PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jake Bird (ranked 720 p4p, 331 weight class) and Manny Johnson (ranked 108 p4p, 51 weight class). Johnson has chosen On The Run as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bird
vs
Johnson

170 cm
32
195
22 - 15 - 0

188 cm
31
196
24 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Conviction

Voodoo Nutrition
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Manny Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bird throws a body shot but no joy.
Bird swings away with a body shot that misses
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Bird throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bird throws a combination. Johnson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Johnson defending well as Bird loads up on a big left hand.
Johnson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Bird loads up on a big right hand but Johnson slips the punch.
Bird jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson throws a head kick but Bird moves out of range.
Bird misses with the combination.
Bird throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bird throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bird moves away.
Bird swings away with a body shot that misses
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Good shot there by Johnson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bird slips under a jab.
Bird fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Johnson.
Johnson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bird. That did some damage!
Jake Bird seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Bird misses.
Bird fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
Bird tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Johnson throws a right hand that misses

and Bird counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.

Bird drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Johnson dives on top into guard.

Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bird has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Bird's legs - danger averted.
Bird wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson is pushing down on Bird's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bird is fighting to maintain full guard but Johnson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bird is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is sitting in close to Bird's body. Bird has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Johnson is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Johnson is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Bird.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Jake Bird!
A very excited looking Jake Bird made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.