PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alonzo Birmingham (ranked 4700 p4p, 4858 weight class) and Jason Keyes (ranked 504 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Birmingham
vs
Keyes

170 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alonzo Birmingham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Keyes!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birmingham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Keyes has Birmingham up against the cage in a clinch.
Keyes tries for a takedown. No joy.
Birmingham tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Keyes's elbow.
Birmingham wants to get back to striking at distance but Keyes won't allow it.
Birmingham tries to break free but Keyes pushes him back against the cage.
Keyes tries to pull guard but Birmingham holds him up against the cage and eventually Keyes drops back down to his feet.
Birmingham is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Alonzo Birmingham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Keyes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birmingham tries to break the clinch but Keyes is controlling the position.
Keyes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Keyes pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keyes trying to control the position.

Keyes looking for a guillotine here but Birmingham defends easily.
Keyes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Birmingham manages to get himself to full guard.

Keyes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Keyes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keyes is still trying to improve position.

Birmingham uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Keyes throws a head kick that misses.
Birmingham tries to bum rush Keyes with a series of wild strikes but Keyes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Keyes shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Birmingham napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Keyes is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Birmingham will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Birmingham tries to bench press Keyes off him but Keyes keeps the position.
Keyes moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmingham is looking to regain half guard here but Keyes keeps moving and retains side control.
An elbow from Keyes crashes against the mat.
Birmingham might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Keyes decides to stand back up.
Keyes has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Jason Keyes has been cut.
Birmingham throws a leg kick but Keyes sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Keyes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Birmingham did well to prevent Keyes getting side control.
Birmingham wants to stand back up but Keyes manages to pass into side control.
Birmingham is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keyes throws a strike aimed at the side of Birmingham's head but Birmingham avoids it well.

Keyes decides to stand back up. Keyes steps back and let's Birmingham get back to his feet.
Birmingham stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Birmingham wants it to stay on the feet.
Keyes lands with a hook. Birmingham tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Keyes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Keyes is struggling to control the position.
Keyes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Birmingham tries to circle away but Keyes has him pinned against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jason Keyes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jason Keyes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Keyes moves into range and clinches up with Birmingham.
Keyes is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Birmingham tries to break the clinch but Keyes is controlling the position.
Birmingham has had enough of the clinch but Keyes keeps him there for the moment.
Birmingham has had enough of the clinch but Keyes keeps him there for the moment.
Birmingham wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Keyes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Birmingham working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birmingham misses with a hook to the ribs.

Keyes manages to break the clinch.
Alonzo Birmingham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Birmingham thows a leg kick but Keyes checks it
and Birmingham takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keyes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Birmingham counters with a left and a right that stings Keyes.
Birmingham throws a shot to the body.
Keyes slips a jab and a cross from Birmingham.
Nice takedown defense from Birmingham. No joy for Keyes on that attempt.
Birmingham throws a one two combo.
Birmingham leaves Keyes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alonzo Birmingham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Keyes.
Keyes is breathing heavily.
Birmingham misses with a two punch combination.

Keyes moves into the clinch.

Keyes breaks from the clinch.
Keyes shoots in and drives through. Birmingham sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Keyes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Birmingham lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Keyes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Keyes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Birmingham lands a leg kick that knocks Keyes off balance momentarily.
Birmingham scores with a hook to the body. Keyes takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice takedown defense from Birmingham. No joy for Keyes on that attempt.
Keyes takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Birmingham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Keyes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Birmingham.
Alonzo Birmingham is winning the standup battle so far.
Birmingham lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Keyes backs up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keyes fails with the takedown.
Birmingham misses with a kick to the body.
Keyes with the counter takedown but Birmingham avoids it easily.
Birmingham misses with a few strikes there.
Birmingham misses the shot to the body.
As Birmingham backs off Keyes throws a huge counter combo but Birmingham manages to avoid it all.

Keyes gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Keyes pulls guard effortlessly.
Birmingham trying to control the position from guard on top but Keyes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Birmingham has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Keyes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Keyes wants to sweep here but Birmingham controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmingham showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Birmingham with a nice head shot there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Birmingham is looking to stand up but Keyes won't let him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Birmingham throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alonzo Birmingham dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jason Keyes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Keyes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Birmingham chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A punch combination from Birmingham misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Birmingham as he connects with a hook.
Birmingham throws a series of punches but Keyes moves out of range.
Birmingham throws a low kick, looking for Keyes's leg but Keyes calmly moves out of range.
Keyes dives in for a single leg takedown but Birmingham sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Birmingham went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Birmingham punishes Keyes's body with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birmingham lands a slapping body shot.
Keyes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Birmingham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Birmingham catches Keyes with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Keyes shoots in but Birmingham avoids the takedown attempt easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Birmingham misses the target.
Alonzo Birmingham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Keyes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Keyes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Birmingham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Keyes can do to turn this around?
Birmingham has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Keyes leaning against his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Birmingham's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Keyes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Birmingham wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Birmingham can't break the clinch.
Birmingham wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Keyes has him pressed against the cage.

Keyes pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmingham wanted to stand there but Keyes had control of the position.
Keyes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Birmingham knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Keyes on the ground.
Birmingham is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Keyes decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Keyes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keyes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Birmingham to score with a decent uppercut.
Birmingham lands with a good body shot.
A low kick lands for Keyes.
Keyes closes the distance and clinches up with Birmingham, looking for a takedown. Keyes pushes Birmingham against the cage but Birmingham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Birmingham lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Birmingham throws a leg kick but Keyes moved away.
Keyes dodges the punch combination from Birmingham.

Keyes has closed the distance and engaged Birmingham in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keyes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Birmingham after a bit of a struggle.
Birmingham is looking to break free of the clinch but Keyes has double underhooks.

Keyes manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Birmingham trying to control but Keyes is working from the bottom.
Birmingham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Keyes keeping moving, preventing Birmingham from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Birmingham with a flurry of punches that miss.
Keyes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Birmingham manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alonzo Birmingham showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Birmingham 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alonzo Birmingham!
After the fight, Alonzo Birmingham was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.