PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mister Birchum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Punch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Punch has chosen Get Knocked Out as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Birchum
vs
Punch

197 cm
23
192 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

193 cm
24
201 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mister Birchum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Punch!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birchum has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Punch finds it's way round the side to connect with Birchum's head.
Birchum takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ray Punch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Punch getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Punch displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Birchum throws out the jab.
Birchum lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Punch shoots in looking for a takedown. Birchum tries to sprawl out of it but Punch keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Birchum manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Birchum falls off balance throwing a combination
and Punch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Punch getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Punch looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Punch lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Birchum staying out of range there.
Birchum throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Punch looking to score a takedown here. Birchum is defending well but Punch drives through and ends up in Birchum's guard.
Punch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punch throwing strikes but missing.
Punch with a flurry of punches that miss.
Birchum keeping moving, preventing Punch from controlling successfully.
Punch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Punch throws a strike but Birchum rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Birchum working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Punch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Birchum is one step ahead there.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ray Punch.
Birchum takes a swing at Punch's ribcage but misses.
Punch rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Birchum counters with a stiff right hand.
Punch lands with an uppercut that bounces Birchum off the cage and back into rage.
A nice inside leg kick there by Punch. That's going to slow Birchum down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punch throws a quick inside leg kick.
Birchum scores with a nice strike.
Punch throws out a loose jab but Birchum uses good head movement to avoid it.
Birchum swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mister Birchum is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Punch throws a right hand that misses
and Birchum counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A shot to the liver by Punch. Beautiful body shot.
Punch looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Birchum throws an off balance right hand
and Punch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Punch thumps Birchum with a low kick.
Punch misses with a left hand
and Birchum counters with a nice uppercut.
Punch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Birchum was well out of range. Poor timing from Punch.
Birchum throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Punch changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Birchum tries to avoid it but Punch manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Birchum to the ground. Birchum escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punch slips a straight right by Birchum.
A jab from Punch finds it's way through Birchum's defenses.
Birchum slips under a jab.
Birchum lands a two punch combo.
Birchum takes a jab right on the kisser.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Birchum slaps away a takedown attempt from Punch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mister Birchum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Punch.
Punch throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Birchum counters with a series of strikes. Punch will be more careful next time no doubt.
Birchum tries to bum rush Punch with a series of wild strikes but Punch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Birchum takes a swing at Punch's ribcage but misses.
Birchum misses with a combination
and Punch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Punch misses with a right hand
letting Birchum counter with a right hand.

Punch closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Punch lands in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ray Punch will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Birchum throws a poor cross that misses
and Punch counters with a leg kick.
Punch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Birchum on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Birchum misses with a series of wild punches.
Punch slips a jab and a cross from Birchum.
Birchum ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Birchum with a nice cross.
Punch connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Birchum momentarily.
Punch feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Birchum's calf.
A big left from Punch misses.
That kick from Punch tenderised Birchum's leg. Birchum is trying to keep his angry face on.
An inside leg kick lands from Punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Punch.
Punch with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Punch throws a sloppy body shot
letting Birchum counter with a right hand.
Birchum is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Punch swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Birchum counters with a series of strikes. Punch will be more careful next time no doubt.
Good leg kick by Punch there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Birchum throws a poor cross that misses
and Punch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Punch feints and then cracks Birchum's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Birchum down.
Punch misses with an uppercut
and Birchum cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Punch fails to land the takedown.
The fighters circling - Birchum throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Birchum looks to land a left hand but Punch moved out of range nicely.
Punch stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punch misses with a body shot.
Punch scores with a punch to the head.
Punch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Birchum.
Punch scores with a hook to the body. Birchum takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A slow jab from Birchum misses its intended target.
Punch throws a nice outside leg kick.
Punch misses with a wild body shot.
Punch cracks Birchum with an open hand slap.
Ray Punch seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice jab there from Birchum.
Punch slips under a jab.
Birchum takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Punch connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Birchum closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punch misses with a hook
and Birchum connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Birchum uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Punch.
Birchum misses with an uppercut.
Punch lands a nice leg kick that just misses Birchum's sensitive parts.
Punch takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Punch lands with an overhand left.
Birchum throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Birchum misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Punch counters with a left to the body.
Punch dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Punch shoots in for a double leg but Birchum sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mister Birchum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Punch.
Birchum fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Punch misses with an uppercut
and Birchum counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Birchum thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Punch, as that shot connected.
Punch throws a lazy uppercut
and Birchum counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Birchum throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Punch counters with a good low kick that Birchum was not able to check.
Birchum connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Punch's hands.
Birchum misses with a body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice defenses there by Punch.
Punch throws a nice inside leg kick.
Punch misses with an uppercut
and Birchum counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Birchum throws a jab but it's blocked by Punch.
Birchum drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Punch fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Birchum on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mister Birchum will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Birchum stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Birchum wants it to stay on the feet.
Birchum misses with a hook
and Punch counters with an inside leg kick.
Punch with a nice cross.
Punch lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Birchum at a distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Punch.
Birchum with a hook.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Punch.
Punch fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Birchum has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Birchum throws a series of punches but Punch moves out of range.
Punch looks to throw the jab but Birchum is out of range.
Punch cracks Birchum with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Birchum misses with a lunging right hand
and Punch counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Punch.
Punch swings widly with a right hand
and Birchum counters with a stiff right hand.
Punch misses with a straight left.
Birchum scores with a nice right hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Punch.
Birchum misses with a jab to the body
and Punch counters with an inside leg kick.
Birchum defending well as Punch loads up on a big left hand.
Punch works the jab nicely.
Punch fails with a takedown attempt.
Mister Birchum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Punch.
Punch shoots in for a takedown but Birchum shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Punch stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Punch lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birchum lands with a hook. Punch tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Birchum throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Punch lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Birchum throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Birchum is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Punch throws a right hand that misses
and Punch takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Punch swings away with a body shot that misses
and Birchum counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Punch is rocked!
Birchum feints a kick and comes over the top with a right hand, followed by a left hook - both land, sending Punch crashing to the mat! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Mister Birchum!