PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Titan Xavier Burns (ranked 4171 p4p, 386 weight class) and Matsuda Taro (ranked 771 p4p, 87 weight class). Burns comes to the ring accompanied by Conor McGregor UFC Entrance Music - Foggy Dew / Hypnotize Remix. 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.

Xavier Burns
vs
Taro

177 cm
32
150 lbs
11 - 1 - 2

164 cm
27
145 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

World class MT
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sully's Bar & Grill
RAGS of a RONIN

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Titan Xavier Burns!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matsuda Taro!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taro.
Taro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taro throws a hook to the side of Burns's head but Burns sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Burns misses with a kick to the body.
Taro appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Taro throws an overhand right that lands on Burns's shoulder, as Burns tries to avoid the shot.
Burns misses with a low kick as Taro jumps back.
A countering left hand to the body from Taro misses.
Taro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Taro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Some bone on bone action there as Taro checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Taro on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Burns moves out of range of the body kick.
Burns tests Taro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Burns is looking to chop away at Taro's legs.
Taro takes a swing at Burns's ribcage but misses.
Burns scores with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns slips a straight right by Taro.
Taro is looking to land body kicks.
Burns takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Burns scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Burns seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Taro is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Burns tries a low kick but Taro avoids it.
Taro slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro blocks a low kick nicely.
Taro checks a leg kick.
Taro misses with a body kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Taro throws a shot to the body.
Taro turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Burns lands a leg kick that knocks Taro off balance momentarily.
Taro throws a hook to the side of Burns's head but Burns sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big right from Taro misses.
Taro moves away from the strike by Burns.
Taro throws a hook but Burns avoids it easily.
Burns slips a jab and a cross from Taro.
Burns moves out of range of the strikes.
Burns dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Taro. That did some damage!
A punch lands to the side of Taro 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Burns moves out of range as Taro strikes.
Burns lands a jab to the head.
Burns tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burns takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Burns is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Taro.
Burns looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Taro misses the shot to the body.
Taro throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taro misses the jab.
Taro lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Burns does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Burns closes the distance and pushes Taro back into the ropes.
Burns lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Taro looking to slow down the pace here.
Burns struggles to land a body shot inside as Taro controls his hands.

Taro breaks the clinch.
Burns takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Taro throws a leg kick but Burns sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A lazy left from Taro finds it's target.
Burns connects with an inside leg kick.
Taro connects with a solid leg kick.
Taro misses with a combination

and Burns counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns misses with an elbow strike.
Burns can't find room to land a body shot as Taro controls the action.
Taro is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Taro trying to control the position but instead, Burns has worked for underhooks and has pushed Taro into the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matsuda Taro will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Burns doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Burns throws a leg kick that misses.
Taro takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Burns throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Taro misses with a body kick.
Nice defenses there by Burns.

Burns takes the fight into the clinch.
Burns throws an elbow that misses.
Burns gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Burns blocking some punches.
Nice elbow from Burns.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taro blocks an elbow strike from Burns.
Burns is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Taro working hard to break the clinch.
Burns lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Burns lands with a short shot to the head.
Taro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burns's elbow.
Taro avoids a wild elbow strike from Burns.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Taro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Burns attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Taro throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burns bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taro throws a hook but Burns avoids it easily.
A clash of legs there as Burns blocks the low kick.
Taro cracks Burns with an open hand slap.
Burns connects with a leg kick. Taro looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Taro throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Taro misses with a hook.
Burns does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Taro looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Burns lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Burns fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Taro chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Burns can pounce on him.
Burns turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A shot to the body from Taro misses

and Burns moves into the clinch.
Burns lands a right hand that snaps the head of Taro backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Burns breaks from the clinch.
Burns connects with a crisp jab.
Burns tries to work over Taro's front leg with a kick but Taro checks it.
Taro 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.
Taro fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Burns on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taro.
Good work by Taro as he checks the leg kick.
A jab lands there for Taro.
Burns checks the leg kick nicely there.
A cross from Burns lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taro. Burns does a little dance to reset his feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Burns. That's going to slow Taro down.
Taro throws a hook to the side of Burns's head but Burns sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slow jab from Taro misses its intended target.
Burns connects with a solid leg kick.
Burns lands with a thumping leg kick.
Taro misses the jab.
Taro tried to score with a low kick but Burns checks it.
Burns's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Taro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Burns scrambles back to his feet.
Matsuda Taro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burns throws a nice inside leg kick.
Burns throws a leg kick
and Taro counters with a nice body shot.
Taro swats away the attempt to clinch by Burns.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titan Xavier Burns dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burns ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Burns looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Taro throws a low kick but Burns moves out of range easily.
Burns is looking to counter the offense by Taro and move into the clinch.
Burns finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
It seemed like Taro was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Taro checks a leg kick.
Taro throws a jab when Burns was well out of range.
Taro throws a right and a left that both miss.
A big left from Taro misses.
Burns loads up on a big right hand but Taro slips the punch.
Burns cracks Taro with a right hand to the side of the head.
Burns scoring well with a low kick there.
Burns lands a jab to the nose.
Taro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Burns sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taro tests Burns's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Burns throws out a leg kick but Taro moves out of range and Burns only half commits.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot by Taro.
Burns lands with an uppercut that bounces Taro off the ropes and back into range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taro works over Burns's head and body with a nice combination.
Taro throws a lazy right hand but Burns sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taro's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Taro tries to work over Burns's front leg with a kick but Burns checks it.
Taro throws out a loose jab but Burns uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns slips a straight right by Taro.
Burns tests Taro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taro lands a jab-cross combination.
Taro works the jab nicely.
Taro throws a half hearted mid kick.
Taro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Burns thumps Taro with a low kick.
Burns lands with a nice body kick.
Burns keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taro.
Burns keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taro.
Burns does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Burns slips a straight right by Taro.
Taro loads up on a big right hand but Burns slips the punch.
Taro drops his hands momentarily and Burns takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burns moves away.
Burns slips a jab from Taro.
Burns uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taro.
Burns moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Taro misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Burns connects with a nice looking jab.
Burns takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Taro throws a right hand that Burns ducks under and follows up with a left that Burns also avoids with ease.
Taro misses with a straight right.
Taro throws a hook but Burns blocks it.
Burns tries to counter by clinching up but Taro breaks away and moves out of range.
Taro fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Burns has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Taro misses with a looping left.
Taro looks to throw the jab but Burns is out of range.
Taro misses with a body shot.
Burns connects with a leg kick. Taro looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A telegraphed right hand from Burns misses the target.
Taro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burns moves away.
Burns throws a leg kick but Taro sees it coming and checks it nicely.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Burns.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice leg kick lands there from Burns.
Burns throws a low kick but Taro moves out of range easily.
Taro lands a slapping body shot.
Taro swats away the attempt to clinch by Burns.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsuda Taro really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Taro slips under a jab.
Burns wants to clinch.
Taro lands a nice looking body kick.
Taro misses with a body shot.
Burns tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Taro manages to circle out of the way.
Burns throws a leg kick but Taro moved away.
Taro checks a leg kick.
Taro tries to bum rush Burns with a series of wild strikes but Burns uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Burns moves away from the strike by Taro.
Taro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Burns takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Burns is predictable there
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Taro misses with a hook. Burns ducked under it nicely.
Burns connects with a good right hand that stumbles Taro. Taro circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A slapping body kick lands there for Burns.
Burns scores with a nice right hand.
Burns cracks the inside of Taro's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Burns.
Burns throws a nice inside leg kick.
Taro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Taro throws a jab when Burns was well out of range.
Taro bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Taro scores with a shot to the body.
Burns throws a hook but Taro avoids it easily.
Burns works the jab nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Burns. That's going to slow Taro down.
Burns showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taro.
Burns throws out a leg kick but Taro moves out of range and Burns only half commits.
Burns takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Burns throws a nice outside leg kick.
Burns throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Burns throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Burns ducks under a wild hook from Taro.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burns uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taro.
Burns connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taro connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Burns momentarily.
Taro connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Burns fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Taro checks it well.
Taro checks the leg kick.
Burns throws a leg kick that misses.
Taro misses with a low kick.
Taro takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Burns slips under a jab from Taro.
Taro lands with a nice combination. Burns backs away looking to recover.
Burns throws a leg kick but Taro checks it.
A little jabbing left from Taro on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Taro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Burns throws a chopping leg kick but Taro manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Taro throws a body punch but Burns moves out of range.
Burns wants to slow Taro down by chopping away at his legs.
Taro throws a body punch but Burns moves out of range.
Taro bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Burns's head backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns scores with a kick to the body.
Taro misses with a wild body shot.
Burns feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Taros jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Matsuda Taro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Taro scores with a sloppy right hand. Burns should have avoided that one.
Titan Xavier Burns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burns blocks a jab.
An inside leg kick from Burns misses.
Taro dips to his left and cracks Burns with an uppercut!
Burns moves out of range of the strikes.
An inside leg kick lands from Burns.
A solid leg kick lands there for Burns.
Burns throws a push kick but Taro slaps the foot to one side.
Burns tries a low kick but Taro avoids it.
Burns with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Burns bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Burns displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taro throws out the jab.
Burns connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Taro takes a swing at Burns's ribcage but misses.
Burns connects with a solid leg kick.
Burns looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nice body punch from Taro.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taro takes a swing at Burns's ribcage but misses.
Burns throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Good work by Taro as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Taro blocks the leg kick.
Burns ducks under a wild hook from Taro.
Taro throws a looping overhand right but Burns ducks down to avoid it.
Burns tried to score with a low kick but Taro checks it.
Burns ducks under a wild hook from Taro.
Burns moves away from the strike by Taro.
Taro closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Burns throws the kick towards the body but Taro avoids it.
Taro throws out a counter right but Burns avoids it with no problem.
Some wild striking there from Taro.
Matsuda Taro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
No joy there for Taro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Burns wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Taro lands a slapping body shot.
Taro misses with a series of wild punches.
Taro throws a hook but Burns blocks it.
Burns thuds his shin into the meat of Taro's side.

Taro tries to keep at a distance but Burns has taken the fight into the clinch.
Burns struggles to land a body shot inside as Taro controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taro trying to stall but Burns improves his position.
Burns swings wildly with an uppercut but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burns pushes off an throws an elbow but Taro leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Burns doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Burns misses with an elbow over the top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burns goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Burns throws an elbow but misses.
Taro has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Burns seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Taro can turn it around.
Burns doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Burns controls his hands.
Burns works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Taro wants to break the clinch but can't.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taro.
Burns goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Burns misses with a body punch.
Taro takes a knee right on the jaw!

And that's the end of the fight!
Titan Xavier Burns showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Taro has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 48:47
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 48:48
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Titan Xavier Burns!
Titan Xavier Burns retains his featherweight title!
Post fight, Titan Xavier Burns took to the microphone: '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.'.