottom.
James Burke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burke thows a huge punch but Lazarus dodges it nicely.
Burke tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lazarus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Burke wants to control but Lazarus is keeping him busy.

Burke is looking for a kimura here.
Lazarus wants to control but Burke is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lazarus looking for submissions off his back.
Burke prevents Lazarus from improving his position.
Burke seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Lazarus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lazarus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Lazarus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burke moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Lazarus.
Lazarus sneaks back into half guard.
Lazarus trying to control here.
Burke lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Burke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lazarus actively working from the bottom here.

Burke is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Burke is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Burke working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Lazarus's thigh. Lazarus counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Lazarus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lazarus keeping moving, preventing Burke from controlling successfully.
Burke advances to half guard.

Lazarus is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Burke pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Burke dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Burke's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lazarus tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Burke is able to avoid easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Burke, right into the meat.
Lazarus tries a low kick but Burke avoids it.
Lazarus scores with a kick to the body.
Lazarus throws a lazy head kick

and Burke counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Burke works his way into side control.
Lazarus is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Burke's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Burke is looking for a kimura but Lazarus is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Burke to get the leverage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lazarus moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Burke scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lazarus bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burke's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazarus sitting in guard here, content to control.
Burke wants to sweep but no luck.

Burke looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lazarus passes into half guard.
Lazarus moves into full mount! Burke won't be happy about that!
Burke is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lazarus trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazarus wants to take Burke's back here but Burke is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Burke wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Burke wants to escape the position.
Burke staying busy and making it hard for Lazarus to control.
I would not like to be Burke right now.
Burke wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Burke wants to escape the position.
Lazarus has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Burke's body.
Burke prevents Lazarus from getting a body triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazarus is hanging on to Burke's back as he tries to escape.
Burke trying to control the hands but Lazarus breaks the grip.
Burke tries to roll but Lazarus sticks to his back.
Lazarus wants to control but Burke is keeping busy.
I really don't envy Burke right now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lazarus controlling from the back.
Lazarus keeps control of the position as Burke tries to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kirk Lazarus.
I think Lazarus has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kirk Lazarus!
A victorious Kirk Lazarus thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.