PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Axton Burgess (ranked 499 p4p, 1141 weight class) and Mbape Smooth (ranked 67 p4p, 141 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Burgess
vs
Smooth

188 cm
24
190
7 - 3 - 0

195 cm
24
190
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Axton Burgess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mbape Smooth!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burgess uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smooth.
Burgess looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Smooth getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Axton Burgess has been cut.
Smooth misses the jab.
Smooth throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Burgess sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Burgess walks into a stiff left hand from Smooth.
Burgess tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smooth was well out of range. Poor timing from Burgess.
Burgess misses with a lunging right hand
and Smooth counters with a left and a right that stings Burgess.
Burgess takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Burgess lands with a good body shot.
Smooth connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smooth rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Burgess connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Smooth throws a low kick but Burgess avoids it.
Burgess swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Burgess jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Smooth is predictable there
and Burgess counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Mbape Smooth has been cut.
Burgess moves out of range of the body kick from Smooth.
Smooth connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Burgess momentarily.
Smooth looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Smooth connects with a good right hand that stumbles Burgess. Burgess circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Burgess on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Burgess swings away with a body shot that misses
and Smooth counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Burgess is rocked!

Axton Burgess's cut is getting worse.
Smooth misses with a looping left.
Burgess swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mbape Smooth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smooth misses with a double jab
and Burgess counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A cross from Smooth lands.
Burgess connects with a good right hand that stumbles Smooth. Smooth circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smooth throws a right hand that misses

and Burgess counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burgess.
Burgess lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Burgess tries to throw a body punch but Smooth avoids it by throwing Burgess back against the cage.
Burgess scores with a shoulder strike.
Burgess lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Burgess blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Burgess fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burgess.
Smooth blocks a body shot from Burgess.
Burgess goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smooth lands a left hand that snaps the head of Burgess backwards.
Smooth tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burgess's elbow.
Smooth has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Burgess lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smooth backwards.
Burgess pushes Smooth back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Burgess fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smooth blocks a body shot from Burgess.
Burgess swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Burgess blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smooth tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burgess's elbow.
Smooth working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smooth stalling the fight.
Burgess lands a body punch in the clinch.
Smooth tries a body shot but Burgess blocks it.
Burgess throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Smooths head.
Burgess cracks Smooth with a nice body shot.
Smooth looks winded!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Burgess.
Smooth blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smooth misses with a hook from the clinch.
Burgess digs a right hand underneath Smooth's ribcage. Smooth let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Burgess swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smooth misses with a short punch on the inside.
Burgess makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Burgess has a couple of punches blocked by Smooth.
A body shot lands from Burgess.
Burgess lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Burgess lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burgess blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Burgess.
A body shot lands from Burgess.
Burgess makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Burgess creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Burgess scores with a hook to the body.
Burgess goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smooth is looking to control Burgess's arms but Burgess gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smooth has his back to the cage.
Burgess lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Burgess lands a hook that snaps the head of Smooth backwards.
Burgess lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Burgess.
A short uppercut from Burgess.
A nice right hand lands inside from Burgess.
A short right from Burgess.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A short left from Burgess.
Burgess swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smooth lands with a short shot to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Smooth.
Smooth blocking some punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Axton Burgess dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Burgess's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smooth looks to land a left hand but Burgess moved out of range nicely.
Smooth misses the jab.
Burgess takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Smooth uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Burgess.
A big left from Smooth misses.
Burgess checks the leg kick.
Burgess is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Smooth.
Burgess throws a big shot that misses.
Smooth slips under a jab from Burgess.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab lands there for Burgess.
Smooth throws a hook to the side of Burgess's head but Burgess sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smooth throws a lazy right hand but Burgess sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mbape Smooth seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smooth throws a push kick but Burgess slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smooth throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
As Smooth tries to get set, Burgess tries to push him back and clinch up but Smooth manages to avoid the attempt.
Smooth misses with a double jab.
Smooth pushes Burgess away with a front kick.
Burgess bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smooth throws a lazy uppercut
and Burgess counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Some wild striking there from Smooth.
Smooth is breathing heavily.
Burgess uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smooth.
A telegraphed right hand from Smooth misses the target.
Nice defenses there by Smooth.
Smooth fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smooth takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smooth moves into range and connects with a jab.
An inside leg kick from Smooth misses.
Smooth looks to throw a body kick

and Burgess holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch on the inside from Burgess fails to land.
Burgess misses with a hook to the ribs.
Burgess has a couple of punches blocked by Smooth.
Burgess misses with a short punch on the inside.
Burgess makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That has opened up Mbape Smooth's cut even more.
Burgess doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Burgess misses with a punch on the inside.
Burgess makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Axton Burgess has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Burgess scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Burgess makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Smooth swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Burgess tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smooth misses with a punch to the body.
Burgess working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Burgess lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Smooth or not.
Smooth throws a punch but it's blocked by Burgess.
Burgess lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smooth backwards.
Burgess lands a nice uppercut.
Smooth blocks a body shot from Burgess.
Smooth swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Burgess can't find room to land a body shot as Smooth controls the action.
Smooth working aggressively here.
Smooth tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burgess's elbow.
Burgess misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Burgess is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smooth can do to turn this around?
Burgess lands with a short shot to the head.
Burgess works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Smooth blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Burgess misses with a punch to the body.
Burgess lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Smooth or not.
Burgess makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Burgess has a couple of punches blocked by Smooth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burgess lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Burgess struggles to land a body shot inside as Smooth controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Smooth fails to land.
Burgess has Smooth pressed against the cage, preventing Smooth from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Burgess digs a right hand into Smooth's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Smooth's gas tank.
Burgess lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Burgess as the two fighters clinch.
Burgess softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Burgess lands a nice shot to the body.
Burgess lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smooth backwards.
Burgess pushes Smooth back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smooth blocks an uppercut.
Burgess has a couple of punches blocked by Smooth.
Burgess lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A hook to the body from Burgess.
Smooth prevents a body shot from Burgess.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Axton Burgess dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Burgess throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smooth sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Burgess avoids the head kick by Smooth.
Smooth misses with a right hand

and Burgess counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burgess.
Burgess blocks a body shot from Smooth.
Smooth tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Burgess's elbow.
Burgess misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Burgess tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smooth misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Burgess.
Burgess working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smooth lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Burgess or not.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smooth tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Burgess.
Burgess tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smooth's elbow.
Smooth wants to stall.
Burgess working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smooth is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Burgess is keeping busy.
A nice right hand lands inside from Burgess.
Burgess swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smooth has a couple of punches blocked by Burgess.
A shot in the inside from Burgess.
Smooth blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smooth misses with a body punch.
Smooth stalling in the clinch.
Burgess scores with a shoulder strike.
Burgess throws a head punch that misses.
A short left from Burgess.
Burgess lands a nice shot to the body.
Burgess lands with a left to the head.
Burgess lands a hook that snaps the head of Smooth backwards.
Smooth scores with a nice hook to the head.
Burgess lands a right hand.

Smooth is rocked!
Smooth takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burgess lands with a left to the head.
Smooth is still on wobbly legs! Can Burgess finish him?
A right handed body shot lands from Burgess.
Nice body punch from Smooth.
Smooth throws a punch but it's blocked by Burgess.
Burgess tries to throw a body punch but Smooth avoids it by throwing Burgess back against the cage.
Burgess misses with the head strike.
Smooth seems to have recovered his senses.
Burgess lands a body shot in the clinch.
Smooth swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Burgess tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Burgess prevents a body shot from Smooth.
A head punch on the inside from Burgess fails to land.
Smooth swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Burgess throws a head punch that misses.
A shot in the inside from Burgess.
Burgess tries to work over Smooth's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smooth blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Burgess lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Burgess is working Smooth over against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smooth tries a body shot but Burgess blocks it.
Smooth misses with the head strike.
Smooth is trying to stall.
Burgess throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Burgess misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Burgess tries to work over Smooth's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Burgess fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Burgess.

The cut above Mbape Smooth's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Burgess swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smooth misses with a punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Burgess misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Burgess misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right handed body shot lands from Smooth.
Burgess lands a left hand that snaps the head of Smooth backwards.
Burgess lands a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess is leaning against Smooth and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Burgess goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Burgess fails to land.
Burgess lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smooth prevents a body shot from Burgess.
Burgess blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Burgess swings wildly with an uppercut but Smooth uses good head movement to avoid it.
A hook to the body from Burgess.
Mbape Smooth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smooth's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burgess blocking some punches.
Burgess working aggressively here.
Smooth blocks a body shot from Burgess.
Burgess lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smooth backwards.
Smooth takes a shot to the head.
Burgess tries to throw a body punch but Smooth avoids it by throwing Burgess back against the cage.
Smooth looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Axton Burgess is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Burgess goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Axton 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

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