PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Vertonghen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Burkam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Vertonghen is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Vertonghen
vs
Burkam

188 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
265 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thomas Vertonghen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bob Burkam!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vertonghen tries to clinch up but Burkam circles away and keeps his distance.
Vertonghen wants to clinch but Burkam slips to the side

and Burkam counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burkam.
Vertonghen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Vertonghen is pressed up against the cage. Burkam has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vertonghen down to the mat. Vertonghen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Vertonghen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vertonghen throws a head kick but Burkam moves out of range.
Vertonghen tries for a takedown but Burkam circles away easily

and Burkam counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Burkam changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vertonghen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thomas Vertonghen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Burkam.
Vertonghen tries for a takedown but Burkam circles away easily

and Burkam holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vertonghen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Burkam prevents it.

Vertonghen manages to pull guard.
Burkam is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Burkam loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Burkam showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bob Burkam.
Vertonghen shoots in but no luck this time.
Burkam leaves Vertonghen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Vertonghen falls off balance throwing a combination

and Burkam counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Vertonghen is letting Burkam control him for a moment.
Burkam's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkam creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Burkam scoring with punches from side control.
The referee asks Burkam politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Burkam prefers to stall for the moment though.
Vertonghen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Vertonghen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Vertonghen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vertonghen trying to remain calm as Burkam controls from the top position.
Vertonghen wants to control but Burkam postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vertonghen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Burkam off and has taken his back!
Burkam holding on to Vertonghen's left wrist, preventing the choke.
Vertonghen is hanging on to Burkam's back as he tries to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkam rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
We've been informed that Burkam has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Burkam is trying is best to control the position here.
Burkam is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Burkam manages to get to full guard.
Burkam pulls Vertonghen in to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burkam looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Burkam dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vertonghen misses with the combination.

Burkam throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vertonghen was covering up waiting for the punch and Burkam finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Burkam throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burkam controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bob Burkam wasn't active enough on the ground.
Vertonghen misses with a low kick.

Vertonghen clinches.
Vertonghen looking for a takedown.

Vertonghen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Burkam content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burkam stands up over Vertonghen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Burkam is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkam lands a couple of digs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burkam slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Burkam scoring with some ground and pound.
Burkam makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Burkam controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Burkam tries to free his leg and advance position but Vertonghen is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkam is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Burkam is stalling in the full guard.
Vertonghen has momentary wrist control but Burkam slips an elbow through the middle.
Burkam has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vertonghen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Burkam puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Burkam stalling.
Burkam scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Burkam wants to pass the guard but Vertonghen is defending well.
Well, if Burkam is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Burkam seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burkam performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Burkam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vertonghen keeps Burkam at a distance using the push kick.
Burkam shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vertonghen as he avoids it easily.
Burkam fails with a takedown attempt.
Burkam looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thomas Vertonghen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Burkam.

Vertonghen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burkam, pushing him back against the cage.

Vertonghen decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vertonghen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burkam is one step ahead there.
Burkam engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Let's hope that Burkam has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Burkam is pushing down on Vertonghen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vertonghen is fighting to maintain full guard but Burkam has managed to sneak the leg through.
Burkam is taking a breather. Vertonghen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Vertonghen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkam is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Burkam content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Burkam working Vertonghen over with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burkam slows the pace down in half guard.
Vertonghen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkam has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Vertonghen wants to control but Burkam is having none of it.
Burkam controlling the pace for now.
Burkam cracks Vertonghen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkam tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
A big strike lands for Burkam! That's really hurt Vertonghen and he's turned his back - Burkam keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Burkam jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bob Burkam!
Bob Burkam seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.