PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dennis Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Learned Astronomer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Bird
vs
Astronomer

185 cm
25
195 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

189 cm
24
194 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ultra Fight Gear
KAISER Nutrition (160!)

Diamond Nutrition 160q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dennis Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Learned Astronomer!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bird blocks a jab.
Bird uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Astronomer.
Astronomer buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Bird lands a front kick.
Bird throws a leg kick that is checked
and Astronomer makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Astronomer lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bird. Astronomer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bird walks into a stiff left hand from Astronomer.

Bird shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Astronomer's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Astronomer wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bird chips away with some ground and pound.
Bird postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bird postures up in Astronomer's guard and throws a big left but Astronomer blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Astronomer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bird gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bird chips away with some ground and pound.
Astronomer pulls Bird in close to his closed guard and prevents Bird from doing any damage or advancing position.
Astronomer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bird.
Bird working some strikes from top position.
Bird throwing strikes from guard but Astronomer blocks nicely.
Bird pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Astronomer is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Astronomer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bird missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Astronomer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bird is one step ahead there.
Bird lands a couple of digs.
Astronomer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
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!
Astronomer has his hands on Bird's head, controlling the position.
Astronomer is trying to keep Bird in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Astronomer manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bird is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Astronomer putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Astronomer working the ground and pound effectively.
Bird is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird taking shots to the 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!
Bird squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Bird trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Astronomer working Bird over with strikes here.
Astronomer lands a big shot there that rocks Bird but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Bird is rocked!
Bird is trying to stand.
Oh Bird is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Astronomer connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Bird is trying to stand up.
Astronomer is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bird takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Astronomer's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Learned Astronomer!
A relieved looking Learned Astronomer thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.