PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Winston Todd (ranked 102 p4p, 83 weight class) and Jake Bird (ranked 15 p4p, 13 weight class). Todd comes to the cage accompanied by Piano Man. 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?

Todd
vs
Bird

186 cm
32
194
33 - 8 - 1

170 cm
35
195
29 - 17 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
SynCity Fightwear

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Winston Todd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake Bird!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Todd throws a hook to the side of Bird's head but Bird sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bird feints the counter takedown.
Bird blocks a head kick by Todd.
Bird tries to clinch but Todd moves out of range.
Jake Bird seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Todd slips a jab from Bird.
Todd swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Todd misses with a leg kick.
Bird takes a swing at Todd's ribcage but misses.
Todd lands with an overhand left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A cross from Bird lands.
Bird lands with a right hand.
Todd takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bird.
Bird moves out of range as Todd strikes.
Bird with the counter takedown but Todd avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bird. Todd does a little dance to reset his feet.
Todd throws a leg kick

and Bird counters with a nice double leg into side control. Todd won't be happy with that.

Bird tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bird has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Todd is trying to get back to half guard.

Bird is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Todd knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Bird goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Todd has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bird but great work by Todd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird tries to bench press Todd off him but Todd keeps the position.
Bird is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bird keeps trying to improve his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bird regains half guard.

Bird looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bird is looking to control Todd's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bird avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird tries to roll over but Todd keeps him under control.

Bird actively working from the bottom here.

Bird actively working from the bottom here.
Bird is trying to get back to full guard.
Bird regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bird trying to control the position.
Todd not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

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

Bird looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Todd passes into side control.
Bird tries to bench press Todd off him but Todd keeps the position.
Todd controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bird tries to control but Todd manages to take his back.
Todd will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bird trying to control the position but Todd manages to sink in the hooks.
Todd has the hooks in. Bird is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Winston Todd will probably get the nod.
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.

Bird misses with a hook
and Todd counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Todd smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Todd drops his hands momentarily and Bird takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Bird misses the body punch
and Todd counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bird's knee momentarily.
Todd lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bird tries to clinch but Todd is having none of it.
Todd appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Todd.
Bird is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Bird misses with a straight left.
Todd looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Bird throws a body punch but Todd moves out of range.
Winston Todd is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bird misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Todd.
As Bird backs away, Todd returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Bird lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bird tries to clinch
and Todd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bird tries for a takedown but Todd sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Todd blocks a jab.
Todd defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bird.
Todd fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bird.
Winston Todd is winning the standup battle so far.
Bird feints a jab promting Todd to slip. Bird then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Todd slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd loads up on a big right hand but Bird slips the punch.
Bird fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Winston Todd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Bird.
Todd misses with a low kick.
Bird changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Todd takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bird looks to score with a jab to the body but Todd is just out of range.
Todd is looking to chop away at Bird's legs.
Todd throws the kick towards the body but Bird avoids it.
Todd defending well as Bird loads up on a big left hand.
Bird lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Todd at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird throws a body shot but no joy.
Todd takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Todd connects with a single shot there.
A punch lands to the side of Bird 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bird is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Todd rather than just go for the knockout.
Todd avoids the body shot from Bird.
Todd with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Todd scores with a body shot.
Bird misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bird avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice shot lands for Todd.
Bird throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little feinted left hand from Todd on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Todd missing with a left hand there. Bird was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
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!
Bird avoids the body shot from Todd.
Bird clobbers Todd with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Todd throws a push kick but Bird slaps the foot to one side.
Bird lands a jab to Todd's midsection.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Winston Todd dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Todd takes one to the side of the head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Todd breaks from the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Todd.

Bird shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Todd has one foot on Bird's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Todd blocks a jab.
Todd throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Todd was well out of range. Poor timing from Bird.
Bird swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A shot to the body from Bird misses

and Todd counters with a nice right hand that sends Bird toppling to the canvas! Bird scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Todd finish him?!
Bird lands with a nice body punch.
Bird loads up on a big right hand but Todd slips the punch.
Todd wants to land a leg kick but Bird is out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Todd.

Bird shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bird is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Todd is just riding it out for now. Bird eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bird seems to be working for a kimura but Todd defends the submission attempt.

Bird is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Todd sees it coming and defends easily.
Todd gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Bird had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Todd defends it easily.
Todd is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bird controls Todd momentarily but Todd frees himself.
Bird wants to control the position but Todd says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Bird with the active half guard here but Todd passes nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird is trying to get back to half guard.
Todd is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Bird struggling a bit here.
Bird is trying to improve his position.
Bird is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Todd off and has taken his back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Winston Todd clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Todd moves away from the strike by Bird.
Bird blocks a head kick by Todd.
Todd is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Todd. Bird does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bird drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Todd defends it well.
Bird misses with a body shot.
Bird cracks Todd with an open hand slap.
Todd swings away with a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Todd throws a big shot that misses.
Bird throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Todd bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Todd.
Bird displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Todd throws out the jab.
Bird on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Bird changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circling - Bird throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Todd swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bird misses with a left hand
and Todd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Todd scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bird doesn't seem bothered though.
Bird misses with an uppercut
and Todd counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd with a hook.
Bird digs a good body shot into Todd's ribs.
Bird connects with a single shot there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bird avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bird is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Todd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bird can do to turn this around?
Todd throws a leg kick which misses Bird's front leg but catches the back leg as Bird tries to avoid it.
Bird throws a hook but Todd blocks it.
And Todd counters with a quick kick to the body but Bird blocks it.
Todd fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bird misses with a lunging right hand
and Todd counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bird moves away.
Todd throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bird throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
An attempted straight right counter from Todd misses the target.
Bird avoids the body shot from Todd.
Bird misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Todd counters with a low kick, right behind Bird 's knee.
Todd throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bird is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Todd lands a nice shot to the body.
Todd scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird looks to score with a jab to the body but Todd is just out of range.
Donk. Todd catches Bird right on the button with a cross.
Bird wants to clinch but Todd slips to the side
and Todd counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Bird walks straight into a right hand from Todd - that's dropped him! Todd jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Bird from any more punishment! Bird complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Winston Todd!
Winston Todd decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.