In the second semi-final of the Eternal MMA Heavyweight Grand Prix, City Kickboxing and Canterbury Fight Centre faced off. Damian Maru (CFC) and Henri Burns (CKB) both looked to continue their gym’s undefeated streak at the event.

Henri Burns took the unanimous decision victory over Damian Maru through superior output, landing some good leg kicks and getting dropped at the end of round one, but being the more active fighter over all three rounds.

Round 1

They touched gloves, Burns in the centre and Maru on the outside. Burns was flicking the jab and feinting to get a read on the larger man Maru. Maru patient on the outside waiting for his opening, a mistake by either man could see the bout end early.

The crowd was getting restless after they hadn’t made contact for about a minute of the first round. This changed abruptly as Burns landed an overhand right and a hard right leg kick, with Maru shrugging them off. A body jab by Burns and still no reply from Maru.

Burns’ confidence growing, he threw another combination, landing another overhand right. Maru still biding his time and feinting his own jab, waiting for his opening. Another three-piece combination crashed into the guard of Maru, who was stoic and unfazed.

Another pair of left hooks crashed into the guard of Maru before he absolutely clobbered Burns with a right hand against the fence, dropping him to the canvas.

Burns was saved the follow-up blows by the round buzzer. It was all Burns until the last second when he got dropped by the right hand. 10 -9 Maru.

Round 2

Burns wary of the power of Maru now. They feint again in the centre before circling out.

Out of nowhere, Burns shot a double leg, transitioning to the single and getting Maru to the canvas. Maru got straight back to his feet, eating a shot as he did so. Maru went on the offence, backing Burns up with a blitz of punches into the clinch.

Burns turned him and landed some nice body knees against the fence which were unanswered by Maru until he turned Burns in turn and started to work the body. Both men were breathing heavy by this stage. Burns again turned Maru and landed some brutal body knees from a body lock position.

Maru narrowly whiffed a knee to the head on the clinch break but ate a hard left hook on the bell.

10-9 Burns.

Round 3

Again, they feinted in the centre just outside of kickboxing range, neither willing to commit and risk the power shot of the other. Maru held the centre this time, with Burns on the outside feinting punches, kicks, and level-changes trying to get his read on Maru.

A hard leg kick landed for Burns, and another, with Maru jabbing from the outside. Burns lunged in with a pair of leaping left hooks which crashed into the guard of Maru. As Maru turned on the pressure against the cage, Burns shot in for a takedown but was stuffed by Maru.

Burns’ next takedown was also stuffed but he landed a backfist on the exit. They entered the clinch again and it was a stalemate against the cage. Maru was more urgent on the break, hunting Burns across the ring and pressuring him to the cage, briefly getting the takedown and landing a couple of shots before Burns popped right back up.

At the 10-second clacker Burns waved Maru on, asking for the brawl. They both slung punches with wild abandon, Maru landing an uppercut on Burns, but it was too late. Burns the more active and effective in round three to take it 10-9.

The judges gave a unanimous 30-27 to Henri Burns who advances to the final to take on Ricky Biechun for the belt.