PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Forest Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stran Gler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bird
vs
Gler

175 cm
20
162 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Forest Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stran Gler!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Jonathan Paton and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bird tries to clinch up.
Gler tries for a takedown but Bird circles away easily

and Bird counters by clinching up.
Gler fails to pull guard.
Gler stalls.
Bird with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bird gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Forest Bird has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stran Gler.

Gler jumps guard and drags Bird to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bird working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Bird 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.
Gler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gler trying to keep a closed guard but Bird is proving a slippery customer.
Bird wants to pass the guard but Gler is keeping the position.
Bird has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Bird postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gler is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bird, into his guard.
Gler won't allow Bird to get back to his feet.

Bird has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Gler off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Bird fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gler.
Gler shoots in for a takedown but Bird shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Gler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gler has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gler tries to advance to mount but Bird denies him.
Bird wants to get back to his feet but Gler drags him back down.
Bird is breathing heavily.
Gler working the ground and pound but Bird is defending the strikes.

Gler wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bird, who protects the arm well.
Gler tries to move to mount but Bird blocks the move with his legs.
Bird is not content to let Gler control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gler.
Bird is pushing Gler's head away, looking to escape. Gler manages to hold on to the position though.

Gler looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ground and pound from Gler seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bird is looking to get back to his feet here but Gler is keeping cool and he's managed to take Bird's back.
Bird holding both Gler 's hands and preventing any damage.
Bird covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gler looking for the RNC.

Bird manages to escape to his feet.
Gler throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bird's waist but Bird gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gler off to one side.
Gler looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bird tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bird tries to clinch up.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gler fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stran Gler will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bird tries to avoid it but Gler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bird to the ground. Bird escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Gler shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Gler is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bird is just riding it out for now. Gler eventually gives up the hold.
Bird wants to get back to his feet.

Gler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bird scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Gler manages to mount him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gler working for a guillotine from mount but Bird is in no mood to give up.
Bird wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Gler controlling from mount.
Gler throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bird because Gler loaded up on that one.
Bird is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Gler punching from mount but Bird doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird wants to get back to his feet.

Bird somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

Gler gets the takedown into side control.
Gler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bird keeps working.
Gler tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Gler is trying to get an arm triangle but Bird is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bird dodges the ground and pound from Gler.
Stran Gler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bird is trying to buck Gler off.
Gler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bird on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Bird wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Gler tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gler remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Bird avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gler.
Bird is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gler asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Gler in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gler throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Gler wants to finish this one by submission but Bird is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gler.
Gler won't let Bird get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gler sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gler tries to control but Bird wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stran Gler 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 is looking to clinch.
Gler misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bird wants to clinch up but Gler keeps it at a distance.
Bird fails with an attempt to clinch.

Bird fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gler, pushing him back against the cage.
Bird throws an elbow but it misses.
Gler avoiding damage as Bird throws knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Gler.
Gler displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bird up against the cage.
Gler missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bird wants the takedown. Gler is fighting it off but Bird persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gler's guard against the cage.
Bird is looking to work some ground and pound but Gler has wrist control.
Gler working a defensive guard here.

Bird thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gler looking for a sweep. Not yet Gler, not yet.

Gler pushes Bird off and gets back to his feet.
Forest Bird seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bird tries to clinch but Gler moves out of range.
Bird fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bird fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bird keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gler fails with a takedown attempt.
Forest Bird has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stran Gler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird closes the distance looking to clinch

so Gler counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bird wriggles free and stands up.

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

Bird tightens his grip and picks Gler up, before dumping him to the ground. Gler manages to land in guard.
Gler is trying to control the position but Bird postures up.
Bird thows a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gler is on top in guard.
Gler prevents Bird from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Gler from controlling successfully.
Gler controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gler trying to control the position from guard on top but Bird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gler drops back looking for a leg! Bird is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bird manages to kick Gler off! Gler jumps back into Bird's guard.
Bird wants to get back to his feet but Gler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gler trying to control the position from guard on top but Bird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gler might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bird kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gler stands and throws Bird's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Forest Bird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gler tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gler thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Stran Gler.
I've got Gler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stran Gler!