PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Efren Bird (ranked 24587 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jax Maine (ranked 4799 p4p, 0 weight class). Jax Maine has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bird
vs
Maine

171 cm
19
278 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

200 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Efren Bird!
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, Jax Maine!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maine moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Maine has clasped his hands together around Bird's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Bird tries to improve position but can't.
Maine working away.
Bird looking for a sweep but Maine has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Bird wants to control but Maine is having none of it.
Maine misses with a head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird is trying to escape the mount.
Maine takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bird might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bird is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maine trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bird tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bird tries to hold on but Maine postures up.
Bird is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Maine has taken his back!

Maine is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
You can see the frustration on Bird's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Bird breaks Maine's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Maine is trying to keep Bird in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maine wants to hit a switch here but Bird passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Maine there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird blocks Maine's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Maine's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Bird could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bird avoids the attempt from Maine to control.
Maine manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Maine tries to get to full guard but Bird has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maine is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Bird is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maine has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Maine tries to roll over but Bird keeps him under control.

Maine actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Bird is working for a submission of some sort.
Maine moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Maine has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Bird is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Maine.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bird wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maine, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jax Maine will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maine feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bird is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Maine dives into side control.

Maine is trying to get an arm triangle but Bird is defending well.
Bird is looking for a sweep.
Bird is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maine taking a breather here.
Bird wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Maine wants to control but Bird is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maine misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Maine stands up.
Maine scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Maine shoots in and bounces Bird off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bird wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Maine manages to pass to side control.

Bird wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maine sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bird defending well though.

Bird looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bird keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Maine decides to stand up.

Maine shoots in and gets a takedown into Bird's guard.
Maine slips nicely into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maine is keen to just control but Bird is a slippery customer.
Maine thows a huge punch but Bird dodges it nicely.
Bird flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Bird tries to roll over but Maine keeps him under control.
Maine has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird tries to hold on but Maine postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maine moves to the back position.
I really don't envy Bird right now.
Maine slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Maine misses with punches from the back.
Maine trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
I really don't envy Bird right now.

Maine looking to break Bird's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Bird remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Maine will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Maine looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Bird looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Maine really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Bird.
Bird rolls, trying to escape but Maine keeps control of the position.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Maine. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Bird trying to control the hands but Maine won't let him.
Maine controlling the position well here. Bird rolled but Maine kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jax Maine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Maine closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bird did well to prevent Maine getting side control.
Bird is trying to get back to full guard.
Bird is trying to stand.
Maine has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bird wants to get back to full guard but Maine has passed into side control.
Maine working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Maine has control of an arm but Bird manages to advance to Maine's back!
I would not like to be Maine right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird not allowing Maine to control his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maine breaks Bird's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Maine trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bird has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Maine has passed into side control.
Bird manages to get back to half guard.

Bird looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maine is pressing down on Bird's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bird is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maine is looking to take a break and control but Bird is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maine throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bird is trying to control but can't.
Maine blocks the strikes from Bird.
Bird wants to control but Maine passes into side.
Bird misses with a strike from the bottom.

Maine looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maine trying to control the position but Bird is working away.

Maine tries for a kimura but Bird is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maine wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bird strikes from the bottom but Maine takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Maine trying to control but Bird is having none of it.
Bird avoids a series of strikes thrown by Maine.
Bird blocking the ground and pound.
Bird keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bird throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maine throws some wild stikes that Bird manages to avoid easily.

Maine is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Maine gets a clinch.
Maine being controlled against the cage.
Bird wants to break free but Maine has control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Maine pulls guard successfully.
Efren Bird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jax Maine is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Maine managing to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jax Maine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maine 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jax Maine!