PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stuart Burrows (ranked 531 p4p, 655 weight class) and Ispa Mfer (ranked 33 p4p, 45 weight class). Burrows comes to the cage accompanied by Baba O'Riley. Ispa Mfer has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Stuart Burrows's chin.

Burrows
vs
Mfer

162 cm
23
135
9 - 2 - 0

169 cm
23
148
10 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

UnderGround Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stuart Burrows!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ispa Mfer!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mfer throws a looping overhand right but Burrows ducks down to avoid it.
Ispa Mfer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mfer throws a body shot but no joy.
We've been hearing reports that Burrows has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Mfer misses with a hook. Burrows ducked under it nicely.
Burrows staying out of range there.
Burrows shoots in but no luck this time.
Burrows staying out of range there.
Mfer will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Burrows throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mfer's waist but Mfer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Burrows off to one side.
Mfer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mfer misses with a hook.
Burrows drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mfer sprawls and moves away.
Burrows fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stuart Burrows. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mfer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burrows lands a nice hook to Mfer's body. Mfer takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mfer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mfer jabs Burrows to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Mfer throws a leg kick but Burrows sees it coming and moves out of range.
Mfer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mfer scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mfer throws a leg kick that is checked

and Burrows counters with a single leg into guard. Mfer didn't expect that.

Mfer has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Burrows off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Mfer misses with a low kick as Burrows jumps back.
Mfer misses with a hook. Burrows ducked under it nicely.
Mfer scoring well with a low kick there.
Mfer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Burrows changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mfer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burrows in side control, throwing shots but Mfer defends.
Mfer is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Burrows has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Burrows misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Mfer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Burrows misses with the ground and pound.
Burrows wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mfer keeps working.
Burrows is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Mfer is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mfer tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Burrows wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Burrows fails to land a wild elbow strike.
You can see the frustration on Mfer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Burrows throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Burrows wants to control but Mfer is keeping him busy.
Burrows tries to move to mount but Mfer blocks the move with his legs.
Mfer is looking to get back to his feet here but Burrows is keeping cool and he's managed to take Mfer's back.
Mfer prevents Burrows from getting a body triangle.
Burrows throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mfer is trying to get back to his feet but Burrows has full control of the position and if anything, Mfer has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Mfer covering up well under a series of strikes from Burrows.
Burrows keeps control of the position as Mfer tries to break free.
Mfer wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
I would not like to be Mfer right now.
Mfer rolls, trying to escape but Burrows keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows controlling from the back.
Mfer is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Burrows off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Burrows throwing sloppy strikes.
Burrows struggling to keep hold of the position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Burrows trying to control momentarily.
Mfer is trying to stand back up.
Burrows 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.
Mfer trying to control but not successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ispa Mfer will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mfer lands a nice hook to Burrows's body. Burrows takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Burrows throws a sloppy body shot
and Mfer counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Mfer misses.
Mfer looks to land a left hand but Burrows moved out of range nicely.
A lazy left from Burrows finds it's target.
Mfer thows a leg kick but Burrows checks it

and Burrows decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mfer's guard.
Burrows trying to control but Mfer is working from the bottom.
Mfer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Burrows missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mfer controlling Burrows's posture.
Burrows wants to control from the top but Mfer keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mfer is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows trying to control but Mfer is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mfer lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Burrows lands a jab to the nose.
Burrows thows a left - swing and a miss!
A bone on bone clash there as Burrows blocks the leg kick.
Burrows walks into a straight right hand from Mfer.
Mfer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ispa Mfer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Burrows shoots in looking for a takedown but Mfer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Burrows's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Burrows avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mfer fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Burrows has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nice takedown defense from Mfer. No joy for Burrows on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burrows misses with a series of wild punches.
Burrows moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMfer.
Burrows looks to throw the jab but Mfer is out of range.
Ispa Mfer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mfer on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Burrows throws a lazy right hand but Mfer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Burrows throws a looping overhand right but Mfer ducks down to avoid it.
Burrows stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mfer.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick by Mfer misses
and Burrows counters with a right hand to the body.
Mfer tries a head kick but it misses.
Mfer misses with an attempted mid kick.
Burrows wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Burrows takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mfer buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Burrows scores with a nice right hand.
Burrows stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mfer.
Mfer scores with a one two! Burrows had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mfer is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mfer throws a nice inside leg kick.

Burrows closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mfer's guard.
Mfer is looking to stand back up but Burrows counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mfer.
Burrows missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mfer is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Mfer is trying to stand up here but Burrows is controlling him well.
Burrows wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mfer keeps working.
Mfer looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mfer is doing well to control the position and prevent Burrows from advancing to side control.
Burrows stops Mfer from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mfer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Burrows.
Burrows is trying to control. Mfer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mfer is trying to stand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Mfer throws a hook but Burrows avoids it easily.
Burrows swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Burrows is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mfer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stuart Burrows. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mfer lands with a kick to the temple. Burrows shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Burrows fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mfer manages to avoid it.
Mfer throws a chopping leg kick but Burrows manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mfer lands a leg kick that knocks Burrows off balance momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mfer on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burrows is defended easily by Mfer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ispa Mfer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Burrows dives in and grabs Mfer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mfer pushes down on Burrows's head and hops out.
Mfer misses with a left hand
letting Burrows counter with a right hand.
Burrows displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mfer throws out the jab.
Mfer takes a swing at Burrows's ribcage but misses.
Burrows takes a swing at Mfer's ribcage but misses.
Mfer throws out a loose jab but Burrows uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mfer with the inside leg kick.
Mfer throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Burrows half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Burrows chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mfer can pounce on him.
Mfer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mfer chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burrows shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Burrows showed some decent athleticism there.
Mfer moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mfer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows throwing strikes from guard but Mfer blocks nicely.
Mfer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Burrows trying to control the position from guard on top but Mfer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mfer wants to sweep here but Burrows controlling him for the moment.
Mfer is pulling down on Burrows's head. It's preventing any offense from Burrows, at least for the moment.
Mfer working a defensive guard here.
Burrows prevents Mfer from getting back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Burrows sizes up Mfer with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Burrows shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Burrows looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mfer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burrows is controlling him.
Mfer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burrows.
Burrows stops Mfer from standing up.
Burrows throwing strikes from guard but Mfer blocks nicely.
Mfer seems keen to control Burrows's posture.
Mfer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Burrows controls the pace.
Mfer is pulling down on Burrows's head. It's preventing any offense from Burrows, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mfer wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Burrows walks into a stiff left hand from Mfer.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Mfer.
Mfer misses with a right hand

so Burrows counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Burrows not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mfer is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mfer wants to sweep but no luck.
Burrows scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows won't allow Mfer to get back to his feet.
Burrows tries to free his leg and advance position but Mfer is retaining full guard.
Burrows trying to control but Mfer is working from the bottom.
Burrows looking to pass the guard.
Burrows controlling from the top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mfer pulls Burrows in to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burrows connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Stuart Burrows has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mfer slips under a jab from Burrows.
Burrows digs a good hook to Mfer's body.

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 Stuart Burrows.
I think Mfer 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!