PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kwame Nti (ranked 222 p4p, 776 weight class) and Khalil Burnett (ranked 36 p4p, 109 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nti
vs
Burnett

172 cm
28
220
14 - 9 - 0

194 cm
27
215
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

PWNAGE™
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Kwame Nti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Khalil Burnett!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nti tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Burnett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Burnett moves into the clinch.
Burnett fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Nti breaks the clinch.
Burnett scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Kwame Nti has been cut.
Nti looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Burnett lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nti scores with a nice right hand.

Nti dives in and scores a takedown into Burnett's guard.
Burnett wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nti manages to pass to side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Burnett is looking to control Nti's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Burnett avoid being mounted?
Nti stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnett has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nti is working away from the top position though.
Nti perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nti trying to mount his opponent but Burnett defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burnett is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nti with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Burnett controlling the position well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnett tries to kick Nti off but Nti keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

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

Nti shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nti showed some decent athleticism there.
Nti wants to pass the guard but Burnett is defending well.
Burnett is doing well to control the position and prevent Nti from advancing to side control.
Burnett wants to get back to full guard but Nti has mounted him!
Nti sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burnett wants to hold on but Nti pushes him away.
Nti takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nti seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Burnett for as long as he can get away with.
Burnett is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kwame Nti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kwame Nti's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A left lands for Nti.
Burnett ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It seemed like Burnett was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nti misses with a hook. Burnett ducked under it nicely.
The fighters circling - Burnett throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nti misses the shot to the body.
Nti ducks under a wild hook from Burnett.
Burnett moves away from the strike by Nti.
Burnett misses with a straight left.
Nti cracks Burnett with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nti has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Burnett finds it's way round the side to connect with Nti's head.
Burnett lands a nice shot that snaps Nti's head back.
Burnett lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Burnett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Burnett lands a slapping body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burnett wants to clinch up but Nti keeps it at a distance.
Nti throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nti looks to land a left hand but Burnett moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnett throws a jab when Nti was well out of range.
Nti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Burnett throws out the jab.
Burnett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nti was well out of range. Poor timing from Burnett.
Burnett takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Burnett tries to close the distance and clinch but Nti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khalil Burnett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Burnett misses with a double jab.
Burnett looks to land a right hand but Nti moved out of range.
Nti drops down looking for a counter takedown but Burnett sprawls and moves away.
Burnett misses with a jab to the body

and Nti counters with a nice double leg into side control. Burnett won't be happy with that.
Burnett gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Nti takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Burnett can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burnett looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnett tries to reverse the position but Nti maintains control.
Nti content just to control the position here.
Nti's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Further stalling from Nti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burnett tries to hold on but Nti postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nti controlling from the full mount.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Nti is stinking the place up with his stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kwame Nti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kwame Nti's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Burnett throws a jab but it's blocked by Nti.

Nti closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Burnett to the mat! Burnett manages to get full guard.
Burnett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kwame Nti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nti tries to free his leg and advance position but Burnett is retaining full guard.
Nti sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burnett is looking to stand up but Nti isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nti looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Burnett is trying to control the position but Nti postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Khalil Burnett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burnett throws an overhand right that lands on Nti's shoulder, as Nti tries to avoid the shot.
A big right from Burnett misses.
Burnett keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nti.
Nti ducks under a wild hook from Burnett.
Nti takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Burnett has Nti up against the cage in a clinch.
Burnett has a couple of punches blocked by Nti.
Khalil Burnett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burnett swings wildly with an uppercut but Nti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burnett fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nti.
Nti wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Burnett misses with a short punch on the inside.
Burnett misses with the head strike.
Burnett lands a right hand.
Nti lands a shoulder strike.
Nti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Nti has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Burnett clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nti is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnett is trying to get back to his feet but Nti has full control of the position and if anything, Burnett has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Nti biding his time, looking for the opening.
Kwame Nti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nti continues to stall.

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.
More hug and hope from Nti.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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 Kwame Nti.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nti, 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kwame Nti!
In his post fight interview, Kwame Nti started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.