PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lanny Burris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard Jennings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Burris
vs
Jennings

225 cm
19
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lanny Burris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Howard Jennings!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jennings fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Jennings looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Burris!
Jennings happy to just control the position for now.
Burris is trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jennings swings around for an armbar but Burris sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jennings's guard.
Burris is looking to work some ground and pound but Jennings has wrist control.
Jennings avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jennings is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Burris working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burris stops Jennings from standing up.
Burris throwing strikes but missing.
Jennings is looking to stand up but Burris isn't so interested in that idea.
Burris trying to control the position from guard on top but Jennings is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burris connects with a couple of short punches.
Burris working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jennings is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burris is controlling him.
Burris will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Burris postures up in Jennings's guard and throws a big left but Jennings blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Burris is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jennings wants to get back to his feet but Burris is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Burris tries to sprawl but Jennings drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Jennings throws a strike but Burris avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Jennings is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
It looks like Jennings might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Burris really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burris working a defensive guard here.
Burris being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jennings fails with a takedown attempt.
Jennings shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Burris as he avoids it easily.
Lanny Burris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Howard Jennings.
Jennings tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burris defends well and Jennings ends up having to push Burris into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Burris tries to counter by clinching up but Jennings breaks away and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jennings misses with an uppercut. Burris saw that one coming.
Jennings avoids the head kick by Burris.
Jennings shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burris pinned against the cage. Burris gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Burris moves into range and clinches up with Jennings.

Burris ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Burris no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burris is trying to control the position but Jennings postures up.
Jennings content to stall in guard here.
Jennings throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lanny Burris dominated that round.
That's time! Burris's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jennings shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Jennings was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Burris is being controlled here.
Burris 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.
Jennings misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burris can't do much from the bottom here.
A lull in the action here as Jennings stalls from top position.
Jennings tries to advance to mount but Burris instead regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burris has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jennings is working away from the top position though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Jennings has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Burris throws a head kick that misses.
Jennings tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Burris tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jennings paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lanny Burris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burris leaves Jennings with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Burris throws a big counter combination but Jennings scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Jennings shoots for a double leg takedown but Burris sprawls well. He's pushed Jennings's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Burris wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Jennings shoots in for a double leg but Burris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lanny Burris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Howard Jennings.
Jennings fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Burris avoids it really well and circles away.

Jennings closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jennings content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Burris is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jennings can do to turn this around?
Burris is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Jennings asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The strikes coming from Jennings are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Burris regains half guard, as Jennings was trying to land strikes.
Jennings keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jennings is continuing to stall.
Burris trying to control but Jennings postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jennings in particular looking to stall.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Jennings forces Burris back against the cage and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burris tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jennings just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jennings managing to block the knees to the body from Burris.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Howard Jennings showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jennings thows a left - swing and a miss!
Burris was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Burris is looking to clinch.
Burris rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jennings moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jennings avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A big right from Jennings misses.
Jennings throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burris's waist but Burris gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jennings off to one side.
Burris went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Burris stuffs the takedown.
Burris seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
No luck for Jennings with that takedown attempt.
Lanny Burris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Howard Jennings.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jennings avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Howard Jennings seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jennings.
Jennings moves in looking to clinch but Burris pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jennings tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burris defends well and Jennings ends up having to push Burris into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Burris feinted with a counter takedown.
Burris tries to clinch but Jennings is having none of it.
No luck for Jennings with that takedown attempt.
Burris stuffs the takedown attempt from Jennings. Jennings gets slowly back to his feet.
Jennings shoots for a takedown but Burris saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jennings shoots in but no luck this time.
Burris tries to clinch up but Jennings circles away and keeps his distance.
Jennings fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Burris avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jennings shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck for Jennings with that takedown attempt.
Burris looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Nice sprawl there from Burris as Jennings shoots in.
Burris appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Burris stuffs the takedown.
Jennings takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burris is looking to score with low kicks.
Burris stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Burris wants it to stay on the feet.
Jennings looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Burris misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jennings.
Burris fails in his attempt to clinch.
Burris moves in looking to clinch but Jennings pushes him off.

Jennings shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Burris is trying to defend but Jennings finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jennings perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Jennings is thwarting Burris's attempts to control the position.
Jennings thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Burris's head.
Howard Jennings has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jennings keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Jennings.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Burris wants to slow Jennings down by chopping away at his legs.
Burris slaps away a takedown attempt from Jennings, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Burris wants to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jennings shoots in but Burris avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck for Jennings with that takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lanny Burris showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burris has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lanny Burris!
In defeat, Howard Jennings stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'll come back better than ever.'.