PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Stryker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Birmiski might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to I'm Back - T.I. Stryker has chosen Go To Sleep as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Birmiski
vs
Stryker

170 cm
25
140 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

180 cm
21
147 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ari Birmiski!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Billy Stryker!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stryker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stryker lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Birmiski takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Birmiski scores with a shot to the body.
Stryker checks the leg kick nicely there.
Stryker throws a hook but Birmiski blocks it.
Birmiski bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Stryker tries to clinch but Birmiski is having none of it.
Stryker darts in trying to clinch
and Birmiski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stryker misses with an uppercut. Birmiski saw that one coming.

Stryker rushes Birmiski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stryker tries a body shot but Birmiski blocks it.
Stryker misses with a body punch.

Birmiski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Birmiski throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Stryker throws an overhand right that lands on Birmiski's shoulder, as Birmiski tries to avoid the shot.
Birmiski throws a sloppy head kick and Stryker moves out of range easily.
Stryker moves out of range of the body kick.
Birmiski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Stryker counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Birmiski moves into range and clinches up with Stryker.
Stryker is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stryker misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Birmiski.

Birmiski is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stryker can't fight it off and eventually Birmiski manages to take the fight to the floor. Stryker looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Birmiski wants to control from the top but Stryker keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Birmiski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski prevents Stryker from getting back to his feet.
Birmiski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Birmiski throwing strikes from guard but Stryker blocks nicely.
Stryker utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Birmiski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stryker is keeping the position for now.
Stryker has his hands on Birmiski's head, controlling the position.
Birmiski slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Birmiski wants to control for a moment but Stryker uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Birmiski trying to control from half guard but Stryker is working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Birmiski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Birmiski dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stryker misses with a looping left.
Birmiski thows a body shot but no joy.
Birmiski steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stryker.
Birmiski steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stryker.
Birmiski thows a body shot but no joy.
Birmiski avoids the body shot from Stryker.
Birmiski moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Stryker throws a looping overhand right but Birmiski ducks down to avoid it.
Stryker moves forwards but Birmiski connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stryker might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Birmiski lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stryker throws a hook but Birmiski avoids it easily.

Birmiski darts in and clinches Stryker up against the cage.
Birmiski has Stryker pushed against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stryker creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Birmiski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stryker has a couple of punches blocked by Birmiski.
Birmiski stalling.
Stryker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stryker's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Stryker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stryker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Birmiski's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Birmiski gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski misses with an elbow strike.
Stryker swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Birmiski throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Strykers head.
A hook to the body from Birmiski.
Stryker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stryker tries a body shot but Birmiski blocks it.
Stryker scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stryker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Birmiski scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stryker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stryker's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stryker.
A hook to the body from Birmiski.

Birmiski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stryker takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Birmiski throws a body punch but Stryker moves out of range.
Stryker loads up on a big right hand but Birmiski slips the punch.
Birmiski tries a head kick but it misses.

Stryker gets caught napping as Birmiski dives in and scores a takedown. Stryker manages to retain guard.
Stryker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Birmiski tries to free his leg and advance position but Stryker is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Birmiski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Birmiski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stryker is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski postures up.
Birmiski looking to sit in guard and control but Stryker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Birmiski has his foot on Stryker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stryker works his way back into a safe position though.
Birmiski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stryker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Birmiski is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stryker slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Birmiski dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Birmiski clinches.
Stryker misses with some punches.

Birmiski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stryker tries to clinch up.
Birmiski takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stryker throws a body punch but Birmiski moves out of range.
Birmiski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Birmiski shoots in looking for a takedown. Stryker tries to sprawl out of it but Birmiski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stryker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stryker chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Birmiski can pounce on him.
Birmiski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stryker was well out of range. Poor timing from Birmiski.
Stryker doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Billy Stryker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stryker moves in looking to clinch but Birmiski pushes him off.
Stryker throws a hook to the side of Birmiski's head but Birmiski sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stryker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stryker fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stryker is fending him off so far but Birmiski persists. Nope, Stryker circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Birmiski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stryker catches Birmiski with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A jab from Birmiski finds it's way through Stryker's defenses.
Birmiski lands a nice hook to Stryker's body. Stryker takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Birmiski lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Stryker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stryker misses with a straight right.
Birmiski misses with a wild body shot.
Stryker throws a hook but Birmiski blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stryker ducks under a wild hook from Birmiski.
Stryker blocks the body kick.
Stryker just misses with a punch to the body.
Birmiski tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Birmiski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stryker.
Stryker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ari Birmiski is winning the standup battle so far.
Birmiski stalks Stryker and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stryker's face. Stryker staggers backwards, shaken.
Stryker ducks right into an uppercut from Birmiski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stryker tries to clinch up.
Stryker scores with a jab to the head.
Stryker wants to clinch up but Birmiski keeps it at a distance.
Billy Stryker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Birmiski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stryker manages to avoid it.
Birmiski tries to move into range but Stryker moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Stryker swings for the body but Birmiski moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stryker. Birmiski does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stryker misses with a double jab.
Birmiski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Ari Birmiski did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Birmiski shoots in looking for a takedown. Stryker tries to sprawl out of it but Birmiski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stryker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stryker misses with a hook
and Birmiski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Birmiski lands a leg kick that knocks Stryker off balance momentarily.

Birmiski closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Birmiski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Birmiski not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Birmiski trying to control from half guard but Stryker is working away.
Stryker is trying to stand up here but Birmiski is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Birmiski is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Birmiski is looking to advance position but Stryker won't allow it.
Birmiski passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Stryker!
Birmiski working Stryker over with strikes here.
Birmiski misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Ari Birmiski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Birmiski thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stryker in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Birmiski landing strikes from the mount.
Birmiski is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Birmiski with shots to the head and body - Stryker looks very uncomfortable down there.

Stryker is rocked!
Stryker blocking the ground and pound.
Stryker is still in real trouble! Can Birmiski finish him?
Birmiski putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Birmiski 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.
Stryker is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Birmiski lands a big shot to the head and Stryker winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Ari Birmiski!
Ari Birmiski retains his bantamweight title!
Ari Birmiski made sure to mention his sponsor, Milwaukee's Best 160 -$100 SALE!!!!!!!!!!!! in his post fight interview.