PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Titan Xavier Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burns's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Conor McGregor UFC Entrance Music - Foggy Dew / Hypnotize Remix. Michael Johnson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Xavier Burns
vs
Johnson

177 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

173 cm
40
155 lbs
16 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Titan Xavier Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jorge Garcia and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Burns.

Burns gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johnson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Our sources have told us that Burns has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Burns tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Johnson avoids it.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Burns won't allow it.
Burns throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
Burns pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Burns fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Burns looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Johnson successfully pulls guard.
Johnson is adopting a defensive guard.
Burns has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Burns postures up.
Burns 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.
Johnson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Burns is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Burns preventing the sweep.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Johnson looking for subs off his back but Burns has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Burns controlling the action here.
Johnson wants to control but Burns is keeping busy.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Burns sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Burns moves out of range easily.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burns pinned against the cage. Burns gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Burns throws a counter high kick but Johnson was just alert enough to avoid it.
Titan Xavier Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Johnson.
Burns avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Burns throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Burns.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Burns defends it nicely.

Johnson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Burns tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Johnson is in Burns's guard.
Burns is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Burns uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Burns tries to score with a low kick but Johnson moves his leg out of the way.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Burns moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Burns walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burns but Burns pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Burns fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Burns misses with an elbow over the top.
Nice elbow from Burns.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Burns throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

It looks like Michael Johnson has been cut.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Burns avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burns continues to drive forward.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Burns.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Burns lands a left hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burns showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Burns sees it coming and moves out of range.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Burns.

Burns closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson can't get the takedown.
Titan Xavier Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson takes an elbow to the temple.
Johnson is looking to control Burns's arms but Burns gets an underhook and turns him. Now Johnson has his back to the cage.
Burns throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Burns tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Burns lands a damaging elbow.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Burns holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.
Burns crunches a lovely knee into Johnson's ribcage.
Burns throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
Johnson takes an elbow to the temple.

That has opened up Michael Johnson's cut even more.
Johnson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Burns is defending well.
Titan Xavier Burns has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Burns connects with a nasty looking knee right to Johnson's face.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Burns is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Burns.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burns lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

The cut above Michael Johnson's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Burns lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Michael Johnson's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Johnson.
Burns is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Burns throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
Burns throws an elbow but it misses.
Burns pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Burns throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Burns tries to land knees in the clinch but Johnson avoids the damage to the body.
Burns taking a breather.
Burns pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Burns smiles and moves away.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Burns closes the distance and clinches.
A short left from Burns.
Burns missing with knees to the body.
Burns throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Johnson gets control of Burns's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Burns's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burns is one step ahead there.
Johnson trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.
Burns pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burns defends well and Johnson ends up having to push Burns into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Burns is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Johnson tries to clinch but Burns moves out of range.

Burns clinches with his opponent.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Titan Xavier Burns is winning the standup battle so far.

Burns gets tackled into the cage by Johnson. Johnson maintains the clinch.
Johnson takes a knee right on the jaw!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Michael Johnson's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Titan Xavier Burns!
Post fight, Titan Xavier Burns stared into the camera and said 'I changed my whole life. Canada is awesome, thank you to my family..I didn't know I had family out here, but this is the best and I have my life together. Thank you everybody for helping my dream come true.'.