PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jake Bird (ranked 313 p4p, 131 weight class) and Barack Obaminator (ranked 40 p4p, 20 weight class). Obaminator is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Gil Scott-Herron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bird
vs
Obaminator

170 cm
36
195
32 - 21 - 0

186 cm
32
185
29 - 14 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Conviction

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 32 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Barack Obaminator!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bird lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Obaminator. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Obaminator.
Obaminator throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Bird counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Obaminator is trying to get back to full guard.

Bird is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Bird is looking for a kimura but Obaminator is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bird to get the leverage.

Bird is trying to work for a kimura but Obaminator is defending well.
Obaminator wants to control but Bird is keeping busy.

Obaminator looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Obaminator trying to control here.
Obaminator wants to improve his position but Bird is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bird is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Obaminator has managed to free his arm - good work.

Bird seems to be working for a kimura but Obaminator defends the submission attempt.

Bird is trying to work for a kimura but Obaminator is defending well.

Bird seems to be working for a kimura but Obaminator defends the submission attempt.
Obaminator wants to control but Bird is keeping busy.

Bird is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Obaminator doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bird.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Obaminator trying to control from the bottom.

Bird is looking for a kimura here.

Bird is looking for a kimura but Obaminator is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bird to get the leverage.

Obaminator looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bird is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Obaminator sees it coming and defends easily.
Bird frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Obaminator is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obaminator reaches up to try and control the position but Bird seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Obaminator rolls and tries to escape and now Bird has his back!
Bird seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Bird avoiding Obaminator 's attempts to control his hands.

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

Bird working for a choke but Obaminator is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Obaminator's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Bird seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Obaminator's chin but Obaminator turns very nicely into Bird's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Obaminator.

Bird looking for a guillotine here but Obaminator defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bird throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Obaminator escapes and throws Bird's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Obaminator working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bird tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bird regains half guard.
Bird has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Obaminator is working away from the top position though.

Bird looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Bird dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Obaminator keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Obaminator swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Obaminator keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bird cracks Obaminator with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bird tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Obaminator was well out of range. Poor timing from Bird.
Obaminator looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bird slips under a jab.
Obaminator looks to throw the jab but Bird is out of range.
Obaminator moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Obaminator.
Obaminator fakes the leg kick and cracks Bird in the body.
Bird throws the left hand but Obaminator avoids the punch easily.
A solid body kick from Obaminator.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird swings widly with a right hand
and Obaminator cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bird on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A jab from Obaminator misses.
Bird throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Obaminator ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bird moves away.
Obaminator throws a right and a left that Bird avoids nicely.
Obaminator throws a body punch but Bird moves out of range.
Bird fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Obaminator manages to avoid it.
Bird swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Obaminator to counter with a crisp jab.
Jake Bird seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Obaminator throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bird blocks a head kick by Obaminator.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird scores with the left hand. Obaminator knows he should have avoided that one.
Obaminator throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bird's head.
Barack Obaminator is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bird tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Obaminator to counter with a crisp jab.
Obaminator looks to land a right hand but Bird moved out of range.
Bird scores with a hook.
Bird ducks under a wild hook from Obaminator.
Bird thows a left - swing and a miss!
Obaminator cracks Bird with a right hand to the side of the head.
Obaminator is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Obaminator fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird misses with a hook to the body
and Obaminator cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bird lunges at Obaminator with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Obaminator's hand.
Obaminator has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Obaminator keeps the fight on the outside.
Obaminator swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bird feinted with a counter takedown.
Bird swings away with a body shot that misses
and Obaminator counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bird lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Obaminator at a distance.
Bird throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bird throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Obaminator.
Bird misses with a wild body shot.
Obaminator appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Obaminator tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bird was well out of range. Poor timing from Obaminator.
Obaminator scores with a punch to the head.
Bird is looking to wear down Obaminator with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Obaminator manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Obaminator throws a hook but Bird avoids it easily.
Barack Obaminator seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bird misses with a body shot
enabling Obaminator to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bird feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bird advances to half guard.
Bird seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Obaminator actively working from the bottom here.

Obaminator is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bird pulls his head out easily.

Bird seems to be working for a kimura but Obaminator defends the submission attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Barack Obaminator 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!

Bird shoots in looking for a takedown. Obaminator tries to sprawl out of it but Bird keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Obaminator manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Obaminator follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Obaminator ducks under a wild hook from Bird.
Bird tries to clinch but Obaminator is having none of it.
Bird tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Obaminator counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bird just misses with a punch to the body.
Bird wants to clinch up but Obaminator keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Obaminator is looking to land body kicks.
Bird tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A little jabbing left from Obaminator on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obaminator lands a jab-cross combination.
Bird misses with an uppercut.
Bird throws a lazy right hand but Obaminator sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bird tries to score a power double leg takedown but Obaminator sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bird somewhat.
Bird swings away with a body shot that misses
and Obaminator counters with a left and a right that stings Bird.
Obaminator fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Obaminator lands with a thumping leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Obaminator there.

Bird scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bird tries for a kimura but Obaminator is defending well.

Bird is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Obaminator is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Obaminator can't do much from the bottom here.

Bird is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Obaminator knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Bird tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Obaminator is looking to regain half guard here but Bird keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obaminator is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Bird is looking for a kimura here.

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

Obaminator is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bird pulls his head out easily.

Obaminator looking for submissions off his back.

Bird is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Obaminator looking for submissions off his back.

Bird is working for a submission of some sort.

Bird is working for a kimura but Obaminator is defending it quite comfortably.

Bird is working for a kimura but Obaminator is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Obaminator looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barack Obaminator comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Obaminator has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barack Obaminator!
Our winner, Barack Obaminator, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.