PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kurtis Burgess (ranked 25257 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Finnegan (ranked 5830 p4p, 579 weight class). Jackson Finnegan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Burgess
vs
Finnegan

215 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kurtis Burgess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jackson Finnegan!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Finnegan rushes Burgess and presses him up against the cage.

Burgess turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Burgess manages to end up in side control.
Burgess really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Finnegan struggling a bit here.
Finnegan is not content to let Burgess control the position.
Finnegan is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Burgess asserts his dominance and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finnegan gets back to half guard.
Finnegan gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Finnegan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burgess trying to control but Finnegan is working from the bottom.
Burgess loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Finnegan 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finnegan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Burgess drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Finnegan manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Burgess has Finnegan in his guard.

Burgess trying to control the position here.

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.
Finnegan trying to control but Burgess is working from the bottom.
Finnegan content to stall in guard here.

Finnegan stands up from Burgess's guard - Finnegan perhaps looking for a knockout.

Finnegan darts in and clinches Burgess up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burgess tries for a takedown. No joy.
Finnegan lands an elbow inside that Burgess shrugs off.

Finnegan successfully pulls guard.
Burgess looking to pass the guard.
Burgess wants to control from the top but Finnegan keeps moving.
Finnegan wants to sweep but no luck.

Burgess is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Finnegan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Finnegan has escaped and now he's on top!

Finnegan's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burgess lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Burgess not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Burgess trying to control the position from guard on top but Finnegan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Finnegan is pulling down on Burgess's head to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burgess postures up in Finnegan's guard and throws a big left but Finnegan blocks it.
Finnegan looking for a sweep. Not yet Finnegan, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Finnegan dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Finnegan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Burgess gets tackled into the cage by Finnegan. Finnegan maintains the clinch.
Burgess goes for a takedown in the clinch but Finnegan prevents it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Burgess wants to take the fight to the mat but Finnegan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Finnegan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Finnegan is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Burgess is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burgess wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurtis Burgess. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Finnegan has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Burgess uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finnegan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burgess trying to control but Finnegan is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess is really struggling to control Finnegan but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Finnegan 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.
Finnegan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Burgess trying to control the position from guard on top but Finnegan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Finnegan wants to get back to his feet but Burgess is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.

Finnegan moves into the clinch.
Finnegan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Finnegan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Burgess is trying to drag Finnegan to the mat but Finnegan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Burgess has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Finnegan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Finnegan breaks the clinch.
Finnegan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burgess sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Finnegan somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finnegan with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Burgess slaps away a takedown attempt from Finnegan, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Finnegan drives through and clinches with Burgess against the cage.
Burgess is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Finnegan is keeping busy.
Finnegan lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finnegan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Finnegan scores with a knee to the head.
Burgess jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Finnegan walks away with a smile on his face. Burgess gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jackson Finnegan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Finnegan misses with a head kick.
Jackson Finnegan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Finnegan closes the distance and clinches.

Finnegan drags the fight down to the ground.
Finnegan tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Burgess drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Finnegan manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Burgess has Finnegan in his guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finnegan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Finnegan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Finnegan dives in and grabs Burgess's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burgess pushes down on Finnegan's head and hops out.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Burgess is working for takedown but Finnegan is calmly controlling the position for now.

Burgess gets control of Finnegan's arms and successfully pulls guard. Burgess will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Finnegan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Burgess tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Finnegan trying to control but Burgess is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burgess is trying to control the position but Finnegan postures up.
Finnegan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Burgess wants to control but Finnegan passes easily into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burgess has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Finnegan is working away from the top position though.
Burgess wants to improve his position but Finnegan is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Finnegan.
Burgess has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Finnegan is working away from the top position though.
Finnegan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Burgess's head.
Still in half guard, Finnegan seems content to control.
Burgess slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Finnegan controls from within his opponent's guard.
Burgess managing to control the position.
Finnegan tries to stand but Burgess is controlling from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Finnegan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Finnegan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Finnegan throwing strikes but missing.
Jackson Finnegan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burgess looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Finnegan looking to score a takedown here. Burgess is defending well but Finnegan drives through and ends up in Burgess's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finnegan trying to control but Burgess is working from the bottom.
Burgess pulls Finnegan in close to prevent any damage.
Finnegan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Finnegan being controlled here momentarily.
Finnegan is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Burgess keeping moving, preventing Finnegan from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Finnegan lands a big head kick that sends Burgess tumbling to the mat! Finnegan takes a step backwards and waves Burgess back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Burgess is rocked!

It looks like Kurtis Burgess has been cut.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Burgess crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Finnegan - the referee stops the clock and Burgess gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Finnegan. Burgess manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Oh Burgess is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Finnegan rushes Burgess and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Finnegan lands an elbow just above Burgess 's eye.

Finnegan drags the fight down to the ground.

Finnegan has his feet on Burgess's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Finnegan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Finnegan dives in and gets a big takedown. He lands in full mount and immediately unloads a series of heavy strikes! Burgess has had enough and taps out.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Jackson Finnegan!