PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Snake Eye (ranked 5084 p4p, 232 weight class) and Anthony Birchack (ranked 8344 p4p, 318 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Eye
vs
Birchack

165 cm
27
145 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

159 cm
25
138 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Snake Eye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anthony Birchack!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Eye shoots in and gets a takedown into Birchack's guard.
Eye loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Birchack tries to strike from the bottom.

Eye got a little sloppy there for a moment and Birchack has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Eye has managed to get both his arms back between Birchack's legs - danger averted.
Eye definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Eye throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Eye in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Eye won't allow Birchack to sweep him here.
Eye landing with the ground and pound.
Eye with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
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.
Eye throwing strikes from guard but Birchack blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Birchack striking off his back but it's not causing Eye any problems.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eye working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Eye is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Birchack is looking for a triangle but Eye pushes his legs off easily.
Birchack wants to sweep but no luck.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eye landing with the ground and pound.
Birchack looking for a sweep. Not yet Birchack, not yet.

Eye drops back looking for a leg! Birchack is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Birchack manages to kick Eye off! Eye jumps back into Birchack's guard.
Eye slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Birchack takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Eye cracks Birchack with a big right hand but Birchack just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Birchack is trying to get back to half guard.
Birchack misses with a strike from the bottom.
Eye working the ground and pound from side control.
Eye cracks Birchack with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Birchack wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

Eye has hold of Birchack's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Birchack tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Eye cranks the arm and Birchack screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Birchack, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Snake Eye!
A relieved looking Snake Eye thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.