PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cortez Moses (ranked 5091 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Burz (ranked 4648 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Burz will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Moses
vs
Burz

174 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cortez Moses!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Burz!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Bruno Lombardi and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Moses quickly recovers to half guard.
Burz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Moses's head.
Moses looks like he's trying to stand up.
Burz blocks the strikes from Moses.
Burz wants to control but Moses is keeping him busy.
Moses regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Burz.
Moses tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moses throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Burz wants to control from the top but Moses keeps moving.
Moses is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moses lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Moses could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Moses takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Burz wants to get back to his feet.
Moses controlling the action here.
Burz taking some punishment here, with Moses in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Burz is trying to control but can't.

Burz actively working from the bottom here.
Ground and pound from Moses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moses working Burz over with strikes.
Moses scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moses is taking a breather. Burz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Moses tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Moses scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Moses seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Moses connects with a nice short shot to Burz's temple.
Moses sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Moses is working for a submission of some sort.
Moses takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Moses controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Moses lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Moses controlling the pace.
Moses 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.
Moses has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Moses is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Burz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Burz looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Moses decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Burz gets a double leg takedown into Moses's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cortez Moses dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Burz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Moses wants to get back to full guard.
Moses is refusing to be controlled, as Burz sits in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Moses manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cortez Moses overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Moses throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Moses keeping moving, preventing Burz from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Moses works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Moses striking off his back but it's not causing Burz any problems.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burz drives through and clinches with Moses against the cage.
Burz missing with knees to the body.

Burz has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Moses regains guard immediately.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Moses is on top in guard.

Burz is breathing heavily.
Moses controlling from the top position.
Moses landing some decent shots from guard.
Moses might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Moses has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Burz is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moses is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Burz 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.
Moses landing with the ground and pound.
Burz looking for a sweep. Not yet Burz, not yet.
Moses 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moses working some strikes from top position.
Burz wants to sweep here but Moses controlling him for the moment.
Moses is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Burz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Moses is controlling him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Moses content to stall in guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Moses dives in for a single leg takedown but Burz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Burz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Moses gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moses makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Moses.
Moses throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Moses wants to sweep but no luck.
Burz trying to control but Moses is working from the bottom.
Moses trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Burz gets to his feet - Moses follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Burz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Burz misses with a double jab

and Moses counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Burz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Burz is still trying to improve position.
Moses looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Moses sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burz is looking for a sweep. Moses is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Burz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Moses winds up and cracks Burz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Moses postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Burz to stand up.
Mike Burz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burz instigates a clinch.
Moses has had enough of the clinch but Burz keeps him there for the moment.

Burz pulls Moses into guard.
Moses slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Moses landing some decent shots from guard.
Moses is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Moses connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moses 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.
Moses keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Burz's head.
Moses has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Burz is proving hard to escape from.
Moses landing some decent shots from guard.
Moses stands up over Burz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Moses 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moses is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Moses chips away with some ground and pound.
Burz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Moses controls the pace.
Moses trying to stand up but can't free himself from Burz's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Moses shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burz sprawls well. Burz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Moses gets slowly back to his feet.
Moses fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Burz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Burz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moses bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burz's guard.

Moses controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Moses scoring with punches to the head and body.
Burz striking off his back but it's not causing Moses any problems.
Moses controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Moses gets to his feet. Burz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Cortez Moses showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Moses has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cortez Moses!