PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zack Hobbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zack Hobbs has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hobbs
vs
Bird

211 cm
24
194 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

186 cm
25
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zack Hobbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Bird!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hobbs tries to close the distance and clinch but Bird swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bird fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hobbs to the ground. Bird is now in Hobbs's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bird with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bird forces his way into half guard.
Hobbs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bird trying to control from half guard but Hobbs is working away.

Bird is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hobbs holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Bird slows the pace down in half guard.

Michael Bird has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Bird shoots in and gets a takedown into Hobbs's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bird decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Zack Hobbs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird thows a body shot but no joy.

Hobbs gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bird to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hobbs not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bird throwing strikes but missing.
Bird preventing the sweep.
Bird is looking to stand up but Hobbs won't let him.
Bird is stalling in the full guard.
Bird trying to control the position from guard on top but Hobbs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Michael Bird wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bird avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bird closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bird lands in his opponent's guard.
Hobbs keeping moving, preventing Bird from controlling successfully.
Hobbs trying to keep a closed guard but Bird is proving a slippery customer.
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 sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bird content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hobbs is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Bird dives into side control.
Bird is looking to take a break and control but Hobbs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hobbs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bird on the ground.
Hobbs tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bird wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bird wants to control but Hobbs is keeping him busy.
Hobbs parries the strikes from Bird easily there. Bird is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Hobbs to escape.
Hobbs is trying to control Bird's posture but Bird avoids it.
Hobbs is looking for a sweep.
Hobbs prevents Bird from moving into mount.
Hobbs looks to move to half guard but instead Bird has passed into mount! Damn!
Bird postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hobbs looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs tries to lock up and control but Bird gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bird controlling the pace for now.
Hobbs stops Bird from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Hobbs wants to hold on but Bird pushes him away.
Bird thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Bird scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hobbs?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bird controlling from mount.
Hobbs is desperately trying to improve his position but Bird has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bird fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hobbs to the ground. Bird is now in Hobbs's guard.
Hobbs is trying to control the position but Bird postures up.
Bird looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bird postures up in Hobbs's guard and throws a big left but Hobbs blocks it.
Bird stops Hobbs from standing up.
Michael Bird has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bird decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hobbs, up you get!

Bird gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Hobbs jumps guard and drags Bird to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bird slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A lull in the action here.
Bird has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird advances to mount.
Bird looking to control but Hobbs is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bird tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bird avoids the attempt from Hobbs to control.
Hobbs working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hobbs tries to improve his position but instead Bird has taken his back!
Bird has the hooks in. Hobbs is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Hobbs defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Bird's arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird biding his time, looking for the opening.

Bird is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Hobbs taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Bird.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Bird!
After winning the bout, Michael Bird thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.