PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gleik Verdasco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiwi Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bird has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Verdasco
vs
Bird

170 cm
23
132 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

150 cm
20
130 lbs
0 - 60 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gleik Verdasco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 60 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kiwi Bird!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verdasco stalks Bird and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bird's face. Bird staggers backwards, shaken.

Verdasco moves into the clinch successfully.

Verdasco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bird should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Verdasco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bird wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bird can't break the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Verdasco.
Bird looks gassed!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Verdasco.

Verdasco has Bird pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Verdasco pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Bird tumbling to the mat - Verdasco dives into Bird's guard.

Verdasco gets to his feet - Bird follows without any prompting.

Verdasco closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bird's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdasco with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Verdasco decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Verdasco bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Verdasco in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Verdasco stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Verdasco looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bird!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Verdasco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verdasco scoring with strikes but Bird is staying in there.

Verdasco throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Bird has his hands clasped together but Verdasco breaks the hold and Bird is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Verdasco!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gleik Verdasco!