PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darren Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yohn Royce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yohn Royce is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Burns
vs
Royce

185 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

175 cm
22
178 lbs
8 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Nations Fight Gear

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darren Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Yohn Royce!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Royce misses with a double jab.
Royce circles away from the clinch attempt.
As Burns backs off Royce throws a huge counter combo but Burns manages to avoid it all.
Royce has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Burns is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Royce throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Burns.
Royce fails to land with a series of punches.
Royce circles away from the clinch attempt.
A big right from Royce misses.

Royce has managed to clinch.
Burns effectively controlling the action here.
Burns changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Royce fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Yohn Royce seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Burns fails with a takedown attempt.
Royce unleashes a big counter combination but Burns bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royce clobbers Burns with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Royce!
Burns closes the distance looking to clinch

and Royce counters with a crisp one two that drops Burns! Royce thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Burns to his feet! Burns is in big trouble!

Burns is rocked!

Royce gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Burns is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Royce pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Burns. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Royce.
Royce taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Royce slows down the pace here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Royce.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burns drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
I was talking to Burns's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Royce is struggling to control the position.
Royce slowing the pace effectively.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Yohn Royce.
Royce throws a series of punches but Burns moves out of range.
Royce tries to bum rush Burns with a series of wild strikes but Burns uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Burns tries to clinch up but Royce circles away and keeps his distance.
Royce fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Burns on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royce lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Royce falls off balance throwing a combination
and Burns makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Royce closes the distance and pushes Burns back into the cage.
Royce keeps control of Burns as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Royce creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Burns tries to stall but Royce uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Royce lands a nice shot to the body.
Royce lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Royce is leaning against Burns and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Royce is struggling to control the position.
Royce scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Burns tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Royce just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royce stops a takedown attempt from Burns.
Royce lands a body punch in the clinch.
Royce works on Burns's body with a couple of short punches.
Burns is breathing heavily.
Burns wants to get back to striking at distance but Royce won't allow it.
Burns swings wildly with an uppercut but Royce uses good head movement to avoid it.

Royce pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Royce darts in and clinches Burns up against the cage.
Royce lands a right hand.
Royce lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Burns or not.
Burns struggles to land a body shot inside as Royce controls his hands.
Burns tries to pull guard but Royce won't allow it.
Royce working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Royce.
Royce throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Burnss head.
A short right from Royce.
Royce digs a right hand into Burns's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Burns's gas tank.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yohn Royce dominated that 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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Royce is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Burns tries to work over Royce's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Royce working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Royce.
A short right from Royce on the inside.

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

Royce darts in and clinches Burns up against the cage.
Royce presses Burns against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Royce lands a shoulder strike.
Burns tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Royce just stands there and leans against the cage.
Burns tries to break free but Royce pushes him back against the cage.
Royce has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Royce lands a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Royce.
A right hand to the body from Royce.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Royce lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Royce stalling in the clinch.
Royce lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A shot in the inside from Royce.
Royce lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Burns.

Royce breaks from the clinch.
Burns avoids a punch combination nicely.
Royce jabs at Burns's body.

Royce moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Royce.
A short uppercut from Royce.
Burns is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Burns is trying to break free.
Burns takes a shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right hook to the body lands for Royce.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Royce.
A short uppercut from Royce.
Royce lands a right hand that snaps the head of Burns backwards.
Oh Burns is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Royce lands a left hand.
Royce lands a shot to the body.
Yohn Royce seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Royce lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Burns backwards.
Royce working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Burns tries to stall but Royce uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Royce cracks Burns with a nice body shot.
Royce lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royce presses Burns against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Royce lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Royce lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Burns.
Royce holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A short uppercut from Royce.
Burns tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Royce smiles and moves away.
Burns seems to have got his legs back now.
Royce looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Royce lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Burns at a distance.
Yohn Royce seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Royce connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Royce changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Royce gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A left hand lands to the body for Royce.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royce lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Royce is leaning against Burns and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Royce lands a nice shot to the body.
Royce stalls.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Royce.
A right hand to the body from Royce.
Burns stalling in the clinch but Royce improves position.
Royce cracks Burns with a nice body shot.
Royce lands a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Royce.
Royce lands a nice uppercut.
Royce lands a right hand.
Royce lands an uppercut.
Royce works on Burns's body with a couple of short punches.

Royce breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yohn Royce showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Royce clinches.
Burns can't find room to land a body shot as Royce controls the action.
Burns throws a head punch that misses.
Burns tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Royce smiles and moves away.
Royce rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Burns moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Royce fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burns, pushing him back against the cage.
Royce scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Still in the clinch, Royce scores with a nice short uppercut.
Burns can't find room to land a body shot as Royce controls the action.
Burns is leaning against Royce and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns jumps guard but Royce turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Burns tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Royce just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Burns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burns is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Royce is defending well.
Royce lands a right hand that snaps the head of Burns backwards.
Burns tries to break free but Royce pushes him back against the cage.
Royce lands a hook that snaps the head of Burns backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns being controlled against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Royce.
A left hand lands to the body for Royce.
Nice body punch from Royce.
Royce working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

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

Royce fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burns, pushing him back against the cage.
Royce lands a right hand that snaps the head of Burns backwards.
Royce lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Royce manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nice body punch from Royce - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Royce lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Burns backwards.
A short left from Royce.
Burns looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Burns is trying to stall.
A right hand to the body from Royce.
A right hook to the body lands for Royce.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burns with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right from Royce.

Royce drops Burns onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Burns is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Royce lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A body shot lands from Royce.
Burns being controlled against the cage.

Royce's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yohn Royce is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burns is starting to get sloppy and is letting his hands down. Royce just took advantage and landed a stinging jab. Oh! Now a right hook, right on the button! Burns has gone limp and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Yohn Royce!