PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bartek Michellus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonida Burchatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Michellus
vs
Burchatov

185 cm
25
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bartek Michellus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Leonida Burchatov!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Michellus bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Burchatov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Burchatov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Michellus seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Burchatov has recovered full guard.
Michellus won't allow Burchatov to get back to his feet.
Michellus has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Michellus drops back, looking for a kneebar! Burchatov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Burchatov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Burchatov!
Michellus tries to improve position but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burchatov stands up.
Michellus circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burchatov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Michellus rushes Burchatov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Burchatov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Michellus to keep the fight standing.
Burchatov is trying to drag Michellus to the mat but Michellus just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bartek Michellus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonida Burchatov.
Michellus scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Michellus has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Burchatov clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Michellus has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Burchatov's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burchatov breaks Michellus's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michellus is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Burchatov defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michellus keeping moving, preventing Burchatov from controlling successfully.

Michellus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Burchatov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Burchatov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Burchatov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Michellus has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Burchatov has managed to get both his arms back between Michellus's legs - danger averted.
Michellus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Michellus keeping moving, preventing Burchatov from controlling successfully.
Burchatov stopping the sweep attempt from Michellus.
Michellus controlling Burchatov's posture.

Burchatov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Burchatov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burchatov wants to control from the top but Michellus keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bartek Michellus will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Leonida Burchatov's cut.
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.

Michellus pushes Burchatov up against the cage in a clinch.
Burchatov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Michellus is keeping busy.
Michellus is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Burchatov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Michellus digs a right hand underneath Burchatov's ribcage. Burchatov let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Michellus has hold of one of Burchatov's legs. Burchatov is fighting the takedown attempt but Michellus gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Burchatov has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Michellus has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michellus lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Burchatov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Michellus is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Burchatov to the mat. Burchatov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Burchatov is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Michellus showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Michellus knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Burchatov on the ground.

Burchatov is looking for a triangle but Michellus pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burchatov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Michellus is aware though and is defending well.
Michellus with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Michellus showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Michellus tries to stand but Burchatov is controlling from the bottom.
Michellus sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burchatov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
An inside leg kick from Michellus misses.
Burchatov looks for the body kick but Michellus saw that one coming.

Burchatov gets caught napping as Michellus dives in and scores a takedown. Burchatov manages to retain guard.
Michellus trying to stand up but can't free himself from Burchatov's guard.
Michellus scoring with some ground and pound.
Michellus controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michellus seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Burchatov for as long as he can get away with.
Michellus content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Burchatov being controlled here, momentarily.
Michellus has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Michellus forces Burchatov back against the cage and clinches.
Michellus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burchatov can do to turn this around?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burchatov is trying to pull guard but Michellus turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Bartek Michellus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonida Burchatov.

Michellus is trying to trip Burchatov. He has hold of a leg but Burchatov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Michellus persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartek Michellus dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Leonida Burchatov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A nice combination there by Michellus.
Burchatov misses with an uppercut. Michellus saw that one coming.
Bartek Michellus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michellus displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Burchatov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Michellus to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Michellus prevents Burchatov from getting back to his feet.
Michellus looking to pass the guard.
Michellus content to stall in guard here.
Burchatov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burchatov working a defensive guard here.
Burchatov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Michellus is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Michellus looks for the body kick but Burchatov saw that one coming.

Michellus gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Michellus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Burchatov tries to keep at a distance but Michellus has taken the fight into the clinch.
Michellus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Michellus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Michellus closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Burchatov quickly recovers to half guard.
Michellus controlling the action here.
Michellus is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Michellus decides to stand up.

Michellus closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Michellus lands in his opponent's guard.
Michellus will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burchatov keeping full guard, as Michellus tries to pass.
Michellus is working hard here to advance position.
Michellus wants to stand and escape but instead Burchatov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Burchatov stopping the sweep attempt from Michellus.
Michellus is pulling down on Burchatov's head. It's preventing any offense from Burchatov, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Michellus jabs at Burchatov's body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michellus misses with a body kick.

Michellus manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Burchatov on his heels. He'll look to pass Burchatov's guard now, I'm sure.
Leonida Burchatov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bartek Michellus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Burchatov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Michellus controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bartek Michellus showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Michellus 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bartek Michellus!