PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Saz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiwi Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kiwi Bird is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Saz
vs
Bird

165 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

150 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 24 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruce Saz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kiwi Bird!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saz feints and as Bird raises his hands in defense, Saz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Saz won't allow Bird to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bird avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saz postures up in Bird's guard and throws a big left but Bird blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bird is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saz is controlling him.
Saz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Saz stands up over Bird, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Saz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bird works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saz is in close to Bird's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Saz throwing strikes from guard but Bird blocks nicely.
Bird has momentary wrist control but Saz slips an elbow through the middle.
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!
Saz throws and elbow that misses. Bird uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Saz's guard. Nice move by Bird!
Saz keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Saz punching from the bottom - just letting Bird know he's still in a fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Saz trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Saz lands an upkick as Bird stands over him.
Saz throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Saz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bird is one step ahead there.
Saz keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Saz will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Saz punching from the bottom.
Saz throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Saz throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bird looks gassed!
Saz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Saz wants to sweep here but Bird controlling him for the moment.
Bird has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Saz is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saz throwing short punches from the bottom.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saz throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Saz scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Saz with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Bird can't handle though.
Saz trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Saz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Saz scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Saz trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Saz throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bird stands up out of Saz's guard for a moment - Saz manages to land a nice upkick.
Saz trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bird is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Saz throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Saz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird preventing the sweep.
Saz will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Saz tries to strike from the bottom.
Saz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Saz throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Saz striking from the bottom.
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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saz is on top in guard.
Saz passes Bird's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Saz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Saz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ground and pound from Saz.
Bird is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Saz scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saz slips a nice elbow through Bird's hands, connecting with Bird's forehead.
Saz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saz is nestled in close to Bird, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Saz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saz drops an elbow to the side of Bird's head.
Bird taking some punishment here, with Saz in his half guard.
Saz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bird has hold of Saz's hands but Saz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Saz lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Saz connects with a nice short shot to Bird's temple.
Saz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Bird is rocked!
Bird is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Saz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bird is still in real trouble! Can Saz finish him?
Saz is nestled in close to Bird, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Saz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Saz looking to score a takedown here. Bird is defending well but Saz drives through and ends up in Bird's guard.
Bird seems to have recovered his senses.
Saz stands up over Bird, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Saz cracks Bird with a solid left hand.
Saz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saz working some strikes from top position.
Saz chips away with some ground and pound.
Saz throwing strikes but missing.
Saz postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Bird covers up, he's hurt! Saz keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Saz and the ref steps in to end the fight! Saz can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bruce Saz!