PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jay Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shibukawa Gouki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Bird
vs
Gouki

160 cm
24
136 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

168 cm
25
140 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jay Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shibukawa Gouki!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bird wants to clinch up but Gouki keeps it at a distance.
Gouki moves out of range as Bird throws a body kick.

Gouki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bird's half guard.
Bird is trying to get back to full guard.
Gouki is looking to take a break and control but Bird is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bird tries to get to full guard but Gouki has control of the leg.
Gouki is stalling here. Bird is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gouki seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bird has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Bird misses with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bird looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gouki is avoiding damage well.
Gouki prevents Bird from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gouki will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Bird gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Gouki decides to pull guard.

Gouki has his foot on Bird's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bird works his way back into a safe position though.
Gouki keeping moving, preventing Bird from controlling successfully.
Gouki trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bird loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bird throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bird landing with the ground and pound.
Bird showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bird wants to pass the guard but Gouki is keeping the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bird is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gouki defends well.

Gouki 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.
Gouki won't allow Bird to sweep him here.
Bird is working hard here to advance position.

Gouki 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.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bird postures up in Gouki's guard and throws a big left but Gouki blocks it.
Gouki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bird controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bird throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gouki keeping full guard, as Bird tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shibukawa Gouki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bird throws a series of punches but Gouki avoids them all with ease.
Bird throws a nice looking combination but Gouki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bird misses with a kick to the body.
Bird throws a series of punches but Gouki avoids them all with ease.
Bird misses with a body kick.
Bird looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gouki sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Bird closes the distance and pushes Gouki back into the cage.
Gouki goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bird prevents it.

Gouki successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird thows a big elbow that misses.
Gouki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Bird gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A telegraphed right hand from Bird misses the target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bird.

Bird shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bird was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bird throws a strike there. Gouki manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Bird thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gouki is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Gouki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bird.
Gouki trying to control but Bird postures up.
Bird controlling the pace.
Bird is just content to waste time from the top position. Gouki takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Bird tries to free his leg and advance position but Gouki is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird trying to control the position from guard on top but Gouki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bird throws a strike but Gouki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gouki is breathing heavily.
Gouki won't allow Bird to sweep him here.

Gouki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bird manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gouki has Bird in his guard.
Bird with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bird wants to pass the guard but Gouki is keeping the position.
Bird missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bird in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bird scoring with some ground and pound.
Bird trying to control but Gouki is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Bird dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gouki keeps the fight on the outside.
Gouki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bird.
Bird works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Gouki tries for a takedown but Bird sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bird looks to land a body kick but Gouki moved away.
Bird throws a right hand that Gouki ducks under and follows up with a left that Gouki also avoids with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird tries to bum rush Gouki with a series of wild strikes but Gouki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bird looks to throw the jab but Gouki is out of range.

Gouki 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird wants to sweep but no luck.
Gouki stops Bird from standing up.
Bird has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gouki trying to control the position from guard on top but Bird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bird looking for a sweep. Not yet Bird, not yet.
Gouki tries to free his leg and advance position but Bird is retaining full guard.
Gouki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gouki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gouki trying to control the position from guard on top but Bird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bird misses with a double jab.

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.
Bird swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gouki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bird sizes up Gouki with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bird swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bird doesn't manage to clinch there - Gouki circles away.
A punch combination from Bird misses.
Gouki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bird counters with a three punch combo that has Gouki backing up. Gouki nods at Bird to acknowledge the strikes.
Jay Bird has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shibukawa Gouki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gouki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bird throws a nice looking combination but Gouki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bird fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gouki manages to avoid it.
Gouki shoots in and drives through. Bird sprawls well.
Gouki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bird tries to clinch but Gouki is having none of it.
Gouki keeps the fight on the outside.
Bird thuds his shin into the meat of Gouki's side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bird gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bird taking a breather.
Bird is pressed up against the cage. Gouki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bird down to the mat. Bird avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bird throws a body kick that misses.
Bird scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gouki doesn't seem bothered though.
Bird throws the kick towards the body but Gouki avoids it.
Bird misses with a series of wild punches.
Bird wants to clinch.
Bird misses with a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Bird showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bird has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Bird!