PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Asa Mccormick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiven Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kiven Bird has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Asa Mccormick's chin.

Mccormick
vs
Bird

164 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
130 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Asa Mccormick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kiven Bird!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bird fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mccormick, pushing him back against the cage.
Mccormick stops a takedown attempt from Bird.
Bird tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mccormick smiles and moves away.
Bird will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Asa Mccormick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kiven Bird.
Bird pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mccormick wants to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bird. Mccormick does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mccormick avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bird misses with a takedown attempt
and Mccormick counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mccormick gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Bird has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Mccormick clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Mccormick tries to roll but Bird sticks to his back.
Bird is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mccormick is working hard here to advance position.

Bird is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
You can see the frustration on Mccormick's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Mccormick wants to get back to his feet.
Bird is punishing Mccormick with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccormick tries to escape the position.
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 working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Mccormick trying to control the position but Bird manages to sink in the hooks.
Mccormick is trying to get back to his feet but Bird has full control of the position and if anything, Mccormick has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mccormick is in bad spot here.

Bird working for a choke but Mccormick is defending well.
Bird is looking to control Mccormick but Mccormick is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccormick is really stuck here.
Mccormick knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bird on the ground.
A lull in the action here.
Mccormick trying to get back to his feet but Bird is in full control for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bird controlling well, preventing Mccormick from escaping the position.

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.
Bird throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Mccormick might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mccormick tries to escape but Bird has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mccormick tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bird is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mccormick wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mccormick tries to lock up and control but Bird gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mccormick is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Bird gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiven Bird dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mccormick slaps away a takedown attempt from Bird, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Mccormick gets caught napping as Bird dives in and scores a takedown. Mccormick manages to retain guard.
Bird is in close to Mccormick's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mccormick keeping moving, preventing Bird from controlling successfully.
Mccormick is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mccormick wants to get back to his feet but Bird is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mccormick is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bird postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mccormick slaps away a takedown attempt from Bird, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Bird gets a takedown into half guard.

Bird is working for a kimura but Mccormick is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccormick is looking for a sweep. Bird is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bird is keen to just control but Mccormick is a slippery customer.

Bird looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird prevents Mccormick from improving his position.

Bird is looking for a kimura here.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bird wants to pass the guard but Mccormick is defending well.
Bird stops Mccormick from getting back to his feet.
Mccormick gets full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mccormick wants to stand but Bird is controlling the position.
Bird wants to control from the top but Mccormick keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiven Bird showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bird tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mccormick manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Bird closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bird tries for a takedown but Mccormick manages to get underhooks.
Bird tries to score a body lock takedown but Mccormick shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bird is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Asa Mccormick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kiven Bird.

Bird has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Mccormick clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bird seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Mccormick's chin but Mccormick turns very nicely into Bird's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Mccormick.
Mccormick with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccormick postures up.
Mccormick postures up in Bird's guard and throws a big left but Bird blocks it.
Bird not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Mccormick from controlling successfully.
Mccormick stands up over Bird, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mccormick throws a strike but Bird rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mccormick had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bird defends it easily.

That's two 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.
Bird wants to control from the top but Mccormick keeps moving.
Mccormick wants to sweep here but Bird controlling him for the moment.
Kiven Bird has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mccormick throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mccormick keeping moving, preventing Bird from controlling successfully.
Bird stops Mccormick from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bird sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mccormick's guard.
Mccormick looks like he's trying to stand up.

Bird is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mccormick won't allow Bird to pass to mount.
Mccormick is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bird gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mccormick makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Bird really felt that one!
Bird takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mccormick feints and as Bird raises his hands in defense, Mccormick changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mccormick controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mccormick with a nice head shot there.
Bird is controlling Mccormick's posture.
Mccormick wants to stand but Bird has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Asa Mccormick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kiven Bird is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mccormick loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kiven Bird.
I've got Bird winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiven Bird!