PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jay Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Christoforidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anton Christoforidis will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bird
vs
Christoforidis

160 cm
27
136 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

169 cm
27
135 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jay Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anton Christoforidis!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Columbo Gatti and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Christoforidis slaps away a takedown attempt from Bird, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bird shoots in for a takedown but Christoforidis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
An inside leg kick from Bird misses.
Bird wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Christoforidis leaves Bird with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Bird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bird.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bird closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Christoforidis to the mat! Christoforidis manages to get full guard.
Bird wants to control from the top but Christoforidis keeps moving.
Bird throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Christoforidis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird wants to control from the top but Christoforidis keeps moving.
Bird works over Christoforidis with some ground and pound from guard.
Bird in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Christoforidis controls Bird momentarily but Bird frees himself.
Bird in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Bird drops back, looking for a kneebar! Christoforidis looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Christoforidis looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Christoforidis!
Bird is looking to reverse the position.

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.
Bird has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bird looks to move to half guard but instead Christoforidis has passed into mount! Damn!
Bird is desperately trying to improve his position but Christoforidis has a good base and remains in mount.
Christoforidis tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
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.

Christoforidis stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Bird fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bird misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Christoforidis.
Bird dodges the punch combination from Christoforidis.
Bird scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird is looking to chop away at Christoforidis's legs.
Bird tries to score a power double leg takedown but Christoforidis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bird somewhat.
Christoforidis misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bird will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bird shoots in looking for a takedown. Christoforidis tries to sprawl out of it but Bird keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Christoforidis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
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 Jay Bird will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Christoforidis fails to land with a series of punches.
Bird's corner calls for a 1-2. Bird obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Jay Bird is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Christoforidis stuns Bird with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Bird scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bird throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Christoforidis is not content to let Bird control the position.
Bird tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bird is trying to get an arm triangle but Christoforidis is defending well.
Bird throws an elbow but Christoforidis slips to the side and avoids it well.
Bird creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Christoforidis sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bird creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Christoforidis sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bird cracks Christoforidis with a big elbow.
Bird working away.

That's two 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 tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Christoforidis managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Bird.
Bird taking a break here but Christoforidis is having none of it and regains half guard.
Christoforidis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bird.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bird is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Christoforidis sees it coming and defends easily.
Christoforidis tries to roll over but Bird keeps him under control.

Bird is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Christoforidis is staying active underneath Bird, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bird missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Christoforidis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bird.
Bird thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bird frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bird tries to control but Christoforidis wriggling away.

Bird goes for an armbar but Christoforidis turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Christoforidis.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bird looking to hit a scissor sweep but Christoforidis is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Bird dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bird fails with a takedown attempt.
Bird turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Bird closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Christoforidis to the mat! Christoforidis manages to get full guard.
Bird is pushing down on Christoforidis's leg trying to pass to half guard. Christoforidis is fighting to maintain full guard but Bird has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bird is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Bird throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Bird goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Christoforidis turns into him and now he's in Bird's guard.
Bird not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Christoforidis won't allow Bird to sweep him here.

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.
Christoforidis has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bird is proving hard to escape from.
Bird looking for a sweep. Not yet Bird, not yet.
Bird looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bird tries to close the distance and clinch up but Christoforidis swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christoforidis thuds a left hand into Bird's body.
Christoforidis changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bird fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Christoforidis stuffs the takedown attempt from Bird. Bird gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Bird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bird misses with a combination
and Christoforidis counters with a right hand to the body.
Bird will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christoforidis looks to land a combination but Bird avoids it well.
Bird shoots in for a takedown but Christoforidis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Christoforidis lands a nice shot to the body.
Christoforidis scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bird takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Christoforidis connects with a looping right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Christoforidis scores with a hook to the body. Bird takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Christoforidis pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bird back to the cage. Christoforidis follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bird tries to clinch there but Christoforidis circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anton Christoforidis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bird 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight for Anton Christoforidis!
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight for Anton Christoforidis!
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight for Anton Christoforidis!

Anton Christoforidis wins by unanimous decision!