PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jake Bird (ranked 1742 p4p, 225 weight class) and Abraham Alcantara (ranked 2435 p4p, 297 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bird
vs
Alcantara

170 cm
21
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
29
200 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Abraham Alcantara!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alcantara takes one on the button.
Bird has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Zero Tolerance in the buildup to the fight.
Alcantara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bird uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alcantara.
Alcantara shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Alcantara fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bird is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Alcantara.
Alcantara closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bird uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alcantara.
Alcantara misses the body punch
and Alcantara takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bird swats away the attempt to clinch by Alcantara.
Alcantara throws a jab but it's blocked by Bird.
Bird attempts a counter takedown but Alcantara avoids it well and moves away.
Alcantara stuffs the takedown.
Alcantara pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bird was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Alcantara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bird moves away.
Bird was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Alcantara has Bird up against the cage in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bird displaying some good clinch control by pressing Alcantara up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Alcantara lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Jake Bird has been cut.
Bird tries to pull guard but Alcantara holds him up against the cage and eventually Bird drops back down to his feet.
Alcantara lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Alcantara swings wildly with an uppercut but Bird uses good head movement to avoid it.

Bird manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Alcantara showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Alcantara decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bird, up you get!
Bird looks to throw the jab but Alcantara is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alcantara throws a chopping leg kick but Bird manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Alcantara works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Alcantara throws a leg kick that is checked

and Bird counters with a shoot takedown. Alcantara fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bird drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Alcantara manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bird has Alcantara in his guard.

Bird has an active guard here but Alcantara has managed to pass into half guard.

Bird looking for submissions off his back.

Bird is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alcantara pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bird looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Alcantara is stalling here. Bird is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Alcantara seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bird has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Alcantara tries to improve position but can't.

Bird working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Bird is trying to get an arm triangle but Alcantara is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bird is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Alcantara has escaped the position, nice work there.

Bird is trying to get an arm triangle but Alcantara is defending well.

Bird is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Alcantara is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Alcantara has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Bird swings around for an armbar but Alcantara sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bird's guard.
Alcantara passes Bird's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Bird is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alcantara pulls his head out easily.
Alcantara throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Bird to regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jake Bird will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jake Bird's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Alcantara misses with a few strikes there.
Alcantara catches Bird with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Alcantara feints and then cracks Bird's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bird down.
Bird uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alcantara.
Bird tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Alcantara manages to circle out of the way.
Some wild striking there from Alcantara.
Alcantara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bird tries to counter with a takedown but Alcantara is quick to defend against it.
Abraham Alcantara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bird shoots in looking for a takedown but Alcantara manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bird's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Alcantara moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bird moves in looking to clinch but Alcantara pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Alcantara throws out the jab.
Bird wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Bird is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Alcantara.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bird tries to pull guard but Alcantara won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird is trying to pull guard but Alcantara turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Bird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bird is trying to pull guard but Alcantara has him pressed against the cage.
Alcantara misses with a hook from the clinch.

Bird pulls guard.

Bird is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Alcantara is aware though and is defending well.

Bird is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Alcantara must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Alcantara throws a big right hand that misses.
Alcantara is looking to work some ground and pound but Bird has wrist control.
Alcantara working some strikes from top position.
Alcantara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Bird has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alcantara can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alcantara postures up in Bird's guard and throws a big left but Bird blocks it.
Alcantara working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alcantara lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Bird looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Alcantara has picked Bird up and slammed him! Bird can't keep hold of the triangle and Alcantara manages to pass to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alcantara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bird keeps working.
Bird is looking for a sweep.
Bird taking a bit of punishment here - Alcantara scoring with strikes.
Alcantara trying to control the action but Bird is working from the bottom.
Bird tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alcantara working the strikes but Bird uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Bird is staying active underneath Alcantara, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Bird looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bird looking for submissions off his back.

Bird is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Alcantara is tapping! Great win for Bird!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Jake Bird!