PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Athos Knox (ranked 4761 p4p, 424 weight class) and Jake Bird (ranked 3333 p4p, 347 weight class). Knox comes to the cage accompanied by Click Click Boom | Saliva. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Knox
vs
Bird

185 cm
20
188 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
19
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Athos Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake Bird!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox leaves Bird with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Knox definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Knox scores with a nice head shot.
Bird throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Knox to counter with a crisp jab.

Bird shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Knox trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird passes to side control.

Bird tries for a kimura but Knox is defending well.

Bird tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bird passes to full mount!
Knox is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Knox defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bird.
Knox sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bird tries to pass to full mount but Knox defends it.
Bird is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Knox!
Knox tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Knox stops Bird from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Knox is working to get back to half guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

Bird has control of Knox's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Knox regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Bird wants to take Knox's back here but Knox is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Knox is desperately trying to improve his position but Bird has a good base and remains in mount.
Bird wants to take Knox's back but he can't do it this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knox is trying to escape the mount.
Knox wants to hold on but Bird pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird tries to push Knox's head away but Knox is holding on tight.

Bird with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Knox is working to get back to half guard.
Knox tries to hold on but Bird postures up.
Bird fails to move to back control.
Knox is looking to improve his position but Bird isn't that keen on the idea.

Bird is working for a guillotine from mount but Knox frees his head quite easily.
Bird fails to take his opponent's back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knox regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox wants to get back to full guard.
Knox moves into full guard.
Knox keeping full guard, as Bird tries to pass.
Knox wants to sweep but no luck.
Knox bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bird's guard.

Bird trying to control the position.
Bird controlling the position.
Knox is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Knox stopping the sweep attempt from Bird.
Knox tries to free his leg and advance position but Bird is retaining full guard.
Bird can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Knox controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bird dives in for a single leg takedown but Knox sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Knox swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nice takedown defense from Knox. No joy for Bird on that attempt.
Jake Bird is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knox lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Knox is looking to clinch.
Bird doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Knox counters with a straight right hand.
Athos Knox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Bird.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Knox has managed to clinch.
Knox lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bird tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bird is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Knox is defending well.
Bird tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Knox smiles and moves away.
Knox dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox lands a body shot.

Bird bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Knox manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Knox prevents Bird from improving his position.
Bird trying to control from the bottom.
Knox slows the pace down in half guard.

Bird actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox trying to control the pace.
Bird trying to hold on to Knox's head to control him but Knox postures up.
Knox looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Knox continues to stall.
Jake Bird has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
More hug and hope from Knox.
Knox has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Knox wants to clinch up but Bird keeps it at a distance.
Bird tries for a takedown but Knox sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Knox is looking to counter punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bird is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Knox sizes up Bird with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Athos Knox dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bird misses with a takedown attempt - Knox sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bird looks for a takedown but Knox sprawls well.
Knox dips to his left and cracks Bird with an uppercut!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox lands with a nice body punch.
Athos Knox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knox uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bird fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Knox is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Bird.
Athos Knox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Bird.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox lands a jab to the nose.
Knox misses with a wild body shot.
Knox is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Knox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bird swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Knox lands a nice shot that snaps Bird's head back.
Bird has his takedown stuffed
and Knox cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bird takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox stuffs the takedown.
Knox uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Knox paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Athos Knox is winning the standup battle so far.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bird is defended easily by Knox.
Bird misses with a takedown
and Bird takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird looks for a takedown but Knox sprawls well.
Knox stuffs the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knox lands the left hand.
Bird doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird avoids the body shot from Knox.

Knox darts in and clinches Bird up against the cage.
Knox lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Knox throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Birds head.
Knox is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bird is trying to drag Knox to the mat but Knox just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bird tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bird takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Knox lands with a right to the head.
Knox throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Birds head.
Bird prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bird has Knox pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Knox manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knox throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Birds head.
Knox lands an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Knox creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Knox lands a shoulder strike.
Knox lands with a light punch inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Athos Knox showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Knox has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Athos Knox!
Athos Knox seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.