PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Mars (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mars's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mars
vs
Bird

167 cm
22
141 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

160 cm
27
136 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lawrence Mars!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jay Bird!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Eddie Farnsworth and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mars darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mars landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mars wants to take a breather but Bird is having none of it.
Bird trying to hold on to Mars's head to control him but Mars postures up.
Mars throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bird on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bird looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mars prevents Bird from improving his position.
Mars slips a nice elbow through Bird's hands, connecting with Bird's forehead.
Bird blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mars.
Bird manages to get to full guard.
Bird keeping full guard, as Mars tries to pass.

Bird has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mars can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mars knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bird on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mars wants to control from the top but Bird keeps moving.
Mars trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mars is looking to work some ground and pound but Bird has wrist control.

Bird working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mars doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mars manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mars trying to control but Bird is working from the bottom.
Mars wants to pass the guard but Bird is keeping the position.
Mars trying to control but Bird is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mars postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mars won't allow Bird to get back to his feet.
Mars cracks Bird with a solid left hand.
Bird controls Mars momentarily but Mars frees himself.
Mars is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mars trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Bird has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mars can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bird working a defensive guard here.
Mars loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bird trying to control the position.
Bird has momentary wrist control but Mars slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Mars from controlling successfully.
Mars makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mars stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bird swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mars working some strikes from top position.
Mars throwing strikes from guard but Bird blocks nicely.

Bird had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mars defends it easily.
Mars lands a couple of digs.
Mars connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mars accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mars connects with a couple of short punches.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Mars from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mars distracts Bird with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mars chips away with some ground and pound.
Mars is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mars in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bird has momentary wrist control but Mars slips an elbow through the middle.
Bird is trying to control the position but Mars postures up.
Bird wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Mars is now in half guard.
Bird keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mars slips a nice elbow through Bird's hands, connecting with Bird's forehead.
Bird trying to hold on to Mars's head to control him but Mars postures up.
Mars winds up and cracks Bird with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mars thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mars throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Mars dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A punch lands to the side of Bird 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Mars shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bird defends it nicely.
Mars looks to score with a jab to the body but Bird is just out of range.
Nice defenses there by Bird.
Mars slips a jab and a cross from Bird.
Bird keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mars.
Mars just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jay Bird seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mars throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bird sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mars looks to score with a jab to the body but Bird is just out of range.
Mars throws the left hand but Bird avoids the punch easily.
Jay Bird is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird tries to clinch

and Mars counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mars not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mars missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mars is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mars landing strikes from the mount and Bird is in trouble!
Mars looking to finish Bird with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bird!
Bird regains half guard.
Mars thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bird's head.
Bird keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bird wants to improve his position but Mars is controlling well.
Mars lands with a punch from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mars lands a nice short elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mars lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mars working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Mars missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mars throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mars working over Bird with some ground and pound. Bird looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mars with the ground and pound but Bird uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Mars loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mars accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bird is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mars throwing strikes from guard but Bird blocks nicely.

Bird escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mars gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bird is breathing heavily.
Mars trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mars trying to control the position from guard on top but Bird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mars pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bird is keeping the position for now.
Mars throwing strikes from guard but Bird blocks nicely.
Bird controls Mars momentarily but Mars frees himself.
Mars makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bird trying to control the position.
Mars postures up and lands a big shot to Bird's brow.
Mars trying to control the position from guard on top but Bird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mars trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mars lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mars wants to control from the top but Bird keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mars stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bird swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mars is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bird keeping full guard, as Mars tries to pass.
Bird is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mars throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bird works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bird utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bird is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bird working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jay Bird was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bird uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mars.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Mars dominated that second round.
That's time! Mars's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mars checks a leg kick.
Bird rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mars moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mars checks a leg kick.
Mars dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mars takes a swing at Bird's ribcage but misses.
Bird gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Mars looks to score with a jab to the body but Bird is just out of range.
Mars throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Mars throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bird throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bird avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bird uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mars.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mars misses with a looping right.
Bird slips under a jab.
Mars throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sloppy strikes from Bird. Those never looked like landing.
Mars stuns Bird with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bird wants to clinch

and Mars counters with a shoot takedown. Bird fights it but they end up in guard.
Mars has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mars postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bird utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mars wants to control from the top but Bird keeps moving.
Bird doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Bird is looking for a triangle but Mars pushes his legs off easily.
Bird takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bird has momentary wrist control but Mars slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mars throwing strikes from guard but Bird blocks nicely.
Mars wants to control from the top but Bird keeps moving.

Bird has his foot on Mars's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mars works his way back into a safe position though.
Mars throws a big right hand that misses.
Mars trying to control but Bird is working from the bottom.
Mars trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Bird had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mars defends it easily.
Mars is working Bird over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mars connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mars lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bird is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mars tries to free his leg and advance position but Bird is retaining full guard.
Mars working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mars looking to pass the guard.
Mars lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mars is in close to Bird's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mars is pushing down on Bird's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bird is fighting to maintain full guard but Mars has managed to sneak the leg through.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mars lands a nice short elbow.
Mars working over Bird with some ground and pound. Bird looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mars seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mars is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bird on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Mars there.
Mars is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bird flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mars lands strikes from half guard.
Mars slips a nice elbow through Bird's hands, connecting with Bird's forehead.
Jay Bird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bird is trying to get back to full guard.
Mars landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lawrence Mars is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mars is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Mars has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Bird looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lawrence Mars showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mars 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lawrence Mars!