PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Donovan Burch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ste Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Burch
vs
Thompson

167 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donovan Burch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ste Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burch gets a clinch.
Thompson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Burch pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Burch is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Thompson's half guard.
Thompson is refusing to be controlled, as Burch sits in half guard.
Burch throwing shots but Thompson is blocking nicely.
Burch stalling.
Burch seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Thompson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burch. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Burch thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thompson's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson tries to roll over but Burch keeps him under control.
Burch controlling the action here.

Burch stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Thompson to get to his feet.
Burch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Burch shoots for a takedown but Thompson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Burch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thompson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Burch counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Donovan Burch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ste Thompson.
Thompson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burch looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Thompson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thompson controls Burch momentarily but Burch frees himself.
Burch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Burch drops back looking for a leg! Thompson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thompson manages to kick Burch off! Burch jumps back into Thompson's guard.
Thompson looking for a sweep. Not yet Thompson, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Burch throws a head kick but Thompson moves out of range.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt

and Burch counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thompson looks gassed!
Burch looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burch looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Burch defends well.
Burch is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Burch pushes down on Thompson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Burch seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Thompson wants to sweep but Burch has passed to side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donovan Burch dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Burch uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thompson.

Burch closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Burch performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Burch wants to take a breather but Thompson is having none of it.
Burch controlling the pace.
Thompson trying to control but Burch postures up.
Burch is keen to just control but Thompson is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burch working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Burch passes to side control.
Thompson wants to control but Burch postures up.
Thompson is breathing heavily.
Burch lands some shots froms side control.
Burch trying to control the position but Thompson is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burch connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Thompson some visible discomfort.
Thompson is not content to let Burch control the position.
Burch taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Thompson wants to improve his position, back to half guard but Burch has ideas of his own. He's got hold of Thompson's far side arm and it looks like he's got an Americana. Ohh! Ohhhh! OOOOOOOOOH! A human being's arm is not meant to bend like that! Thompson is tapping like a morse code operator on the Titanic! SOS SOS! He's out of here! Great win for Burch!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Donovan Burch!