PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karma Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasgen Umarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Burns
vs
Umarov

190 cm
24
225 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
228 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karma Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vasgen Umarov!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Umarov stuffs the takedown.
Umarov throws an off balance right hand

and Burns decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Umarov's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Umarov looking for a sweep. Not yet Umarov, not yet.
Burns working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Umarov's head.
Umarov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burns is one step ahead there.
Burns wants to control from the top but Umarov keeps moving.
Burns would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Umarov wants to stand but Burns is controlling the position.
Burns wants to control from the top but Umarov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Umarov is working an open guard so Burns takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Burns clinches.
Umarov looking for a takedown.

Umarov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burns shoots in but no luck this time.

Umarov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Umarov breaks the clinch.
Burns slaps away a takedown attempt from Umarov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Burns shoots in for a double leg but Umarov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karma Burns. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umarov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Burns counter with a right hand.
Burns avoids the head kick by Umarov.
Burns tries for a takedown but Umarov circles away easily
and Umarov counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burns is defended easily by Umarov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Burns.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns shoots in for a takedown but Umarov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Umarov gets a takedown into half guard.

Umarov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Burns keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Umarov is looking for a kimura here.
Burns is looking to control Umarov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Burns avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Umarov lands a nice short elbow.
Umarov is trying to control. Burns wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Burns is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Umarov pulls his head out easily.
Umarov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Umarov looks gassed!

Burns looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burns is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Umarov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Burns defending well though.
Umarov working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vasgen Umarov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Burns's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Umarov clinches up with Burns and pushes him back against the cage.
Umarov misses with a knee to the head.
Burns is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Umarov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Umarov clinches.

Umarov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vasgen Umarov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Umarov takes the fight into the clinch.

Umarov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Burns is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umarov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Umarov lands a couple of elbows.

Burns looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Burns is pulling down on Umarov's head. It's preventing any offense from Umarov, at least for the moment.

Burns working for a triangle but Umarov defends it easily.

Umarov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Umarov lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umarov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Umarov postures up and lands a big shot to Burns's brow.
Umarov cracks Burns with a solid left hand.
Burns punching from the bottom.
Umarov thows a big elbow that misses.
Umarov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Umarov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vasgen Umarov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burns utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Umarov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Burns working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Umarov.
Umarov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Umarov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Burns is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Umarov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Umarov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Burns has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Umarov has managed to get both his arms back between Burns's legs - danger averted.

Burns is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Umarov scoring with some ground and pound.
Umarov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Umarov postures up and lands a big shot to Burns's brow.

Burns has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Umarov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Umarov scoring with some ground and pound.
Umarov throws a big right hand that misses.
Umarov chips away with some ground and pound.
Umarov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burns works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns has momentary wrist control but Umarov slips an elbow through the middle.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Umarov pushing down on Burns's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Umarov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Umarov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Burns throws a strike from the bottom but Umarov passes into side control!

Umarov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Burns knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Umarov is trying to ground and pound but Burns uses the momentary lack of control by Umarov to regain half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Burns is looking to control Umarov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Burns avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasgen Umarov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Umarov.
Burns shoots in but no luck this time.
Umarov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Umarov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Burns sprawls well initially but Umarov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Umarov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Burns is looking to escape.

Burns looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Umarov is working for a kimura here but Burns manages to reverse the position and he's now in Umarov's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns wants to control from the top but Umarov keeps moving.
Umarov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Burns is trying to stand back up but Umarov is controlling him
Umarov throwing shots but Burns is blocking nicely.
Umarov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Umarov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Burns looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burns wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umarov working the head and body with strikes.
Umarov wants to free his trapped foot but Burns is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Umarov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Burns looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Burns has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Umarov is working away from the top position though.

Burns is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Umarov pulls his head out easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Umarov lands a nice short elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Umarov trying to control the action but Burns is working from the bottom.

Umarov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vasgen Umarov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Umarov trying to control the action but Burns is working from the bottom.

Burns looking for submissions off his back.

Burns actively working from the bottom here.
Umarov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Umarov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Umarov is looking to take a break and control but Burns is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Burns looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Burns wants to control but Umarov is keeping busy.
Umarov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Burns looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasgen Umarov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Umarov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasgen Umarov!