PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hamad Al Zahran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stanley Burrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burrell is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Can't Touch This. 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.

Al Zahran
vs
Burrell

188 cm
32
178 lbs
22 - 14 - 2

180 cm
39
179 lbs
27 - 13 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition
GREEN!160

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Hamad Al Zahran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stanley Burrell !
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burrell lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Burrell on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Al Zahran has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Burrell .
Al Zahran takes one to the chin there.
Al Zahran misses the jab.
Burrell lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Al Zahran at a distance.
Al Zahran connects with a jab.
Al Zahran throws a big shot that misses.
Al Zahran takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Burrell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Al Zahran circles away quickly and effectively.
Burrell slips a jab from Al Zahran.
Burrell misses with a wild body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Zahran staying out of range there.
Al Zahran feinted with a counter takedown.
We've been informed that Burrell has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
A telegraphed right hand from Burrell misses the target.
Burrell keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Al Zahran on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Stanley Burrell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Zahran connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Burrell throws a body punch but Al Zahran moves out of range.
Al Zahran tries to counter with a takedown but Burrell is quick to defend against it.
Al Zahran looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Al Zahran slips under a jab.
Al Zahran misses with a two punch combination.
Burrell works the jab nicely.
Burrell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Al Zahran.
Burrell feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Al Zahran's calf.
Nice straight punches there by Burrell . You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Burrell .
Al Zahran ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Al Zahran throws out a leg kick but Burrell moves out of range and Al Zahran only half commits.
Al Zahran uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Burrell .
Al Zahran will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burrell misses with a straight right.
Al Zahran tries to counter with a takedown but Burrell is quick to defend against it.
Burrell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burrell lands with an uppercut that bounces Al Zahran off the cage and back into range.
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!
Al Zahran on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Al Zahran needs to keep his hands up - Burrell had a free shot at his head there.
Burrell displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Burrell scores with a crisp jab that stopped Al Zahran in his tracks.
Burrell misses with a double jab

and Al Zahran counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Burrell !
Burrell is looking for a sweep.
Al Zahran in side control lands a decent elbow.
Al Zahran in the domination position with Burrell hanging on.
Burrell tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran with the ground and pound but Burrell regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Burrell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Al Zahran.
Burrell is staying active underneath Al Zahran, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Al Zahran not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Al Zahran misses with a head shot. Burrell uses the momentum to regain guard.
Al Zahran throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Al Zahran loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Al Zahran accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Al Zahran postures up in Burrell 's guard and throws a big left but Burrell blocks it.
Burrell has Al Zahran pulled in close to control his posture.
Al Zahran is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrell trying to control the position.
Burrell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Al Zahran throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burrell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burrell trying to control the position.
Al Zahran postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Burrell is adopting a defensive guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Burrell misses with a looping left.
Burrell throws a leg kick but Al Zahran sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Burrell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Al Zahran attempts a counter takedown but Burrell avoids it well and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanley Burrell dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Al Zahran just misses with a punch to the body.
Burrell connects with a leg kick. Al Zahran looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Al Zahran takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Burrell throws a hook but Al Zahran blocks it.
Burrell connects with a good right hand that stumbles Al Zahran. Al Zahran circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Al Zahran lands a nice leg kick that just misses Burrell 's sensitive parts.
Burrell takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Burrell ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Burrell ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Al Zahran takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Al Zahran is looking to clinch.
Al Zahran tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burrell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A jab from Al Zahran finds it's way through Burrell 's defenses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burrell throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrell fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Al Zahran checks it well.
Al Zahran goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Burrell misses with a wild body shot.
Burrell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Burrell tries a head kick but it misses.
Al Zahran connects with a body shot that sends Burrell 's belly button to the back.
Burrell scores with a punch to the head.
Al Zahran moves forwards but Burrell connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Al Zahran blocks a jab.
Al Zahran moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Burrell lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Burrell jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Al Zahran attempts a counter takedown but Burrell avoids it well and moves away.
Burrell throws a lazy right hand but Al Zahran sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Al Zahran ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Burrell . Burrell obviously looking to wear him down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burrell slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Al Zahran 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.
Al Zahran trying to control but Burrell is working from the bottom.
Burrell is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hamad Al Zahran overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Al Zahran is working Burrell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Burrell holds on and takes a little breather.
Al Zahran in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Al Zahran trying to control but Burrell is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran is looking to work some ground and pound but Burrell has wrist control.
Al Zahran loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Burrell trying to keep a closed guard but Al Zahran is proving a slippery customer.
Burrell pulls Al Zahran in close to prevent any damage.
Al Zahran lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Al Zahran connects with a couple of short punches.
Al Zahran with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Al Zahran with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Al Zahran accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burrell is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrell 's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Al Zahran in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Al Zahran postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Burrell has his hands on Al Zahran's head, controlling the position.
Al Zahran wants to control from the top but Burrell keeps moving.
Al Zahran loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Al Zahran postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Burrell is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Al Zahran on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanley Burrell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Al Zahran throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Stanley Burrell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Al Zahran closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Good body shot from Al Zahran.

Burrell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burrell checks a leg kick.
Burrell tries to bum rush Al Zahran with a series of wild strikes but Al Zahran uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Al Zahran throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Burrell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Al Zahran circles away quickly and effectively.
Burrell lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Al Zahran lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Zahran lands with a thumping leg kick.
Al Zahran lands with a cross.
Al Zahran fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Burrell looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Stanley Burrell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Burrell throws a body kick that misses.
Al Zahran attempts a counter takedown but Burrell avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Zahran misses with a series of wild punches.
Al Zahran slips under a jab from Burrell .
Al Zahran feinted with a counter takedown.
Burrell lands with a hook. Al Zahran tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Burrell lands with a good body shot.
Al Zahran moves out of range as Burrell strikes.
Burrell takes one to the side of the head.
Burrell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Al Zahran feinted with a counter takedown.
Burrell scores with a jab to the body.
Burrell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Al Zahran circles away quickly and effectively.
Al Zahran takes a jab right on the kisser.
Burrell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Al Zahran drops down looking for a counter takedown but Burrell sprawls and moves away.
Al Zahran lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burrell lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Al Zahran misses with a kick to the body.
Burrell looks to land a combination. Al Zahran sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Al Zahran fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Burrell checks it well.
Al Zahran throws a body shot but no joy.
Burrell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burrell throws a jab but it's blocked by Al Zahran.
Burrell misses with an uppercut

and Al Zahran decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Burrell 's guard.

Burrell pushes Al Zahran off and scrambles back to his feet.
Al Zahran on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Burrell lands a glancing blow to the side of Al Zahran's head.
Hamad Al Zahran has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Al Zahran lands a nice leg kick that just misses Burrell 's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrell lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Burrell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Al Zahran manages to avoid it.
Stanley Burrell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Al Zahran misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Burrell keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Burrell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Burrell cracks Al Zahran with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Burrell throws a body punch but Al Zahran moves out of range.
Al Zahran misses with a body shot.
Al Zahran sets himself, and Burrell steps forward looking for the clinch! Al Zahran avoids it this time.
Burrell throws a looping overhand right but Al Zahran ducks down to avoid it.
Al Zahran changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Al Zahran tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Burrell scores with a nice right hand.
Burrell scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrell drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Burrell walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Al Zahran checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Al Zahran feinted with a counter takedown.
Al Zahran doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Burrell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Burrell throws a hook but Al Zahran avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Al Zahran works the jab nicely.
A head kick misses from Al Zahran.
Al Zahran lands with a nice body punch.
Burrell scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Burrell misses with a straight right.
Al Zahran changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Burrell lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Burrell misses with a leg kick

and Al Zahran counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stanley Burrell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Burrell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stanley Burrell !
A very excited looking Stanley Burrell made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.