PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Lund (ranked 635 p4p, 447 weight class) and Jake Bird (ranked 84 p4p, 52 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lund
vs
Bird

188 cm
29
190
14 - 7 - 1

170 cm
28
195
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
Brooklyn Threads

Conviction

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 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Aaron Lund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake Bird!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lund has Bird up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bird.
Bird blocks an elbow strike from Lund.
Lund throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Bird is working Lund over against the cage.

Bird ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bird no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Bird throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lund looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bird looking for a guillotine here but Lund defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bird had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lund defends it easily.
Bird looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lund wants to control from the top but Bird keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Bird looking for subs off his back but Lund has passed one foot through into half guard.
Bird trying to hold on to Lund's head to control him but Lund postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bird looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bird has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lund is working away from the top position though.
Lund prevents Bird from improving his position.
Bird has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lund in particular looking to stall.
Bird trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lund looks to land a left hand but Bird moved out of range nicely.
Lund tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bird was well out of range. Poor timing from Lund.
Lund chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bird moves out of range of the strikes.
Bird is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bird lands a glancing blow to the side of Lund's head.
Lund fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bird shoots in for a double leg but Lund sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A leg kick checked by Bird.
Lund misses with a straight left.
Bird changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Lund dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bird uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lund.
Bird drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lund defends it well.
Bird slips a straight right by Lund.
Aaron Lund seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bird defending well as Lund loads up on a big left hand.
Bird changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Lund misses with a looping left.
A swing and a miss from Lund.
Bird shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lund but Lund pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lund dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bird is looking to clinch but Lund is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lund throws a hook but Bird blocks it.
Lund misses with a straight left.
Lund is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bird can do to turn this around?
Bird uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lund.
Lund chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A shot to the body from Lund misses

and Bird counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bird.
Bird jumps guard but Lund turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lund blocks a body shot from Bird.
A frustrated look appears on Bird's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bird blocks an uppercut.
Bird tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lund smiles and moves away.
Aaron Lund has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Bird.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lund, as that shot connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lund throws a body punch but Bird moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lund. Bird does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lund moves in looking to clinch but Bird pushes him off.
Lund connects with an inside leg kick.
Bird misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lund.
A bone on bone clash there as Bird blocks the leg kick.
Bird feints the counter takedown.
Lund connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lund lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lund misses with a straight right.
Bird with the counter takedown but Lund avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lund rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Bird counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bird wants to pass the guard but Lund is defending well.
Bird works his way into side control.

Bird goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lund rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bird's guard! Nice work there by Lund!
Lund is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lund knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bird on the ground.
Lund trying to control but Bird is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Bird throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bird trying to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bird trying to keep a closed guard but Lund is proving a slippery customer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Lund dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bird walks into a left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lund. Bird does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bird ducks under a wild hook from Lund.
Bird moves out of range of the leg kick from Lund.

Bird scores with a takedown into Lund's guard.
Lund is controlling Bird's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lund has his hands on Bird's head, controlling the position.
Bird looking to pass the guard.
Bird trying to control the position from guard on top but Lund is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jake Bird has got the better of the ground game so far.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bird wants to pass the guard but Lund is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lund swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bird misses with a takedown attempt - Lund sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bird lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bird walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Aaron Lund is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lund fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird takes one on the button.
Bird moves forwards but Lund connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Lund tries to close the distance and clinch but Bird swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bird displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lund throws out the jab.
Bird is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Aaron Lund is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bird walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lund.
Bird drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lund defends it well.
Lund fakes the leg kick and cracks Bird in the body.
Lund throws a right hand that misses

and Bird counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lund is trying to keep Bird in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Lund pulls Bird in close to his closed guard and prevents Bird from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lund will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lund is trying to control the position but Bird postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bird's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jake Bird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bird throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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 Aaron Lund.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lund, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Lund!
Aaron Lund opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.