PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Herzog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Birmiski comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Back - T.I. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Viktor Herzog was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Birmiski
vs
Herzog

170 cm
28
140 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

177 cm
28
134 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

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 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ari Birmiski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Viktor Herzog!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herzog fails with the takedown
enabling Birmiski to counter with a crisp jab.
Herzog is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Birmiski misses the shot to the body.

Birmiski closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Herzog quickly recovers to half guard.
Herzog gets full guard.
Herzog can't keep his opponent in guard - Birmiski advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Herzog taking some punishment here, with Birmiski in his half guard.
Birmiski moves into full mount! Herzog won't be happy about that!
Birmiski landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Herzog wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Birmiski.
Herzog really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Birmiski throwing strikes but Herzog bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Herzog loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog won't allow Birmiski to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Birmiski is on top in guard.
Birmiski trying to control the position from guard on top but Herzog is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Birmiski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Herzog works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Birmiski trying to control but Herzog is working from the bottom.

Herzog had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Birmiski defends it easily.
Herzog working a defensive guard here.
Birmiski preventing the sweep.
Herzog working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Birmiski.
Birmiski controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herzog keeping moving, preventing Birmiski from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Birmiski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Herzog is keeping the position for now.
Herzog tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Birmiski trying to control the position from guard on top but Herzog is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ari Birmiski just wasn't active enough.
Herzog misses with a takedown
and Birmiski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horrible takedown by Herzog or perhaps it was just good defense by Birmiski which made him look bad.
Ari Birmiski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Herzog.
Birmiski throws a hook but Herzog blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Birmiski decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Herzog trying to control here.
Birmiski sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Birmiski is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Herzog doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Birmiski.
Herzog tries to get to full guard but Birmiski has control of the leg.
Birmiski is pressing down on Herzog's thigh, looking to free his foot. Herzog is holding on for now.
Birmiski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Birmiski's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Birmiski's back!
Herzog scores with punches to the body.
Herzog lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Herzog.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Birmiski tries to escape the position.
Birmiski trying to control the hands but Herzog won't let him.
The referee is taking a good look at Birmiski as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Herzog!

Herzog goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Birmiski escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Birmiski works his foot free and advances to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Birmiski scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Birmiski dominated that round.
That's time! Birmiski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Birmiski thuds a left hand into Herzog's body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Birmiski. Herzog shrugs it off though.
Herzog tries to clinch but Birmiski moves out of range.
Herzog closes the distance and clinches up with Birmiski, looking for a takedown. Herzog pushes Birmiski against the cage but Birmiski circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Herzog tries to score a power double leg takedown but Birmiski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Herzog somewhat.
Herzog has his takedown stuffed

and Birmiski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ari Birmiski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Herzog.

Birmiski is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Herzog has managed to free his arm - good work.
Herzog trying to control from the bottom.
Herzog is trying to get back to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Birmiski not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Birmiski uses his free foot to push down on Herzog's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Herzog.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog is trying desperately to improve position.
Herzog bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Birmiski lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Herzog!
Birmiski lands a big shot there that rocks Herzog but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Herzog can't escape the position.
Herzog bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Herzog chips away with some ground and pound.
Birmiski throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Birmiski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Birmiski holds on and takes a little breather.
Birmiski trying to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Herzog preventing the sweep.

Birmiski is looking for a triangle but Herzog pushes his legs off easily.
Herzog trying to control but Birmiski is working from the bottom.
Birmiski looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Herzog puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Birmiski is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski blocking the ground and pound attempt from Herzog.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herzog missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Birmiski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Herzog is trying for a kimura here. Birmiski looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Herzog wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Viktor Herzog!
Viktor Herzog was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.