PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kurtis Burgess (ranked 25396 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Blake (ranked 7894 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Burgess
vs
Blake

215 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

188 cm
18
179 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kurtis Burgess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tommy Blake!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blake rushes Burgess and presses him up against the cage.

Blake has clasped his hands together around Burgess's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Burgess tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Burgess sneaks back into half guard.
Blake sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Burgess defending well though.
Burgess is trying to maintain the position but Blake is very close to passing his half guard.
Blake lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Blake wants to control but Burgess is keeping him busy.
Burgess is pressing down on Blake's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Blake's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Blake trying to control the position from guard on top but Burgess is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burgess looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blake is one step ahead there.
Blake must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Blake 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burgess scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Blake throws a head kick but Burgess moves out of range.
Blake tries to land a body kick

and Burgess counters by moving into the clinch.

Burgess turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Burgess manages to end up in side control.
Blake tries to control but Burgess manages to take his back.
Blake felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Burgess throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Blake is really stuck here.
Burgess trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Burgess is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Blake knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Blake for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blake looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Burgess has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Blake is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Blake is in bad spot here.

Burgess working for a choke but Blake reverses nicely into Burgess 's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess is trying to control the position but Blake postures up.
Burgess manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blake manages to get himself to full guard.

Blake tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Blake is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Burgess trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burgess is really struggling to control Blake but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Burgess working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Blake's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess trying to control but Blake is working from the bottom.
Burgess in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Blake has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burgess can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Blake can do anything to dispel that myth.
Blake trying to keep a closed guard but Burgess is proving a slippery customer.

Burgess thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Burgess is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Blake is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Blake has escaped and now he's on top!

Burgess managing to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurtis Burgess dominated that round.
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.

Burgess displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blake.

Blake shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Burgess is trying to defend but Blake finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Burgess wants to improve his position but Blake is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blake wants to stand but Burgess has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Burgess tries to roll over but Blake keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess is controlling Blake's trapped leg to prevent Blake from advancing to side control.
Blake is thwarting Burgess's attempts to control the position.
Blake working Burgess over with strikes.
Blake wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burgess keeps working.
Burgess slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Blake's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Burgess trying to control the position.
Burgess looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blake is one step ahead there.
Blake trying to control but Burgess is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burgess working a defensive guard here.
Blake stopping the sweep attempt from Burgess.
Burgess is working hard here to advance position.
Blake trying to control but Burgess is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Blake preventing the sweep.
Burgess not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Blake shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Burgess but Burgess pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Burgess as Blake shoots in.
Kurtis Burgess has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Blake.
Blake is breathing heavily.
Blake doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Burgess counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Burgess trying to control the pace.

Burgess seems to be looking for submissions.
Burgess trying to control from half guard but Blake is working away.

Burgess is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Blake to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake looking to control.
Burgess wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.
Burgess prevents Blake from getting back to his feet.
Kurtis Burgess overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burgess pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blake is keeping the position for now.
Burgess will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Blake is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burgess trying to control but Blake is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Blake throws a combination that misses

and Burgess counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kurtis Burgess will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Blake changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burgess tries to avoid it but Blake manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burgess to the ground. Burgess escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A quick step to the side and Burgess tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Blake has closed the distance and engaged Burgess in a clinch.

Burgess gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Burgess wants to stand up but Blake has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Burgess gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Blake throws a hook to the side of Burgess's head but Burgess sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Blake gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burgess has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Blake is trying to keep an underhook but Burgess manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Burgess is looking for a kimura but Blake is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Burgess to get the leverage.
Blake is looking to get back to is feet but Burgess passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burgess thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blake is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Burgess is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Blake knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Blake struggling a bit here.

Burgess tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two 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.

Burgess is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Blake has escaped the position, nice work there.
Blake tries to buck Burgess off but Burgess is having none of it.
Blake is still trying to improve position.
Blake is looking to get back to his feet here but Burgess is keeping cool and he's managed to take Blake's back.

Blake defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess doesn't have the hooks in and Blake manages to turn into his guard.
Burgess has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Blake has passed into side control.
Burgess is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blake tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Blake is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Burgess has escaped the position, nice work there.
Blake fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Blake off and has taken his back!
Blake is really stuck here.
Blake prevents Burgess from getting a body triangle.
Blake is trying to stand back up.

Burgess has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Blake has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Burgess working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Tommy Blake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kurtis Burgess is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blake is trying to get back to his feet but Burgess has full control of the position and if anything, Blake has just worked his way into a worse spot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurtis Burgess showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burgess, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurtis Burgess!