PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory Kincade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Birmiski comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Back - T.I. Kincade has chosen Good Rats as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Birmiski
vs
Kincade

170 cm
34
140 lbs
23 - 18 - 0

162 cm
30
144 lbs
23 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's All 160
[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition

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 23 - 18 - 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 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rory Kincade!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kincade avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kincade tries to sprawl but Birmiski drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kincade trying to control but Birmiski postures up.
Birmiski wants to control but Kincade is keeping him busy.
Kincade keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kincade keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Birmiski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kincade is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Birmiski scores with a couple of nice shots.

Birmiski is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kincade sees it coming and defends easily.
Kincade wants to control but Birmiski is keeping busy.
Kincade avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Birmiski.
Kincade wants to get back to full guard.

Kincade looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kincade's head.

Birmiski seems to be looking for submissions.
Kincade trying to control from the bottom.
Birmiski lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Birmiski winds up and cracks Kincade with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Birmiski looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kincade with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Birmiski thows a huge punch but Kincade dodges it nicely.
Birmiski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kincade is not content to let Birmiski control the position.

Birmiski is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kincade sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kincade is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Birmiski scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kincade wants to control but Birmiski is keeping busy.
Kincade wants to improve his position but Birmiski is controlling well.
Birmiski looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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!
Kincade wants to control but Birmiski is keeping busy.
Birmiski wants to control but Kincade is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kincade is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Birmiski's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Birmiski's back!
Birmiski tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Birmiski is looking to get to half guard.
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.
Kincade punishing his opponent with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kincade with good strikes from the mount here!
Kincade working the ground and pound effectively.
Birmiski wants to hold on but Kincade pushes him away.
Kincade with a couple of short strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kincade landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kincade takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Kincade has control of Birmiski's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Birmiski regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kincade scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Birmiski?
Birmiski is working to get back to half guard.
Birmiski manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Birmiski regains full guard. Nicely done.
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.

Kincade thows a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Birmiski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Birmiski is looking to clinch but Kincade is avoiding it.
Birmiski darts in trying to clinch
and Kincade counters with a body kick.
Kincade chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Birmiski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kincade looks to score with a jab to the body but Birmiski is just out of range.

Birmiski scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kincade keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kincade manages to get to full guard.
Birmiski scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kincade is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Kincade working for a triangle but Birmiski defends it easily.
Kincade looking to control.
Birmiski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Birmiski with a nice head shot there.
Birmiski tries to free his leg and advance position but Kincade is retaining full guard.
Birmiski trying to control but Kincade is working from the bottom.
Kincade controls Birmiski momentarily but Birmiski frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kincade working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Birmiski.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kincade keeping moving, preventing Birmiski from controlling successfully.
Birmiski working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kincade keeping moving, preventing Birmiski from controlling successfully.
Birmiski is in close to Kincade's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Birmiski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Birmiski works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Birmiski is looking to advance position but Kincade won't allow it.
Birmiski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kincade is looking to control Birmiski's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kincade avoid being mounted?
Kincade is trying to get back to full guard.
Birmiski is keen to just control but Kincade is a slippery customer.
Birmiski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kincade's head.
Birmiski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Birmiski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kincade's head.
Birmiski throwing shots but Kincade is blocking nicely.
Birmiski lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Birmiski thows a huge punch but Kincade dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski throwing shots but Kincade is blocking nicely.
Birmiski throwing shots but Kincade is blocking nicely.
Kincade is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kincade moves into full guard.
Birmiski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Birmiski throwing strikes but missing.
Birmiski scoring with punches to the head and body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Birmiski advances position into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kincade avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Birmiski.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Birmiski dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Kincade swats away the attempt to clinch by Birmiski.
Birmiski doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Birmiski doesn't manage to clinch there - Kincade circles away.
Kincade avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Birmiski takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Birmiski wants to clinch.
Birmiski tries to clinch up.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kincade tries a low kick but Birmiski avoids it.
Birmiski looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kincade throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Birmiski stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kincade throws a nice head kick!
Kincade avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Birmiski has his takedown stuffed
and Kincade counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kincade lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kincade loads up on a big right hand but Birmiski slips the punch.
Birmiski defending well as Kincade loads up on a big left hand.
Birmiski tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kincade defends well and Birmiski ends up having to push Kincade into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kincade drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Birmiski gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kincade working aggressively here.
Kincade's coach down at Full Affliction Fight Team was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Kincade's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A right hook to the body lands for Kincade.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kincade tries to land knees in the clinch but Birmiski avoids the damage to the body.
Kincade landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kincade is stalling here.
Birmiski lands a hook to the side of the head.
Birmiski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kincade is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kincade creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Birmiski lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kincade.
Birmiski using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kincade has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Birmiski lands a hook to the side of the head.
A bit of stalling here from Kincade.
Birmiski is trying to break free.
Birmiski managing to block the knees to the body from Kincade.
Birmiski taking a breather.
Birmiski changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kincade fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Birmiski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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!
A jab lands there for Kincade.
Kincade throws a leg kick but Birmiski checks it.
Birmiski tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kincade counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski moves in looking to clinch but Kincade pushes him off.
Birmiski tries to clinch up.

Birmiski has Kincade up against the cage in a clinch.
Birmiski content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Birmiski takes a shot to the head.
Birmiski misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Birmiski fails to land.
Rory Kincade has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Birmiski lands a body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kincade wants to take the fight to the mat but Birmiski manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Birmiski misses with a punch on the inside.
Ari Birmiski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kincade tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Birmiski avoids it.
Birmiski displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kincade up against the cage.
Kincade working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski trying to control the position but instead, Kincade has worked for underhooks and has pushed Birmiski into the cage.
Birmiski lands a nice knee to the body.
Birmiski has a couple of punches blocked by Kincade.
Kincade prevents a body shot from Birmiski.
Kincade tries to pull guard but Birmiski forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Birmiski stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knees to the body from Birmiski.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Birmiski keeps control of Kincade as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kincade lands an elbow that stopped Birmiski in his tracks for a moment.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kincade obliges.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rory Kincade.
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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Birmiski!
A relieved looking Ari Birmiski thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.