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 comes to the cage accompanied by Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mars
vs
Bird

167 cm
24
141 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

160 cm
29
136 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
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 10 - 7 - 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 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jay Bird!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Jonathan Paton and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bird drives through and clinches with Mars against the cage.
Mars works on Bird's body with a couple of short punches.

Mars breaks from the clinch.
Mars lands the left hand.
Good leg kick by Bird there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bird uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mars.
Mars moves out of range of the strikes.
Bird fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mars shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Bird has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mars is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bird.
Mars tries to score with some ground and pound. Bird controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bird can't do much from the bottom here.
Bird holding on.
Mars working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mars misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Mars is working Bird over with some ground and pound from side control.
Bird avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mars.
Bird manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mars's best efforts.
Bird keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mars landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mars throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mars stalling.
Mars not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mars is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bird wants to get back to full guard.
Mars lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird is trying to control but can't.
Mars is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mars looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bird with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mars not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mars missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mars looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bird is trying to get back to full guard.
Mars trying to mount his opponent but Bird defends it.
Bird is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mars is thwarting Bird's attempts to control the position.
Bird taking some punishment here, with Mars in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mars throwing shots but Bird is blocking nicely.
Bird is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mars is nestled in close to Bird, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mars drops an elbow to the side of Bird's head.
Mars working Bird over with strikes.
Mars lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bird is pressing down on Mars's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mars is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mars postures up in Bird's guard and throws a big left but Bird blocks it.
Mars has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mars is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mars pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bird is keeping the position for now.
Mars content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mars postures up.
Mars postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mars scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mars loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bird preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mars working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mars throws a big right hand that misses.
Mars wants to control from the top but Bird keeps moving.
Mars working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Mars got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bird has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mars has managed to get both his arms back between Bird's legs - danger averted.
Mars throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Bird looking for a guillotine here but Mars defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Mars dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bird gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mars counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bird thinking.

Mars fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bird to the ground. Mars is now in Bird's guard.
Mars with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bird is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mars is aware though and is defending well.
Mars content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lawrence Mars overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bird working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mars.
Bird preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mars with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mars advances position into side control!
Mars in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Mars working the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mars is working Bird over with some ground and pound from side control.
Bird wants to control but Mars postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Mars scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Bird to see if he's OK.
Mars is working Bird over with some ground and pound from side control.
Mars scores with punches from side control.
Bird takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Mars working the head and body with strikes.
Mars working the head and body with strikes.
Bird manages to get back to half guard.
Mars is thwarting Bird's attempts to control the position.
Bird is not content to let Mars control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mars drops an elbow to the side of Bird's head.
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!
Mars missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mars lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bird is looking for a sweep. Mars is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mars working over Bird with some ground and pound. Bird looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mars throwing shots but Bird is blocking nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mars lands a nice short elbow.
Mars sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bird defending well though.
Mars lands with a punch from half guard.
Bird taking some punishment here, with Mars in his half guard.
Mars sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bird defending well though.
Mars sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bird defending well though.
Mars is nestled in close to Bird, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mars is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Mars working Bird over with strikes.
Mars throwing shots but Bird is blocking nicely.
Mars takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mars is trying to control the action in half guard but Bird is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mars lands a nice short elbow.
Mars missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mars thows a huge punch but Bird dodges it nicely.
Mars lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bird avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mars.
Bird is refusing to be controlled, as Mars sits in half guard.
Bird is looking to control Mars's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bird avoid being mounted?
Mars is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bird can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird is pressing down on Mars's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mars landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mars being controlled here momentarily.
Mars postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mars distracts Bird with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mars lands a couple of digs.
Mars stands up over Bird, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bird keeping full guard, as Mars tries to pass.
Bird is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mars postures up in Bird's guard and throws a big left but Bird blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Mars dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bird throws a right and a left that both miss.

Bird drives through and clinches with Mars against the cage.
Mars has a couple of punches blocked by Bird.
Mars misses with an elbow over the top.
Mars pushes off an throws an elbow but Bird leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Bird wants a takedown but no success here.
Bird fails to pull guard.
Bird has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mars avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lawrence Mars has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Bird.
Bird avoiding damage as Mars throws knees to the body.
Bird wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Mars escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bird tries to clinch up.
Bird lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mars circles away quickly and effectively.
Bird takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mars misses with a body shot.
Mars misses with a body shot.
Bird misses with the combination.
A lazy left from Mars finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mars.
Mars throws an overhand right that lands on Bird's shoulder, as Bird tries to avoid the shot.
Mars lands a lovely overhand right.
Mars thows a body shot but no joy.
Bird connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bird throws a right hand that Mars ducks under and follows up with a left that Mars also avoids with ease.
Bird keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Mars clinches.
Mars softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mars tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mars just leaning against Bird, taking a breather.
Bird is looking to break free of the clinch but Mars has double underhooks.
Mars throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bird blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mars pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mars is looking to wear down Bird with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mars. Bird does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mars lands a nice shot to the body.
Donk. Mars catches Bird right on the button with a cross.
Bird wants to clinch up but Mars keeps it at a distance.
Bird swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mars uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bird.
A big left from Mars misses.
Nice defenses there by Mars.
Jay Bird is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mars misses the shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mars has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bird tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mars just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bird is trying to force a seperation but Mars has the dominant position.
Mars leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mars gets underhooks to prevent Bird's takedown attempt.
Bird looking to slow down the pace here.
Mars with a knee to the head.
Mars gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mars with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mars misses with a knee to the head.

Bird manages to break the clinch.
Mars misses with a straight left.
No joy there for Bird, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bird looks to land a left hand but Mars moved out of range nicely.
Bird goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bird doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird shoots for a takedown but Mars saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bird avoids the body shot from Mars.
Mars misses with a body shot.
Mars lands a nice shot that snaps Bird's head back.
Mars connects with a right hand. Bird shakes it off.
Mars looks to score with a jab to the body but Bird is just out of range.
Mars keeps the fight on the outside.
Jay Bird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mars dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mars's corner calls for a 1-2. Mars obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lawrence Mars is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lawrence Mars is winning the standup battle so far.
Mars steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bird.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bird throws the kick towards the body but Mars avoids it.
Jay Bird seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bird looks to land a combination but Mars avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bird. Mars does a little dance to reset his feet.

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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

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