PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derek Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Opie River (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burns kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Wanted Dead or Alive. River has chosen Skillet - Monster as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Burns
vs
River

189 cm
23
216 lbs
8 - 0 - 1

188 cm
23
210 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Heisenberg

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 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 8 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Derek Burns!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Opie River!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Burns misses with a double jab

and River counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Burns's guard now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
River throws a big elbow that misses.
River prevents Burns from getting back to his feet.
Burns is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Burns preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Burns is wriggling around but River manages to pass to half guard.
River is trying to control the action in half guard but Burns is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns tries to kick River off but River keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Burns pushes River off and gets back to his feet.
River throws an overhand right that lands on Burns's shoulder, as Burns tries to avoid the shot.
An inside leg kick from Burns misses.
Burns lands a slapping body shot.
Burns has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
River is looking to score with low kicks.
River blocks a leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by River there.
Burns looks to land a right hand but River moved out of range.
River throws a head kick but Burns moves out of range.
Burns's hands are dropping dangerously low here and River connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Burns scrambles back to his feet.
River chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Burns can pounce on him.
Burns misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from River. Burns does a little dance to reset his feet.

River moves into range and clinches up with Burns.
River lands a nice uppercut.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short left from River.
Burns wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Burns controls his hands.
River leaning his opponent against the cage.

Burns manages to break the clinch.
River ducks under a wild hook from Burns.
River cracks Burns with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
River swings for the body but Burns moves out of range.
Burns goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River blocks a jab.
River throws a body punch but Burns moves out of range.
Burns misses with the combination.
River fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Burns looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
River dips to his left and cracks Burns with an uppercut!
Derek Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns throws a nice inside leg kick.
River loads up on a big right hand but Burns slips the punch.
Burns tests River's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Burns throws out a loose jab but River uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burns misses with a hook. River ducked under it nicely.
River lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns misses with a lunging right hand
and River counters with a lovely straight right hand!
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!
Jab, jab by Burns - just one landing.
Burns uses good head movement to avoid the hook from River.
River swings for the body but Burns moves out of range.
Burns moves out of range of the body kick from River.
River throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Burns tries a low kick but River avoids it.
River tries to clinch there but Burns circles away.
River moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Burns stuns River with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
River doesn't manage to clinch there - Burns circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Burns. Those never looked like landing.

River throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Burns tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. River is in Burns's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Opie River will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A solid leg kick lands there for Burns.
Burns connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
River moves away from the strike by Burns.
River on the wrong end of a nice hook.
River misses with a hook.
Burns throws a shot from downtown. River moves away and avoids it.
Burns scores with a jab.
Burns throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Burns misses with a hook.
Burns avoids the body shot from River.
Burns throws a poor cross that misses

and River counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Burns's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

River drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Burns manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now River has Burns in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns preventing the sweep.

River working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Burns has passed into half guard!
River wants to improve his position but Burns is controlling well.
Burns knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for River on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

River throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Burns is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

River throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

River working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Burns doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Burns manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
River looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burns is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns pushes down on River's leg and manages to get into half guard.
River wants to improve his position but Burns is controlling well.
Opie River has got the better of the ground game so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burns tries to stand but his hand is stuck under River.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Opie River will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Burns takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Burns looks to land a left hand but River moved out of range nicely.
Burns wants to slow River down by chopping away at his legs.
Burns thows a left - swing and a miss!
Burns changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Burns works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Burns misses with a telegraphed body shot
and River counters with a stiff right hand.
Burns misses with a looping left.
Burns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Burns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but River was well out of range. Poor timing from Burns.
Burns scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Burns steps to the side to avoid the strikes from River.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns tries to bum rush River with a series of wild strikes but River uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
River on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Burns moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Burns throws an off balance right hand
letting River counter with a right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - River looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
River uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Burns.
River scores with a jab.
Burns misses with a right hand

and River counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Burns's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River is looking to work some ground and pound but Burns has wrist control.
River tries to free his leg and advance position but Burns is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
River throws a big elbow that misses.
River with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
River works over Burns with some ground and pound from guard.
River won't allow Burns to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burns trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns keeping full guard, as River tries to pass.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
River throws a big right hand that misses.
River is pushing down on Burns's leg trying to pass to half guard. Burns is fighting to maintain full guard but River has managed to sneak the leg through.
River wants to control but Burns is keeping him busy.
Burns wants to get back to full guard.
River tries to pass to full mount but Burns defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Burns is refusing to be controlled, as River sits in half guard.
River throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
River thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burns avoiding damage under a succession of punches from River.
Burns wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Opie River really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burns misses with a few strikes there.
River thuds his shin into the meat of Burns's side.
River dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
River slips a jab from Burns.
River takes a swing at Burns's ribcage but misses.
Burns lands a lovely overhand right.
River scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
River thows a body shot but no joy.
River throws out a loose jab but Burns uses good head movement to avoid it.
River jabs Burns right on the nose. Burns blinks but takes it well.
Burns lands a jab.
River moves to clinch but Burns breaks away
and Burns counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract River.
The fighters circling - Burns throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burns walks into a jab.
Burns throws a quick inside leg kick.
River fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Burns manages to avoid it.
Burns throws a body punch but River moves out of range.
Burns scores with a jab.
River tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burns was well out of range. Poor timing from River.
River on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Burns tries to bum rush River with a series of wild strikes but River uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A chopping leg kick lands by Burns.
River tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Derek Burns is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burns has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Burns there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Burns on the side of the head.
River slips a jab from Burns.
Burns swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Burns misses with an uppercut. River saw that one coming.
River fails with a takedown attempt.
River takes one on the button.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
River ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Burns lands with a right hand.
River bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
River misses with a low kick.
River changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burns tries to avoid it but River manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burns to the ground. Burns escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Burns swings for the body but River moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by River.
River keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Burns throws a predictable looking body shot
and River counters with a low kick, right behind Burns 's knee.
River moves out of range of the strikes.
Burns misses with a left hand
and River counters with a nice body shot.
Burns misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

River clinches up with Burns and pushes him back against the cage.
River misses with a body punch.
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!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Burns.
Burns is trying to break the clinch but River is controlling him.
River has Burns pressed against the cage, preventing Burns from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch blocked on the inside by River.
River prevents Burns from breaking the clinch.

Burns's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
River moves out of range of the strikes.
Burns drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
River takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
River cracks a nice hook into Burns's ribs.
River goes for a double leg but Burns avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burns continues to drive forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Derek Burns will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

River takes one to the side of the head.
Burns lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
River scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Burns throws a right and a left that River avoids nicely.
Burns misses with a looping right.
Burns throws a big shot that misses.
Burns misses with the combination.
Burns misses with a wild combination.

River pushes Burns up against the cage in a clinch.
River lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Burns.

River lands a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
River advances position into side control!
River working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
River throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Burns defending against the ground and pound.
River has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

River is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Burns has escaped the position, nice work there.
River wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burns keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns tries to get back to half guard but can't.
River wants to control but Burns is keeping him busy.

River thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Derek Burns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Opie River is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
River throws an elbow but Burns slips to the side and avoids it well.

River tries for a kimura but Burns is defending well.
River content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns can't do much from the bottom here.
River wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burns keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Opie River comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think River 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 46:49
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 46:49
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Opie River!
Opie River is the new light heavyweight champion!
Opie River very nearly forgot to thank //buriedALIVE// Fight Gear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.