PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Burns (ranked 6465 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Cormier (ranked 4268 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Cormier will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Burns
vs
Cormier

154 cm
20
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
235 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vincent Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns misses with an attempted mid kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burns is defended easily by Cormier.

Cormier gets a clinch.

Burns breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cormier misses with a takedown
and Burns counters with a nice body shot.
Cormier tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burns defends well and Cormier ends up having to push Burns into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Burns is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Cormier.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burns looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Burns with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burns accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cormier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burns working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burns postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Burns throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cormier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cormier avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Burns throws a big elbow that misses.
Burns throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burns makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Burns is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Burns throws a big elbow that misses.
Burns throwing strikes but missing.
Burns is looking to stand up but Cormier won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cormier is pulling down on Burns's head. It's preventing any offense from Burns, at least for the moment.
Burns scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cormier is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burns is controlling him.
Burns throws a big right hand that misses.
Burns chips away with some ground and pound.
Burns postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier looking to control.
Burns trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cormier's guard.
Cormier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burns.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Burns closes the distance and clinches up with Cormier, looking for a takedown. Burns pushes Cormier against the cage but Cormier circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Burns drives through with a takedown into Cormier's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Burns lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Burns really is a fat lump.
Cormier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've been informed that Cormier has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Burns works over Cormier with some ground and pound from guard.
Burns trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Burns is breathing heavily.
Cormier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burns.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns throws an elbow that misses. Cormier uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Burns's guard. Nice move by Cormier!

Cormier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burns is keeping the position for now.
Burns wants to stand but Cormier is controlling the position.
Burns looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cormier looking to pass the guard.
Cormier trying to control but Burns is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burns wants to improve his position but instead Cormier has moved into half guard.
Burns looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Burns dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Burns defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cormier.
Burns is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Cormier.

Burns shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Burns not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burns throwing shots but Cormier is blocking nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Burns connects with a nice short shot to Cormier's temple.
Cormier tries to kick Burns off but Burns keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cormier defending well though.

Burns is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cormier doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Burns.
Burns not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Burns connects with a nice short shot to Cormier's temple.
Burns is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cormier can do to turn this around?
Cormier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Burns working the head and body with strikes.
Cormier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Burns 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.
Cormier on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Burns missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cormier regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Burns.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns is looking to work some ground and pound but Cormier has wrist control.
Cormier working a defensive guard here.
Cormier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burns.
Cormier pulls Burns in close to prevent any damage.
Burns loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cormier.
Cormier is breathing heavily.
Cormier closes this distance looking for a takedown but Burns circles away.
Vincent Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Cormier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier has his takedown stuffed

and Burns counters by moving into the clinch.
Burns holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Burns's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Cormier tries to sprawl but Burns drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Burns working Cormier over with strikes.
Vincent Burns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burns scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Burns seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Cormier is defending against the submission attempts here by Burns.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Burns connects with a nice short shot to Cormier's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns slips a nice elbow through Cormier's hands, connecting with Cormier's forehead.
Cormier pushes Burns off looking to stand but Burns dives back in and keeps control.
Burns misses with a head shot. Cormier uses the momentum to regain guard.
Burns postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burns throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Burns fails with the takedown
letting Cormier counter with a right hand.

It looks like Vincent Burns has been cut.
Cormier shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cormier throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burns's waist but Burns gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cormier off to one side.
Cormier stuffs the takedown.
Cormier tries to counter with a clinch but Burns shakes him off and moves away.
Burns throws a series of punches but Cormier avoids them all with ease.

Burns is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cormier's half guard.

Cormier has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Burns is on him like a limpet, forcing Cormier back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cormier is pushing Burns up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cormier taking a breather.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Burns gets caught napping as Cormier dives in and scores a takedown. Burns manages to retain guard.
Burns is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burns takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Burns lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Burns working over Cormier with some ground and pound. Cormier looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Burns is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Burns is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burns looking for a submission but Cormier manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Burns is fighting to break Cormier's control of his arms but Cormier is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cormier wants to stand up but Burns is controlling him.
Burns throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns postures up and lands a big shot to Cormier's brow.
Burns throwing strikes but missing.
Cormier bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burns's guard.

Burns is looking to sweep but instead, Cormier has passed into half guard.
Burns tries to get to full guard but Cormier has control of the leg.
Burns gets full guard.
Burns striking from the bottom here.
Cormier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burns is keeping the position for now.
Burns tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burns is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Cormier presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Cormier fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vincent Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Cormier.
Cormier wants to break free but Burns has control.

Burns breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Burns shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cormier manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cormier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Daniel Cormier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cormier is trying to keep Burns in close.
Burns content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vincent Burns.
Well Burns has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vincent Burns!
Daniel Cormier was interviewed post fight and said 'It was a good fight. And I'm blessed to have had a chance. Congrats mate.'.