PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sidney Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trane Burner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sidney Rhodes has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rhodes
vs
Burner

175 cm
18
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sidney Rhodes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Trane Burner!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rhodes keeps the fight on the outside.
Burner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rhodes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Burner shoots and misses

and Rhodes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Rhodes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rhodes is defended easily by Burner.

Burner throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rhodes was covering up waiting for the punch and Burner finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Burner trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rhodes's guard.
Burner being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes wants to sweep here but Burner controlling him for the moment.
Rhodes has Burner pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burner has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rhodes is proving hard to escape from.
Rhodes has control of Burner's left arm, preventing Burner from doing any damage.
Burner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sidney Rhodes just wasn't active enough.
Burner goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Burner shoots in but no luck this time.
Sidney Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trane Burner.
Burner closes the distance and clinches up with Rhodes, looking for a takedown. Burner pushes Rhodes against the cage but Rhodes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burner wants to clinch up but Rhodes keeps it at a distance.
Burner tried to score with a low kick but Rhodes checks it.
Trane Burner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burner looks to land a body kick but Rhodes moved away.
Burner tries a head kick but it misses.
Burner wants to clinch.
Burner fails with the takedown
and Rhodes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Burner thinking.
Burner looks winded!

Burner gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rhodes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rhodes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rhodes is looking to stand up but Burner won't let him.
Rhodes tries to free his leg and advance position but Burner is retaining full guard.
Rhodes trying to control the position from guard on top but Burner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rhodes not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sidney Rhodes wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rhodes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Burner.
Burner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes misses with a series of wild punches.
Burner swats away the attempt to clinch by Rhodes.

Rhodes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Burner has a closed guard, preventing Rhodes from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rhodes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sidney Rhodes dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Burner tries a head kick but it misses.
Burner fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rhodes avoids it really well and circles away.
Burner misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Burner.
Burner throws a series of strikes that have Rhodes backpedaling.
Burner with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Burner tries to clinch up.
Rhodes is looking to clinch but Burner is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes circles away from the clinch attempt.
A slow jab from Burner misses its intended target.
Burner tries to clinch

and Rhodes counters by moving into the clinch.
Burner is looking to break free of the clinch but Rhodes has double underhooks.
Burner trying to land knees to the body.

Rhodes breaks from the clinch.
Burner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Burner darts in looking for a takedown but Rhodes gets double underhooks and turns Burner into the cage.
Sidney Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trane Burner.
Burner is breathing heavily.
Rhodes gets underhooks to prevent Burner's takedown attempt.

Rhodes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burner tries for a takedown but Rhodes circles away easily
and Rhodes counters with a left and a right that stings Burner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rhodes has closed the distance and engaged Burner in a clinch.
Rhodes stalling against the cage.

Rhodes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rhodes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Burner misses with a body kick.
Rhodes goes for a double leg but Burner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burner continues to drive forward.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burner tries to pull guard but Rhodes won't allow it.
Burner is trying to break the clinch but Rhodes is controlling him.

Rhodes manages to break the clinch.
Burner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rhodes doesn't manage to clinch there - Burner circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Rhodes gets the takedown into side control.
Rhodes has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Burner!

Rhodes looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Rhodes is working for a guillotine from mount but Burner frees his head quite easily.
Rhodes is trying to control here but Burner has managed to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rhodes decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Burner tries for a takedown but Rhodes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Burner shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rhodes is looking to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rhodes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Burner is trying to defend but Rhodes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rhodes not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sidney Rhodes dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rhodes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burner pinned against the cage. Burner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Burner tries to clinch but Rhodes moves out of range.
Burner fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhodes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burner throws a sloppy head kick and Rhodes moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Burner throws a series of punches but Rhodes moves out of range.
Burner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Burner has managed to clinch.

Rhodes lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sidney Rhodes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rhodes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rhodes scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Rhodes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rhodes thows a huge punch but Burner dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burner is trying is best to control the position here.
Burner tries to roll over but Rhodes keeps him under control.
Rhodes is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Burner tries to roll over but Rhodes keeps him under control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rhodes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burner throws a solid leg kick but Rhodes takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Burner.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burner is defended easily by Rhodes.
Burner throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Burner shoots for a takedown but Rhodes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sidney Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trane Burner.
Burner misses with a takedown attempt - Rhodes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Burner swings for the body but Rhodes moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burner moves away from the strike by Rhodes.
Rhodes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Burner.
Nice sprawl there from Burner as Rhodes shoots in.

Rhodes moves into the clinch.
Rhodes wants to stall.
Maybe Rhodes would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Burner is trying to break the clinch but Rhodes is controlling him.
Rhodes stalls.
Rhodes has Burner pressed against the cage, preventing Burner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sidney Rhodes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rhodes, 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sidney Rhodes!