PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stuart Burrows (ranked 746 p4p, 586 weight class) and Aleksi Heimo (ranked 54 p4p, 44 weight class). Burrows comes to the cage accompanied by Baba O'Riley. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Aleksi Heimo enters the cage!

Burrows
vs
Heimo

162 cm
28
135
16 - 3 - 1

169 cm
37
146
19 - 34 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Threads

Fantasy Threads
Shadow Realm Apparel

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 16 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Stuart Burrows!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 34 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksi Heimo!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heimo takes one to the side of the head.
Heimo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
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.
Heimo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burrows moves away.
An inside leg kick from Heimo misses.
Burrows checks a leg kick nicely.
Burrows misses with a wild body shot.
Burrows shoots in for a takedown but Heimo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Burrows displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Heimo throws out the jab.
Heimo ducks under a wild hook from Burrows.
Good exchange - Burrows coming out on top.
Heimo throws a right hand that misses
letting Burrows counter with a right hand.

Burrows closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Heimo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Burrows's best efforts.
Burrows is looking to take a break and control but Heimo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Heimo wants to get back to full guard.
Heimo 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.
Heimo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Burrows sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows stopping the sweep attempt from Heimo.
Heimo pulls Burrows in to control the position.
Heimo controls Burrows momentarily but Burrows frees himself.
Burrows 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.

Burrows drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Heimo dives on top into guard.

Burrows has Heimo pulled in close to control his posture.

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.
Burrows trying to keep a closed guard but Heimo is proving a slippery customer.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Burrows is on top in guard.

Burrows controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Heimo is trying to control the position but Burrows postures up.
Heimo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Burrows controls the pace.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Heimo is on top in guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Heimo preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heimo pushes down on Burrows's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows is looking for a sweep. Heimo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Heimo passes the guard and advances to mount!
Burrows wants to hold on but Heimo pushes him away.
Burrows is desperately trying to improve his position but Heimo has a good base and remains in mount.

Heimo has hold of Burrows's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Burrows manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Burrows bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Heimo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Burrows has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows advances to mount.
Burrows wants to control the pace but Heimo is squirming around nicely.
Heimo wants to hold on but Burrows pushes him away.
Burrows looking to control but Heimo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Burrows avoids the attempt from Heimo to control.
Heimo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Burrows controlling the pace for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stuart Burrows dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Heimo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Burrows misses with a looping left.
Burrows scores with a nice head shot.
Heimo sizes up Burrows with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Burrows lands with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Heimo. Burrows does a little dance to reset his feet.

Burrows bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Heimo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Heimo is trying to control but can't.
Heimo is refusing to be controlled, as Burrows sits in half guard.
Burrows is thwarting Heimo's attempts to control the position.
Burrows is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Heimo can do to turn this around?

Burrows is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Burrows prevents Heimo from getting the reversal.

Burrows looking to secure an arm triangle but Heimo defends it well.
Burrows can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Heimo is looking to escape.
Heimo is looking to improve his position but Burrows isn't that keen on the idea.
Heimo tries to control Burrows's body but Burrows pushes him off. Heimo squirms to his side and now Burrows has his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burrows is not going to allow Heimo to sit and survive in this position.
Burrows trying to control.
Burrows is really struggling to control Heimo but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Good control from Burrows.
Burrows tries to get the hooks in deep but Heimo pushed the leg off.
Heimo tries to roll but Burrows sticks to his back.
I would not like to be Heimo right now.
Burrows keeps control of the position as Heimo tries to break free.

Heimo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Burrows gets his way!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows is hanging on to Heimo's back as he tries to escape.
Heimo prevents Burrows from getting a body triangle.
Burrows is not going to allow Heimo to sit and survive in this position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Burrows's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Heimo is trying to break free.
Burrows gets his hands free as Heimo looks to control.
Heimo 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 really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Heimo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heimo can't escape the position.
Burrows biding his time, controlling Heimo.
Heimo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Burrows is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Heimo has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Burrows has the hooks in. Heimo is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heimo keeps trying to improve his position.
Heimo looking very determined here, making life difficult for Burrows.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stuart Burrows dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Heimo misses the shot to the body.
Heimo throws a shot to the body.
Burrows throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burrows keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Heimo throws a lazy uppercut
and Burrows counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A shot to the body from Heimo misses
and Burrows counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Heimo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Heimo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Heimo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A low kick from Heimo is predictable there

and Burrows counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Burrows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heimo keeping moving, preventing Burrows from controlling successfully.
Heimo is trying to control the position but Burrows postures up.
Heimo wants to sweep here but Burrows controlling him for the moment.
Burrows sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimo controls Burrows momentarily but Burrows frees himself.
Heimo has Burrows pulled in close to control his posture.
Heimo looking to control.
Burrows slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Burrows takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Heimo lands a head kick. Burrows smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Heimo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Heimo misses the body punch

and Burrows counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Burrows controlling the action here.
Heimo is looking for a sweep. Burrows is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stuart Burrows is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burrows sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Heimo is looking to improve his position.
Stuart Burrows overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burrows takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Burrows is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Heimo keeping hold of Burrows's head, controlling as best he can.
Heimo is staying active underneath Burrows, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Heimo tries to get to full guard but Burrows has control of the leg.
Burrows wants to control but Heimo is keeping him busy.
Heimo holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Heimo throws a head kick that misses
and Burrows counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Burrows scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Burrows content to control rather than advance.
Heimo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Heimo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows wants to control from the top but Heimo keeps moving.
Burrows looking to pass the guard.
Heimo is pulling down on Burrows's head to control his posture.
Heimo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Burrows trying to control here.
Aleksi Heimo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burrows is looking for a sweep. Heimo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Heimo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Burrows defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stuart Burrows showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Burrows 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stuart Burrows!
During a confident post fight interview, Stuart Burrows thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.