PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Billy Burke (ranked 7843 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Campbell (ranked 7830 p4p, 0 weight class). Billy Burke has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Burke
vs
Campbell

201 cm
25
151 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Billy Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jonathan Campbell!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Campbell throws a head kick but Burke moves out of range.
Campbell throws a leg kick that is checked
and Burke makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Campbell really felt that one!

Burke closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Burke is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Campbell has escaped the position, nice work there.

Burke decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Campbell looks winded!
Burke blocks a head kick by Campbell.
Burke fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Campbell misses with a leg kick

and Burke counters with a single leg into guard. Campbell didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke is stalling in the full guard.
Campbell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Campbell looking for a sweep. Not yet Campbell, not yet.
Burke controls from within his opponent's guard.

Burke gets to his feet. Campbell looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Campbell misses with a takedown attempt - Burke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Burke appears to be looking for a big counter.
Burke shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Campbell as he avoids it easily.

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.
Campbell darts in trying to clinch
and Burke counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Burke fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Burke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Campbell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Campbell wants it to stay on the feet.
Campbell misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Burke counters with a takedown into side control.

Burke wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Campbell, who protects the arm well.

Burke decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell falls off balance throwing a combination
and Burke counters with a series of strikes. Campbell will be more careful next time no doubt.
Burke really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Burke shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Campbell defends it nicely.
Burke tries for a takedown but Campbell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Campbell leaves Burke with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Campbell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Burke!

Burke sneaks out the side door and pushes Campbell away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke shoots in looking for a takedown. Campbell tries to sprawl out of it but Burke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Campbell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Campbell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Burke counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Burke pulls guard successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Burke dominated that 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.

Burke darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Burke tries to pass to full mount but Campbell defends it.
Burke slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Campbell is breathing heavily.
Campbell gets full guard.
Burke slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burke gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Campbell tries for a takedown but Burke sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Burke appears to be looking for a big counter.
Burke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Campbell pinned against the cage. Campbell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Burke shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Campbell but Campbell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Campbell throws a leg kick
and Burke counters with a body kick.

Burke rushes Campbell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke has Campbell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Campbell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Burke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burke jumps guard but Campbell turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Campbell can't get the takedown.

Burke pulls guard.
Burke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Campbell can do to turn this around?
Campbell throwing strikes but missing.
Burke is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Campbell stands up and waves to Burke to follow him.

Campbell shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Burke does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Campbell looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Billy Burke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Campbell is trying to control the action in half guard but Burke is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burke has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Campbell is working away from the top position though.

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.
Campbell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Campbell wants to stand up but Burke manages to regain full guard.
Burke is looking to stand up but Campbell isn't so interested in that idea.
Campbell looking to sit in guard and control but Burke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burke showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Burke has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Burke dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Campbell throws a left and a right that both miss
and Burke counters with a nice body kick.

Burke forces Campbell back against the cage and clinches.
Burke tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Campbell just stands there and leans against the cage.

Burke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Campbell throws a sloppy head kick
and Burke counters with a nice kick to the body.

Burke closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Burke lands in his opponent's guard.

Burke stands up and waves to Campbell to follow him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burke shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Campbell but Campbell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke shoots for a takedown but Campbell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Burke. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Burke bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Campbell is looking for a sweep.
Burke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Campbell keeps working.

Burke is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Campbell is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Burke decides to stand up, so the ref orders Campbell to his feet.
Jonathan Campbell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Campbell defends well and Burke ends up having to push Campbell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Campbell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Burke fails with the takedown.
Campbell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burke dives in for a single leg takedown but Campbell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Burke shoots in for a double leg but Campbell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burke swats away the attempt to clinch by Campbell.
Campbell misses the shot to the body.
Burke went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Burke showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Campbell.

Burke has managed to clinch.

Burke successfully pulls guard.
Campbell is looking to stand up but Burke won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Campbell trying to control but Burke is working from the bottom.
Burke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Campbell is one step ahead there.

Campbell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Campbell wants to stand but Burke has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Burke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burke, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Burke!