PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dude Love (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Birmiski comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Back - T.I. The crowd seem to be enjoying Love's choice of entrance music: Imagine. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Birmiski
vs
Love

170 cm
29
140 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

150 cm
27
149 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ari Birmiski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dude Love!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birmiski looks to throw the jab but Love is out of range.
Birmiski throws a head kick that misses.

Love gets tackled into the cage by Birmiski. Birmiski maintains the clinch.
Birmiski lands a hook to the side of the head.

Birmiski gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Love regains guard.
Birmiski will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Birmiski wants to control from the top but Love keeps moving.
Birmiski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Love works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Love is looking for a triangle but Birmiski pushes his legs off easily.
Birmiski trying to control the position from guard on top but Love is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Love throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Love is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Birmiski preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Love keeping moving, preventing Birmiski from controlling successfully.
Birmiski sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Love's guard.
Love gets full guard.
Birmiski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Love swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Birmiski chips away with some ground and pound.

Love is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Love looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Birmiski postures up and lands a big shot to Love's brow.
Birmiski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Birmiski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Love has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Birmiski has managed to get both his arms back between Love's legs - danger averted.
Birmiski tries to free his leg and advance position but Love is retaining full guard.

Love looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Love is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Birmiski is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Birmiski stands and throws Love's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Love taking a bit of punishment here - Birmiski scoring with strikes.

Birmiski thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Birmiski working the body and head with strikes.
Birmiski grinds an elbow into Love's temple.
Love tries to buck Birmiski off but Birmiski is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Birmiski wants to control but Love is keeping him busy.
Birmiski content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Love tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Birmiski wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Love, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Love is looking to reverse the position.
Birmiski wants to control but Love is keeping him busy.
Birmiski lands a nice forearm strike.
Birmiski wants to control but Love is keeping him busy.
Love is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Love on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Birmiski working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Love gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Love gets full guard.

Love has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Birmiski should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Love has tightened it up now! Birmiski should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Dude Love!