PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between William Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Bird
vs
Smirnov

170 cm
32
144 lbs
26 - 4 - 0

173 cm
31
144 lbs
27 - 15 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, William Bird!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Bird.
Smirnov tries to score with a low kick but Bird moves his leg out of the way.
Smirnov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smirnov has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Smirnov throws a head kick that misses.
Bird uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smirnov.
Bird throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smirnov throws a body kick that misses.
Smirnov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bird.
Bird clobbers Smirnov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Smirnov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Bird.
Bird moves out of range as Smirnov strikes.
An inside leg kick lands from Smirnov.
Bird throws a push kick but Smirnov slaps the foot to one side.
Nice defenses there by Bird.
Smirnov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smirnov dips to his left and cracks Bird with an uppercut!
Bird misses with a low kick.
Bird throws an overhand right that lands on Smirnov's shoulder, as Smirnov tries to avoid the shot.
A head kick misses from Smirnov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Smirnov misses.
Smirnov moves out of range of the body kick.
Bird avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Donk. Smirnov catches Bird right on the button with a cross.
Bird moves out of range of the leg kick from Smirnov.
Smirnov scores with a punch to the head.
Bird misses with a body kick.
Smirnov misses the shot to the body.
Smirnov misses the shot to the body.
Bird fakes the leg kick and cracks Smirnov in the body.
Bird ducks under a wild hook from Smirnov.
Bird bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bird blocks a head kick by Smirnov.
Bird with a nice cross.
Alexander Smirnov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bird is looking to slow Smirnov down with leg kicks.
Bird defending well as Smirnov loads up on a big left hand.
Bird throws a chopping leg kick but Smirnov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smirnov misses with a body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smirnov scores with a nice strike.
Bird avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smirnov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Bird keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bird lands a nice looking body shot.
Bird buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Smirnov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bird.
A slow jab from Bird misses its intended target.
Bird with a nice cross.
Smirnov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Bird.
Smirnov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bird.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Bird lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Smirnov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Smirnov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Bird slips under a jab from Smirnov.
Smirnov throws a low kick but Bird moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird scores with a kick to the midsection.
Bird scores with a sloppy right hand. Smirnov should have avoided that one.
Nice body punch from Smirnov.
Smirnov throws a poor cross that misses

and Bird counters by clinching up.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bird gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Alexander Smirnov has been cut.
Smirnov blocking some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smirnov.
Smirnov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smirnov avoiding damage as Bird throws knees to the body.
Smirnov is looking to break free of the clinch but Bird has double underhooks.

Smirnov manages to break the clinch.
A nice combination there by Smirnov.
Smirnov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Smirnov moves away from the strike by Bird.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smirnov throws a head kick that misses.
Nice cross by Smirnov.
Smirnov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bird tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smirnov slips a straight right by Bird.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smirnov.
Smirnov throws a body shot but no joy.
Smirnov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bird moves away.

Bird closes the distance and clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smirnov as Bird tries to tie him up.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bird takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bird cracks Smirnov with a nice body shot.
Bird pushes off an throws an elbow but Smirnov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
A frustrated look appears on Smirnov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Smirnov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexander Smirnov's cut.
That's time! Bird's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bird on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Smirnov misses with a lunging right hand

and Bird moves into the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Bird has been working on his elbows in the gym.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Bird creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Smirnov's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Smirnov breaks the clinch.
A combination from Smirnov does no damage.
Smirnov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smirnov.
Smirnov connects with a looping right hand.
Smirnov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Smirnov misses with a body kick.
Smirnov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bird is out of range.
Smirnov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bird moves away.
Smirnov blocks a low kick nicely.
Bird walks into a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bird throws a poor cross that misses
and Smirnov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smirnov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smirnov tries to land a front kick but Bird steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Smirnov scores with a push kick.
Smirnov scores with the left hand. Bird knows he should have avoided that one.
Smirnov misses with an uppercut. Bird saw that one coming.
Smirnov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bird looks to land a body kick but Smirnov moved away.
Smirnov throws a right and a left that Bird avoids nicely.
Smirnov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bird.
Bird turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Smirnov loads up on a big right hand but Bird slips the punch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Bird.
Bird just misses with a punch to the body.
Smirnov swings widly with a right hand

and Bird counters by clinching up.
Smirnov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bird managing to block the knees to the body from Smirnov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smirnov wants to break the clinch but can't.

Smirnov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alexander Smirnov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bird cracks the inside of Smirnov's front leg.
Bird lands with an uppercut that bounces Smirnov off the ropes and back into range.
Smirnov throws a lazy head kick

and Bird counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bird.
Bird struggles to land a body shot inside as Smirnov controls his hands.
Bird missing with knees to the body.
Smirnov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bird missing with knees to the body.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smirnov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smirnov gets through Bird's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Smirnov working hard to break the clinch.
Bird pushes off an throws an elbow but Smirnov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Bird wants to stall.
Bird works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Bird lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bird misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bird feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Smirnov's calf.
Bird looks to land a body kick but Smirnov moved away.
A big left from Bird misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Smirnov.
Bird takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A nice leg kick lands there from Bird.
Bird blocks the body kick.
Bird moves out of range of the strikes.
Smirnov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Smirnov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Smirnov misses with an uppercut

and Bird counters by moving into the clinch.
Bird is trying to maintain a safe position but Smirnov gets an underhook and turns Bird into the ropes.
Bird lands an elbow that stopped Smirnov in his tracks for a moment.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Smirnov.
Bird throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov breaks from the clinch.
Smirnov throws a sloppy head kick and Bird moves out of range easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smirnov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bird circles away quickly and effectively.
Smirnov looks to land a body kick but Bird moved away.
Bird lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Smirnov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bird looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Smirnov misses with a hook. Bird ducked under it nicely.
Smirnov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Smirnov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bird has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nice uppercut there from Smirnov.
Bird lands with a shot to the body.

Bird moves into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bird lands a knee to the head.

Smirnov breaks from the clinch.
Bird throws a sloppy head kick and Smirnov moves out of range easily.
Bird misses with a hook. Smirnov ducked under it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexander Smirnov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alexander Smirnov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Smirnov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smirnov throws a leg kick but Bird moved away.
Smirnov moves away from the strike by Bird.
Smirnov scores with a sloppy right hand. Bird should have avoided that one.
Smirnov misses with a hook.
Bird moves out of range as Smirnov strikes.
Bird fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smirnov.
Smirnov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bird bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bird throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Smirnov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smirnov loads up on a big right hand but Bird slips the punch.
Smirnov misses with an uppercut

and Bird moves into the clinch.
Bird lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A short right from Bird.
Bird lands an elbow inside that Smirnov shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Bird.
Bird lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bird is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Smirnov is keeping busy.
Smirnov wants to break free but Bird has control.
Smirnov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bird throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smirnov blocks it with crossed arms.
Smirnov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Bird can't find room to land a body shot as Smirnov controls the action.
Bird lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Smirnov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Smirnov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

Smirnov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smirnov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bird.
Bird feints a jab promting Smirnov to slip. Bird then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Smirnov slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Smirnov is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Bird. That snapped Smirnov's head back.
Smirnov is still on wobbly legs! Can Bird finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bird lands with a thumping leg kick.
Smirnov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bird.
A solid body kick from Bird.
Smirnov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smirnov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bird can pounce on him.
A punch combination from Smirnov misses.
Smirnov walks straight into a perfectly timed right hook, crumpling him to the floor! Smirnov is in all kinds of trouble here - can he beat the count? 3,4,5,6,7,8,9....10 - he's out and it's by a long way too - he didn't ever look like beating that count!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). William Bird!
William Bird retains his bantamweight title!
An intense looking William Bird took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'I am the greatest KT fighter of all time!'.