PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francois Dubonet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Birmiski comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Back - T.I. Dubonet has chosen Kevin Chalfant - Hold on to the vision in your eyes as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Francois Dubonet has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Birmiski
vs
Dubonet

170 cm
33
140 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

185 cm
38
161 lbs
27 - 23 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition

LOD: Affordable Quality
Just Fight (Everything 7$)

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 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ari Birmiski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Francois Dubonet!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birmiski tries to clinch up.
Dubonet scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Birmiski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dubonet manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Dubonet, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dubonet misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Birmiski misses with a wild combination.
Dubonet rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Birmiski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Birmiski darts in looking for a takedown but Dubonet gets double underhooks and turns Birmiski into the cage.
Dubonet lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Birmiski.

Dubonet manages to break the clinch.
Dubonet closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Dubonet misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Birmiski tries to clinch there but Dubonet circles away.
Birmiski wants to clinch
and Dubonet makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Birmiski clinches with his opponent.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Dubonet tries a body shot but Birmiski blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dubonet tries to break the clinch but Birmiski is controlling the position.
A body shot lands from Birmiski.
Dubonet misses with some punches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Birmiski lands a nice shot to the body.
Birmiski pressing his opponent against the cage.
Dubonet tries to circle away but Birmiski has him pinned against the cage.
Birmiski has Dubonet pressed against the cage, preventing Dubonet from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Birmiski taking a breather.
Birmiski blocks an uppercut.
Dubonet is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski wants to take the fight to the mat but Dubonet manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dubonet.
Dubonet blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Dubonet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Birmiski moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Dubonet moves into range and clinches up with Birmiski.
A head punch on the inside from Dubonet fails to land.
Dubonet fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dubonet blocking some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short body shot lands from Birmiski as the two fighters clinch.
Birmiski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dubonet tries to circle away but Birmiski has him pinned against the cage.
Dubonet throws a punch but it's blocked by Birmiski.
Birmiski manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Dubonet avoiding damage as Birmiski throws knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Birmiski.
Dubonet avoiding damage as Birmiski throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dubonet misses with a punch to the body.
Dubonet working hard to break the clinch.
Birmiski lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dubonet tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Birmiski's elbow.
Dubonet working aggressively here.
Dubonet struggles to land a body shot inside as Birmiski controls his hands.
Birmiski scores with a hook to the body.
Birmiski displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dubonet up against the cage.

Dubonet breaks from the clinch.

Birmiski closes the distance and clinches.
Birmiski pushes Dubonet back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dubonet.
Dubonet fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Birmiski throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dubonet blocks it with crossed arms.
Birmiski tries for a takedown but Dubonet manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Birmiski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Birmiski is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dubonet manages to break the clinch.
Dubonet misses with a low kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Birmiski blocks the leg kick.
Dubonet has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

Birmiski drives through and clinches with Dubonet against the cage.
Birmiski softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Birmiski is looking to control Dubonet's arms but Dubonet gets an underhook and turns him. Now Birmiski has his back to the cage.

Dubonet breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dubonet takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Dubonet misses with a few strikes there.
Birmiski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dubonet lands with a kick to the temple. Birmiski shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Birmiski throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dubonet stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Birmiski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dubonet pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Birmiski darts in and clinches Dubonet up against the cage.
Birmiski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dubonet gets through Birmiski's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
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 Ari Birmiski will probably get the nod.
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 closes the distance and pushes Dubonet back into the cage.
Ari Birmiski has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Birmiski is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Birmiski working aggressively here.
Birmiski leaning against his opponent.
Birmiski lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Birmiski softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Birmiski misses with a short punch on the inside.
Birmiski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Dubonet breaks from the clinch.
Dubonet tries to land a front kick but Birmiski steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
That kick from Birmiski tenderised Dubonet's leg. Dubonet is trying to keep his angry face on.
Birmiski takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Dubonet circles away from the clinch attempt
and Birmiski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Birmiski clinches up against the cage.
Dubonet is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski lands a good knee to the midsection. Dubonet won't want to take too many of those.
Dubonet stalling in the clinch but Birmiski improves position.
Birmiski is working Dubonet over against the cage.
Birmiski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dubonet tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Dubonet manages to break the clinch.
Birmiski with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dubonet to score with a decent uppercut.
Birmiski walks forward, straight into a front kick from Dubonet.
Birmiski walks into a jab.
A left lands for Birmiski.
Birmiski doesn't manage to clinch there - Dubonet circles away.
Dubonet throws a leg kick which misses Birmiski's front leg but catches the back leg as Birmiski tries to avoid it.

Birmiski shoots in and gets a takedown into Dubonet's guard.
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!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Birmiski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dubonet is keeping the position for now.
Birmiski wants to control from the top but Dubonet keeps moving.
Dubonet not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dubonet wants to sweep but no luck.
Birmiski throwing strikes but missing.
Dubonet pulls Birmiski in to control the position.
Birmiski looking to pass the guard.
Birmiski stopping the sweep attempt from Dubonet.
Birmiski working some strikes from top position.
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.
Birmiski sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Birmiski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dubonet managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Francois Dubonet.
Decent striking displayed by Dubonet there.
Dubonet fails to land with a series of punches.
Birmiski takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Dubonet circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dubonet counters with a nice kick to the body.
Birmiski is looking to clinch but Dubonet is avoiding it.
Birmiski tries to close the distance and clinch but Dubonet swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Birmiski showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dubonet.
Dubonet avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Birmiski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Birmiski avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Birmiski tries to clinch up.

Birmiski darts in and clinches Dubonet up against the cage.
Dubonet looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Birmiski is trying to maintain a safe position but Dubonet gets an underhook and turns Birmiski into the cage.
Birmiski lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Dubonet is trying to break the clinch but Birmiski has him pressed against the cage.

Birmiski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dubonet avoids the body shot from Birmiski.
Birmiski checks a leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dubonet takes a swing at Birmiski's ribcage but misses.
Birmiski throws out a loose jab but Dubonet uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Birmiski tries to clinch up.
Francois Dubonet seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Birmiski shoots in for a takedown but Dubonet shows good takedown defense.
Dubonet scoring well with a low kick there.
Birmiski tries to clinch but Dubonet moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Birmiski avoids the head kick by Dubonet.
Birmiski moves in looking to clinch but Dubonet pushes him off.
Birmiski scores with the left hand. Dubonet knows he should have avoided that one.
Birmiski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Birmiski is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Birmiski tries to clinch up but Dubonet circles away and keeps his distance.
Birmiski doesn't manage to clinch there - Dubonet circles away.
Birmiski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Francois Dubonet seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Birmiski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dubonet lands a nice uppercut.
Birmiski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Birmiski stalling in the clinch but Dubonet improves position.
Dubonet wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Birmiski has him pressed against the cage.
Birmiski misses with a body punch.
Birmiski looking to throw knees to the head but Dubonet is blocking nicely.
Birmiski tries to throw a body punch but Dubonet avoids it by throwing Birmiski back against the cage.
Birmiski has a couple of punches blocked by Dubonet.
Dubonet on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dubonet is looking to break free of the clinch but Birmiski has double underhooks.
Birmiski is working for takedown but Dubonet is calmly controlling the position for now.
Birmiski missing with knees to the body.
Dubonet lands with a short shot to the head.
Birmiski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Birmiski lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dubonet backwards.
Dubonet wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dubonet pushes Birmiski back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Birmiski fails to land.
Dubonet tries to work over Birmiski's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dubonet lands a left hand that snaps the head of Birmiski backwards.
Dubonet lands with a light punch inside.
Birmiski is pushing Dubonet up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Birmiski lands with a short shot to the head.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Birmiski here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Birmiski misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dubonet stops a takedown attempt from Birmiski.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dubonet lands with a short shot to the head.

Dubonet's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dubonet throws a head kick that misses.
Birmiski dodges the punch combination from Dubonet.
Dubonet jabs Birmiski to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Birmiski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dubonet swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Birmiski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Birmiski needs to keep his hands up - Dubonet had a free shot at his head there.
Francois Dubonet has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Birmiski moves in looking to clinch but Dubonet pushes him off.
Birmiski steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Dubonet. That one must have hurt.
Birmiski misses with a wild body shot.
Dubonet misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dubonet stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dubonet throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dubonet slips a jab from Birmiski.
Dubonet fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Birmiski manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dubonet throws a series of punches but Birmiski moves out of range.
Dubonet throws a right and a left that Birmiski avoids nicely.
Francois Dubonet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dubonet avoids the body shot from Birmiski.
Dubonet lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Birmiski is looking to clinch.
Francois Dubonet is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Birmiski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice jab there from Dubonet.
Dubonet lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Birmiski walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A head kick by Birmiski misses
and Dubonet counters with a right hand to the body.
Birmiski tries to close the distance and clinch but Dubonet swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dubonet tries a low kick but Birmiski avoids it.
Ari Birmiski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dubonet has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Birmiski clinches with his opponent.
Birmiski misses with a hook to the ribs.
Birmiski is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dubonet scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dubonet swings wildly with an uppercut but Birmiski uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Dubonet fails to land.
Dubonet wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Birmiski lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dubonet.
Birmiski with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dubonet wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Birmiski has him pressed against the cage.
Dubonet fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dubonet wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dubonet working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Dubonet pushes Birmiski back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Birmiski is rocked!
Dubonet is leaning against Birmiski and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Oh Birmiski is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dubonet misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francois Dubonet comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Birmiski 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Birmiski!
An out of breath Ari Birmiski thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.