PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Birchack (ranked 8236 p4p, 374 weight class) and Shin Ichi (ranked 5492 p4p, 282 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Birchack
vs
Ichi

159 cm
25
138 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

163 cm
21
140 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anthony Birchack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shin Ichi!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ichi moves into range and clinches up with Birchack.
Birchack is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ichi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Birchack goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ichi prevents it.
Ichi has Birchack pressed against the cage.

Ichi manages to break the clinch.
Ichi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Birchack's hands.

Ichi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Birchack to the ground. Ichi is now in Birchack's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birchack will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ichi wants to control from the top but Birchack keeps moving.
Birchack lands a decent shot there.
Ichi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Birchack has an active guard here but Ichi has managed to pass into half guard.
Birchack regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ichi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Birchack has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Ichi has passed into side control.
Birchack manages to get back to half guard.
Ichi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Birchack does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Birchack is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ichi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Birchack is defending against the submission attempts here by Ichi.
Birchack tries to roll over but Ichi keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Birchack is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ichi pulls his head out easily.

Ichi is working for a kimura but Birchack is defending it quite comfortably.
Ichi is keen to just control but Birchack is a slippery customer.
Ichi prevents Birchack from improving his position.
Birchack punching from the bottom.
Birchack on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Birchack tries to get out of the position.

Ichi seems to be working for a kimura but Birchack defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birchack is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Birchack is staying active underneath Ichi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Ichi is working for a kimura but Birchack is defending it quite comfortably.
Birchack wants to improve his position but Ichi is controlling well.
Birchack landing strikes from the bottom.
Birchack wants to get back to full guard.
Ichi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Birchack does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Birchack is looking for a sweep. Ichi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ichi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Birchack keeps working.
Birchack tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ichi seems to be working for a kimura but Birchack defends the submission attempt.
Birchack slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ichi wants to control from the top but Birchack keeps moving.
Birchack looking for a sweep. Not yet Birchack, not yet.
Ichi slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Birchack.
Birchack tries to get to full guard but Ichi has control of the leg.
Birchack moves into full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Birchack looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ichi is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ichi looks to land a combination but Birchack avoids it well.
Birchack half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Birchack's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ichi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Birchack scrambles back to his feet.
Ichi misses with an uppercut. Birchack saw that one coming.
Birchack appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ichi scores with a jab. Birchack acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Ichi closes the distance and clinches.
Birchack goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ichi prevents it.
Birchack drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ichi pulls his leg out and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birchack ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Birchack half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ichi throws an off balance right hand

and Birchack counters with a shoot takedown. Ichi fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birchack scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ichi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ichi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Birchack gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ichi pulls Birchack in close to prevent any damage.

Ichi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Birchack doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Birchack manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ichi wants to sweep but no luck.
Birchack lands a couple of digs.
Shin Ichi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ichi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Birchack postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ichi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Birchack working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ichi's head.
Birchack landing with the ground and pound.
Ichi keeping full guard, as Birchack tries to pass.
Birchack keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ichi's head.
Birchack working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Birchack postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Birchack got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ichi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Birchack has managed to get both his arms back between Ichi's legs - danger averted.

Ichi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Birchack defends well.
Ichi is breathing heavily.
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!
Birchack lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Ichi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Birchack can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birchack stands up over Ichi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Birchack postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Birchack is in close to Ichi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Birchack cracks Ichi with a solid left hand.
Birchack is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Birchack makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ichi looking for a sweep. Not yet Ichi, not yet.
Birchack landing some decent shots from guard.
Birchack throws a strike but Ichi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ichi trying to control the position from guard on top but Birchack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Birchack tries to strike from the bottom.

Birchack looking for a guillotine here but Ichi defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ichi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ichi wants to control from the top but Birchack keeps moving.
Birchack looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ichi is one step ahead there.
Birchack is working hard here to advance position.
Ichi is pushing down on Birchack's leg trying to pass to half guard. Birchack is fighting to maintain full guard but Ichi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Birchack is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ichi trying to control from half guard but Birchack is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Anthony Birchack will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ichi instigates a clinch.
Ichi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Birchack is looking to take this one to the mat.
Birchack is working for takedown but Ichi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Birchack drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ichi pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Birchack. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ichi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Birchack is trying to defend but Ichi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birchack gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birchack thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ichi preventing the sweep.
Ichi trying to control but Birchack is working from the bottom.
Birchack is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ichi wants to control from the top but Birchack keeps moving.
Birchack tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Birchack keeping moving, preventing Ichi from controlling successfully.
Birchack lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ichi has his foot on Birchack's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Birchack works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birchack postures up and lands a big shot to Ichi's brow.
Ichi trying to keep a closed guard but Birchack is proving a slippery customer.

Ichi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Birchack gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ichi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Birchack chips away with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Birchack's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Birchack throwing strikes but missing.
Birchack working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ichi's head.

Ichi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Birchack accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ichi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Birchack scoring with punches to the head and body.
Birchack scoring with punches to the head and body.
Birchack landing some decent shots from guard.
Birchack with a nice head shot there.
Birchack connects with a couple of short punches.

Ichi pushes Birchack off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ichi misses with a wild combination.

Ichi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Birchack tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ichi is in Birchack's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birchack looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ichi is one step ahead there.
Birchack lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Birchack has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Birchack working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Birchack landing with the ground and pound.
Birchack throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Birchack content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ichi is trying to control the position but Birchack postures up.
Ichi wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anthony Birchack.
I think Birchack has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Anthony Birchack!