PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brett Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Franke (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.

Burns
vs
Franke

178 cm
22
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

209 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Brett Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Timo Franke!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns throws a right and a left that both miss.
Burns fails with a takedown attempt.

Burns decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Burns wants to work for an arm triangle but Franke is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Burns wants to pass the guard but Franke is defending well.

Burns is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franke is just riding it out for now. Burns eventually gives up the hold.
Franke really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burns. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Franke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Franke moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Franke is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franke is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burns accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franke connects with a single shot there.
Franke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Burns.
Burns stuffs the takedown attempt from Franke. Franke gets slowly back to his feet.

Franke has closed the distance and engaged Burns in a clinch.

Franke wants the takedown. Burns is fighting it off but Franke persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Burns's guard against the cage.
Burns is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Burns is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Franke won't allow Burns to pass to mount.
Burns is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burns is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Franke still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Franke has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Burns is looking to reverse the position.
Franke looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Burns is avoiding damage well.
Burns is not content to let Franke control the position.
Burns is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franke controls the position.
Burns is trying to get back to half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Franke gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Burns counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Franke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Burns has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Franke's face.
Burns takes Franke's back.

Burns is persistently looking for the submission but Franke is defending it well.

Burns working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Burns is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Franke is defending well though. Burns let's go of the attempt for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Burns is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Franke is defending well though. Burns let's go of the attempt for now.
Burns gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Franke. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Burns working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Franke trying to control the hands but Burns won't let him.

Franke 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 Burns gets his way!
Franke trying to control the hands but Burns breaks the grip.

Burns is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Franke is trying to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Burns is looking for the choke from the back position but Franke is controlling his hands well.

Burns is looking for the choke from the back position but Franke is controlling his hands well.
Franke holding both Burns 's hands and preventing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brett Burns dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Franke takes the fight into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Franke manages to break the clinch.
Franke misses with a head kick.

Burns drives through with a takedown into guard.
Franke tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Burns passes into half guard.

Burns is working for a submission of some sort.

Burns wants to work for an arm triangle but Franke is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Burns is trying to work for a kimura but Franke is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franke works his way to full guard. Good work.
Burns stops Franke from standing up.
Burns chips away with some ground and pound.
Franke is looking to stand up but Burns isn't so interested in that idea.
Burns throws a strike but Franke rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Burns has a closed guard, preventing Franke from standing up.

Burns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franke gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Franke advances position into side control!
Burns is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns regains full guard. Nicely done.

Burns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franke gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Burns working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Franke doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Franke manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Burns is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Burns might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Burns is on top in guard.
Burns slips nicely into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Franke can do anything to dispel that myth.

Burns is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Burns is working for a kimura but Franke is defending it quite comfortably.

Burns is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franke is just riding it out for now. Burns eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns is looking to advance position but Franke won't allow it.

Burns is working for a submission of some sort.

Burns is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Burns is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Franke has managed to free his arm - good work.
Franke blocking the ground and pound attempt from Burns.

That's four 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.
Burns passes the guard and advances to mount!
A nice elbow there by Burns.
Burns working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Burns scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Burns lands with some strikes.

Burns has hold of Franke's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Franke manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Franke defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Burns.
Franke regains half guard.

Burns wants to work for an arm triangle but Franke is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Burns is working for a kimura but Franke is defending it quite comfortably.
Burns is looking to advance position but Franke won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brett Burns dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Franke avoids the head kick by Burns.
Burns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franke manages to avoid it.
Franke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Franke shoots in for a double leg but Burns sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Burns blocks a head kick by Franke.

Burns shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Burns was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Burns working for a submission but Franke is keeping him at bay.
Burns avoids the attempt from Franke to control.
Burns is landing with some decent strikes but Franke is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Brett Burns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franke is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burns looking for a guillotine from mount but Franke is having none of it.
Franke's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Burns has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Franke is looking to get to half guard.
Burns unloads with some shots from mount but Franke bucks and avoids them well.
Franke sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Burns thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Franke is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Burns seems to be working for a kimura but Franke defends the submission attempt.

Burns is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Franke has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burns tries to pass to full mount but Franke defends it.
Burns uses his free foot to push down on Franke's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Franke.

Burns with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Burns is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Burns looking to secure an arm triangle but Franke defends it well.
Burns landing strikes, looking to finish!

Burns is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Franke is surviving well by controlling Burns's body position as best he can.

Franke defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Burns.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franke is looking to get to half guard.

Burns working for a guillotine from mount but Franke is in no mood to give up.
Burns unloading with bombs!

Burns is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Franke is surviving well by controlling Burns's body position as best he can.
Burns putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Burns is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Franke has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Franke!

Burns throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Franke stopping the sweep attempt from Burns.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franke trying to control but Burns is working from the bottom.

Burns had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Franke is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Burns Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Franke's back instead.

Burns is persistently looking for the submission but Franke is defending it well.

Burns is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Franke with him. Franke is trying to defend but Burns has an arm under the chin now! Franke grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Brett Burns!