PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gordon Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Birmiski comes into a darkened arena with his song building. I'm Back - T.I kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Freeman
vs
Birmiski

170 cm
32
149 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

170 cm
38
144 lbs
26 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gordon Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ari Birmiski!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman dives in for a single leg takedown but Birmiski sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Birmiski is looking to clinch but Freeman is avoiding it.
Birmiski with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Birmiski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Freeman swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Birmiski closes the distance and pushes Freeman back into the cage.
Freeman is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Birmiski lands with a left to the head.
Birmiski lands with a right to the head.
Birmiski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Freeman is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Freeman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short uppercut from Freeman.
Freeman blocking some punches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Birmiski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Birmiski lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski misses with a punch on the inside.
Freeman blocking some punches.
Birmiski working aggressively here.
Birmiski can't find room to land a body shot as Freeman controls the action.
Birmiski lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Freeman lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Birmiski.
Birmiski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Birmiski misses with a punch on the inside.
Freeman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Birmiski has Freeman pressed against the cage.
Birmiski prevents a body shot from Freeman.
Freeman tries for a takedown. No joy.
Birmiski stalling in the clinch.
Freeman misses with a punch to the body.
Birmiski presses Freeman against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Freeman prevents a body shot from Birmiski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Birmiski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Freeman.
Birmiski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Birmiski has a couple of punches blocked by Freeman.
Birmiski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Freeman stops a takedown attempt from Birmiski.
Freeman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Freeman lands with a light punch inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Birmiski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Birmiski taking a breather.
Birmiski misses with a punch on the inside.
Freeman pushes Birmiski back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Freeman.
Birmiski looking to slow down the pace here.
Birmiski tries to stall but Freeman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Freeman - that landed with a thud.
Freeman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Freeman tries a body shot but Birmiski blocks it.
Birmiski swings wildly with an uppercut but Freeman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Freeman lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Birmiski misses with the head strike.
Birmiski blocks a body shot from Freeman.
Birmiski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Birmiski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Freeman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Birmiski blocks an uppercut.
Birmiski misses with a punch to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Freeman.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Birmiski.
Birmiski tries a body shot but Freeman blocks it.
Freeman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski tries to land knees in the clinch but Freeman avoids the damage to the body.
Birmiski throws an elbow but it misses.
Birmiski misses with a hook to the ribs.
Birmiski gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Freeman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gordon Freeman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freeman misses with a punch to the body.
Freeman misses with the head strike.
Birmiski tries to work over Freeman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Freeman lands a left hand that snaps the head of Birmiski backwards.
Freeman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Birmiski misses with a punch to the body.
Freeman prevents a body shot from Birmiski.
Birmiski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Freeman lands a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Freeman tries to work over Birmiski's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Birmiski misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ari Birmiski will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Birmiski tries to close the distance and clinch but Freeman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Freeman swats away the attempt to clinch by Birmiski.
Birmiski has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Freeman is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Birmiski gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nice takedown defense from Birmiski. No joy for Freeman on that attempt.
Freeman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Freeman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Birmiski sprawls and moves away.
A head kick by Birmiski misses

and Freeman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Freeman.
Freeman preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman is working Birmiski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Birmiski looking for a guillotine here but Freeman defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Freeman scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski is looking to stand up but Freeman isn't so interested in that idea.
Freeman postures up and lands a big shot to Birmiski's brow.
Freeman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Birmiski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Birmiski looking to control.
Freeman distracts Birmiski with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Freeman trying to control the position from guard on top but Birmiski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Freeman scoring with punches to the head and body.
Freeman slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Birmiski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Freeman scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Freeman is looking to take a break and control but Birmiski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Freeman performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Birmiski wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Freeman misses with a head shot. Birmiski uses the momentum to regain guard.

Birmiski escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Freeman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Freeman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Freeman cracks Birmiski with a solid left hand.
Freeman won't allow Birmiski to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Birmiski is looking to sweep but instead, Freeman has passed into half guard.
Birmiski trying to hold on to Freeman's head to control him but Freeman postures up.
Birmiski is looking to escape.
Freeman is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Freeman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Birmiski trying to control but Freeman postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gordon Freeman dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Freeman keeps the fight on the outside.
Birmiski is looking to clinch.
Freeman is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Freeman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Birmiski wants to clinch up but Freeman keeps it at a distance.
Freeman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Birmiski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Birmiski tries to close the distance and clinch but Freeman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Birmiski wants to clinch up but Freeman keeps it at a distance.

Birmiski darts in and clinches Freeman up against the cage.
Birmiski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Freeman's elbow.
Birmiski is working Freeman over against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birmiski scores with a nice hook to the head.
Freeman blocks an uppercut.
Birmiski misses with some punches.
Birmiski tries to stall but Freeman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Freeman working aggressively here.
Birmiski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski cracks Freeman with a nice body shot.
Freeman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Birmiski is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Freeman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Birmiski trying to land knees to the body.
Freeman wants a takedown.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Birmiski.
Birmiski just leaning against Freeman, taking a breather.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Birmiski.
Freeman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Birmiski gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Freeman misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Freeman.
Birmiski throws a punch but it's blocked by Freeman.
Birmiski lands a nice uppercut.
Birmiski misses with some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Birmiski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman tries to stall but Birmiski uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Freeman swings wildly with an uppercut but Birmiski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Birmiski lands a right hand that snaps the head of Freeman backwards.
Birmiski lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Freeman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Birmiski has closed the distance and engaged Freeman in a clinch.
Freeman misses with a hook to the ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Birmiski struggles to land a body shot inside as Freeman controls his hands.
Ari Birmiski seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Birmiski wants to stall.
Freeman blocks a body shot from Birmiski.
Birmiski throws a punch but it's blocked by Freeman.
Birmiski is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short body shot lands from Freeman as the two fighters clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Freeman.
Freeman can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gordon Freeman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freeman managing to block the knees to the body from Birmiski.
Freeman wants a takedown.
Freeman blocks an uppercut.
Birmiski throws a punch but it's blocked by Freeman.
Birmiski taking a breather.
Birmiski throws a head punch that misses.
Birmiski lands with a short shot to the head.
Birmiski works on Freeman's body with a couple of short punches.
Freeman trying to stall but Birmiski improves his position.
Birmiski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Birmiski.
Birmiski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Birmiski is working Freeman over against the cage.
Birmiski tries to work over Freeman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski goes for a takedown in the clinch but Freeman prevents it.
Freeman takes a shot to the head.
Freeman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Birmiski is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Freeman pushes Birmiski back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Birmiski tries to work over Freeman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Freeman.
A short uppercut from Freeman.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Birmiski slowing the pace effectively.
Birmiski trying to stall but Freeman improves his position.
The referee calls for Freeman to work.
Birmiski is looking to control Freeman's arms but Freeman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Birmiski has his back to the cage.
Still in the clinch, Birmiski scores with a nice short uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Birmiski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Birmiski has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Birmiski!
A very excited looking Ari Birmiski made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.