PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Danny Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brock Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brock Cormier has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bird
vs
Cormier

189 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

210 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danny Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brock Cormier!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Anthony Taglia and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cormier fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bird, pushing him back against the cage.
Bird tries to score a body lock takedown but Cormier shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Bird jumps guard.
Cormier looking to pass the guard.
Bird wants to sweep here but Cormier controlling him for the moment.

Bird looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bird could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bird 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier stopping the sweep attempt from Bird.
Cormier controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cormier throws a front kick aimed at Bird's knee but Bird avoids it well.
A little feinted left hand from Bird on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cormier defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bird.
Cormier wants to clinch up but Bird keeps it at a distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Bird misses its target.

Cormier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Cormier gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Cormier engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Cormier gets to his feet - Bird follows without any prompting.

Cormier fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bird sprawls well initially but Cormier persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bird tries to get to full guard but Cormier has control of the leg.
Cormier slows the pace down in half guard.
Bird might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cormier's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird is trying to get back to full guard.
Cormier wants to control but Bird is keeping him busy.
Bird tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bird tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Cormier is looking for a kimura here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Cormier shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cormier showed some decent athleticism there.
Cormier looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier prevents Bird from improving his position.

Bird has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Cormier escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Cormier!
Bird is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cormier off and has taken his back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bird looking to break Cormier's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Cormier remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Bird will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Cormier dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cormier fakes the leg kick and cracks Bird in the body.

Bird tries to sprawl but Cormier drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bird tries to roll over but Cormier keeps him under control.
Cormier perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bird is pressing down on Cormier's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cormier trying to control but Bird is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier passes Bird's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cormier looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bird with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cormier looks to land a strike but Bird avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier trying to control but Bird is working from the bottom.
Brock Cormier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bird thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cormier decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bird, up you get!
A shot to the liver by Cormier. Beautiful body shot.

Cormier is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bird's half guard.
Cormier sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cormier moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cormier tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Cormier happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird is looking for a sweep.
Cormier gets to mount! Bird was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Cormier throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Cormier is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Bird can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Cormier controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bird is looking to get to half guard.
Bird is working hard here to advance position.
Cormier controlling the pace for now.
Bird is in all sorts of trouble here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cormier wants to control the pace but Bird is squirming around nicely.
Bird is trying to reverse the position but instead Cormier has taken his back - oops!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Cormier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cormier looking to score a takedown here. Bird is defending well but Cormier drives through and ends up in Bird's guard.
Cormier trying to control but Bird is working from the bottom.

Bird isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cormier stacks Bird on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Cormier!
Cormier taking a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird is not content to let Cormier control the position.
Bird dodges the ground and pound from Cormier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird is being controlled here.
Bird looking for a sweep but Cormier has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Cormier prevents Bird from getting the reversal.
Cormier has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cormier trying to control but Bird is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Cormier is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Bird buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cormier misses with a few strikes there.
Bird swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Bird gets caught flat footed, as Cormier shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Cormier from controlling successfully.
Bird doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Bird looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bird looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cormier passes into side control.
Cormier moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
More stalling from Cormier.

Cormier stands up and beckons Bird to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Cormier closes the distance and pushes Bird back into the cage.
Bird jumps guard but Cormier stands there with Bird around his waist. Bird gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bird creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cormier's defenses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bird.
Cormier prevents a body shot from Bird.
Bird tries to pull guard but Cormier holds him up against the cage and eventually Bird drops back down to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cormier decides to pull guard.
Cormier trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Danny Bird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brock Cormier is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cormier is pulling down on Bird's head. It's preventing any offense from Bird, at least for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brock Cormier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cormier has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brock Cormier!