PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Belov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eugene Carl Alexander Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Belov might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Mother Russia. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Belov
vs
Carl Alexander Burns

170 cm
32
196 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

170 cm
30
197 lbs
14 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Belov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Eugene Carl Alexander Burns!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

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.
Belov scores with a hook.

Belov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Burns utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Belov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Burns wants to sweep here but Belov controlling him for the moment.
Belov is stalling in the full guard.
Belov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Burns for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Belov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burns preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Burns controlling the position.
Belov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Burns controlling Belov's posture.
Burns keeping full guard, as Belov tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Belov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Burns!
Belov lands a nice forearm strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Belov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Burns has escaped the position, nice work there.
Burns managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Belov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belov tries to move to full mount but Burns actually manages to regain half guard.
Belov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Belov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Burns blocking the ground and pound attempt from Belov.
Belov 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.
Burns is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Burns trying to hold on to Belov's head to control him but Belov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Belov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Burns defends it well.
Belov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Burns is refusing to be controlled, as Belov sits in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitry Belov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Belov looking to score a takedown here. Burns is defending well but Belov drives through and ends up in Burns's guard.
Belov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Belov throwing strikes from guard but Burns blocks nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Belov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Belov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Belov trying to control but Burns is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belov postures up in Burns's guard and throws a big left but Burns blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belov throws an elbow that misses. Burns uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belov's guard. Nice move by Burns!
Belov has his hands on Burns's head, controlling the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Dmitry Belov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Burns misses with a jab, cross combination.
Eugene Carl Alexander Burns is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Burns!
Belov staying calm.
Burns taking punishment in the form of punches.
Belov wants to control but Burns is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Belov creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Burns sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Belov remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Belov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belov misses with the ground and pound.
Belov throws an elbow but Burns slips to the side and avoids it well.
Belov is working Burns over with some ground and pound from side control.
Burns is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Belov swings around for an armbar but Burns sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Belov's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burns tries to stand but Belov is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitry Belov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Belov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Burns's half guard.
Belov is nestled in close to Burns, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Belov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Belov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burns keeps working.
Belov throwing shots but Burns is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Burns avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Belov.
Belov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Belov is looking for a kimura but Burns is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Belov to get the leverage.
Belov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burns keeps working.
Still in half guard, Belov seems content to control.
Belov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burns can do to turn this around?

Belov is looking for a kimura but Burns is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Belov to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Belov wants to control but Burns is keeping him busy.
Burns keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Belov is working for a submission of some sort.
Belov tries to pass to full mount but Burns defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belov throwing shots but Burns is blocking nicely.
Belov thows a huge punch but Burns dodges it nicely.
Belov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Belov is looking to advance position but Burns won't allow it.
Belov wants to control but Burns is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Belov throwing shots but Burns is blocking nicely.
Belov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Belov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Belov is looking to take a break and control but Burns is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burns keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Eugene Carl Alexander Burns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitry Belov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Belov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitry Belov!