PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nigel Burkshire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Hammond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Burkshire might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to It's a Fight - Three 6 Mafia. The crowd seem to be enjoying Hammond's choice of entrance music: Afterlife. John Hammond is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Burkshire
vs
Hammond

198 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
27
213 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nigel Burkshire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Hammond!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammond slips a jab and a cross from Burkshire.
Hammond fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hammond looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Burkshire gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hammond misses with a hook from the clinch.

Burkshire tightens his grip and picks Hammond up, before dumping him to the ground. Hammond manages to land in guard.
Burkshire wants to control from the top but Hammond keeps moving.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hammond wants to sweep here but Burkshire controlling him for the moment.
Burkshire pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hammond is keeping the position for now.
Hammond preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammond keeping moving, preventing Burkshire from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammond wants to sweep but no luck.
Hammond working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Burkshire.
Hammond pulls Burkshire in to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hammond shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hammond throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hammond lands strikes from half guard.
Hammond thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Burkshire is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hammond pulls his head out easily.
Hammond is thwarting Burkshire's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Hammond.
Hammond thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hammond thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hammond lands strikes from half guard.
Burkshire blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hammond.
Burkshire regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hammond.
Hammond throws and elbow that misses. Burkshire uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hammond's guard. Nice move by Burkshire!
Burkshire postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire trying to control but Hammond is working from the bottom.
Hammond wants to stand and escape but Burkshire is having none of it.
Burkshire is standing up over Hammond. Hammond looks to escape but Burkshire dives into side control.
Hammond is not content to let Burkshire control the position.
Burkshire is staying tight to Hammond's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Hammond is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four 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.
Burkshire wants to control but Hammond is keeping him busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Burkshire is looking to clinch but Hammond is avoiding it.
A right-left combo lands from Burkshire.

It looks like John Hammond has been cut.
Burkshire takes a swing at Hammond's ribcage but misses.
Burkshire ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hammond wants to clinch
and Burkshire counters with a three punch combo that has Hammond backing up. Hammond nods at Burkshire to acknowledge the strikes.

Burkshire moves into the clinch successfully.
Burkshire is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Hammond gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel Burkshire dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Hammond's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Burkshire forces Hammond back against the ropes and clinches.
Hammond wants a takedown but no success here.

Burkshire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hammond tries to clinch up

and Burkshire counters by clinching up.
Hammond has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Burkshire is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hammond being controlled against the ropes.
Burkshire prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nigel Burkshire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Hammond.
Hammond tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hammond tries for a takedown. No joy.
Burkshire stalling against the ropes.

Burkshire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burkshire tries to bum rush Hammond with a series of wild strikes but Hammond uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Burkshire moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burkshire is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Hammond can't fight it off and eventually Burkshire manages to take the fight to the floor. Hammond looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hammond has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Burkshire has passed into side control.
Burkshire is looking to take a break and control but Hammond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burkshire advances to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hammond can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hammond is looking to improve his position but Burkshire isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammond wants to hold on but Burkshire pushes him away.
Burkshire controlling the pace for now.
Hammond tries to reverse the position but Burkshire maintains control.
Hammond tries to buck Burkshire off but he can't manage it.
Burkshire working Hammond over with strikes here.
Hammond tries to hold on but Burkshire postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire thowing shots but they're missing.
Burkshire can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hammond is looking to escape.
Hammond is in a horrible position here. Burkshire smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hammond tries to lock up and control but Burkshire gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hammond working to try and regain half guard.
Burkshire controlling from the full mount.
Burkshire tries to control but Hammond wriggling away.
Burkshire thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hammond fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hammond closes the distance looking to clinch
and Burkshire cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Burkshire moves into the clinch.

Burkshire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burkshire does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Hammond has closed the distance and engaged Burkshire in a clinch.
Hammond tries for a takedown but Burkshire manages to get underhooks.

Burkshire lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Burkshire is looking to stall here but Hammond recovers full guard.
Burkshire throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burkshire looking to pass the guard.
Hammond trying to control the position.
Burkshire is looking to stand up but Hammond won't let him.
Burkshire wants to control from the top but Hammond keeps moving.
Hammond is looking to stand up but Burkshire isn't so interested in that idea.
Burkshire trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hammond throws a head kick but Burkshire moves out of range.

Burkshire gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Burkshire stops a takedown attempt from Hammond.
Nigel Burkshire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Hammond.
Hammond tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Burkshire ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Burkshire no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hammond postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hammond with a nice head shot there.
Burkshire bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hammond's guard.
Hammond takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hammond can't keep his opponent in guard - Burkshire advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Burkshire content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Burkshire there.
Hammond wants to improve his position but Burkshire is controlling well.
Hammond blocking the ground and pound attempt from Burkshire.
Burkshire stalling away here and it's allowed Hammond to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Hammond not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four 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.
Burkshire trying to control but Hammond is working from the bottom.
Burkshire stops Hammond from standing up.
Nigel Burkshire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Burkshire controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Burkshire throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
John Hammond has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Burkshire lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Burkshire misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hammond falls off balance throwing a combination

and Burkshire counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nigel Burkshire showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Burkshire 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 Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nigel Burkshire!