PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Power (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Birmiski comes into the arena with I'm Back - T.I blaring out of the sound system. Power is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Max is coming, better be ready.... Ari Birmiski has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Birmiski
vs
Power

170 cm
34
140 lbs
23 - 17 - 0

185 cm
38
168 lbs
35 - 22 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition

Fury Nutrition Inc.
GREEN!160

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 23 - 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 35 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Power!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birmiski tries to clinch up.
Power has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Birmiski is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Birmiski wants to clinch but Power slips to the side
and Power makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ari Birmiski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Birmiski shoots in for a takedown but Power shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Power swats away the attempt to clinch by Birmiski.
Birmiski takes one to the chin there.
Birmiski tries to clinch there but Power circles away.
Birmiski has his takedown stuffed
enabling Power to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Ari Birmiski has been cut.
Power fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Birmiski manages to avoid it.
A slow jab from Power misses its intended target.
Birmiski misses with a series of wild punches.
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 gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Birmiski has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
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!

Power breaks the clinch.
Birmiski connects with a leg kick. Power looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Birmiski connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski misses with a hook
and Power counters with a right hand to the body.
Birmiski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Power misses with a hook. Birmiski ducked under it nicely.
Power scores with a jab to the body.
Power uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Birmiski.
Good exchange - Power coming out on top.
Birmiski darts in looking for a takedown but Power gets double underhooks and turns Birmiski into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Birmiski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Power is leaning against Birmiski and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Power tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Birmiski.
Birmiski is trying to drag Power to the mat but Power just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A body shot lands from Power.
Birmiski is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Power scores with a shoulder strike.
Power scores with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Power's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Power instigates a clinch.
Good body shot from Power.
Power scores with a shot to the side of Birmiski's head.
Power is stalling here.
Birmiski misses with a short punch on the inside.
Power misses with a hook from the clinch.
Birmiski blocks an uppercut.
Birmiski cracks Power with a nice body shot.
Birmiski trying to land knees to the body.
Birmiski struggles to land a body shot inside as Power controls his hands.
Birmiski tries to throw a body punch but Power avoids it by throwing Birmiski back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Power fails to land.
Birmiski working aggressively here.
Power is looking to break free of the clinch but Birmiski has double underhooks.
Power has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Birmiski tries to throw a body punch but Power avoids it by throwing Birmiski back against the cage.
Power scores with a shot to the side of Birmiski's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Power blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Power.

Power pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Power swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Birmiski misses with a series of wild punches.
Power connects with a nice looking jab.
Power just misses with a punch to the body.
Birmiski throws a right and a left that both miss.
Power digs a good hook to Birmiski's body.
Power swats away the attempt to clinch by Birmiski.
Power avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice uppercut lands for Power. That snapped Birmiski's head back.
Birmiski throws out a loose jab but Power uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Power ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Birmiski moves away.
Power throws a hook but Birmiski blocks it.
Birmiski connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Birmiski throws a shot from downtown. Power moves away and avoids it.
Birmiski tries to clinch
and Power counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Power swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Power stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Power wants it to stay on the feet.
Power is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Birmiski tries to clinch but Power is having none of it.
Power lands a head shot.
Power misses with a hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Birmiski closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Birmiski is rocked!
Power throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Oh Birmiski is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Birmiski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Power tries to avoid it but Birmiski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Power to the ground. Power escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Power dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ari Birmiski's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Birmiski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Birmiski seems to have got his legs back now.
Power dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Birmiski looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Birmiski might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Power bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Birmiski's guard.
Birmiski keeping moving, preventing Power from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Power looking to pass the guard.
Power advances to half guard.
Power works his way into full mount!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Power takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Birmiski showing good submission defense here.
Birmiski tries to escape the position.
Birmiski covering up well under a series of strikes from Power.
Power doesn't have the hooks in and Birmiski manages to turn into his guard.
Birmiski is looking to pass into half guard but Power pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Power is in guard.
Power wants to control from the top but Birmiski keeps moving.
Power tries to free his leg and advance position but Birmiski is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Power works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Birmiski is looking to improve his position.
Power trying to mount his opponent but Birmiski defends it.
Birmiski wants to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Power seems to be looking for submissions.
Power seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Birmiski does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Power looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Power prevents Birmiski from improving his position.
Power passes the guard and advances to mount!

Power working for a guillotine from mount but Birmiski is in no mood to give up.
Power can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Birmiski is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski is looking to improve his position but Power isn't that keen on the idea.
Poor strikes thrown by Power there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Power moves to the back position.
Birmiski is in bad spot here.

Power is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Birmiski has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Power is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Birmiski has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Birmiski is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Power showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ari Birmiski's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. Power darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Max Power seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Birmiski wants to clinch up but Power keeps it at a distance.
Birmiski doesn't manage to clinch there - Power circles away.
Power defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Birmiski.
Power scores with a nice head shot.
Power tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Birmiski was well out of range. Poor timing from Power.
Birmiski closes the distance looking to clinch
and Power counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Birmiski tries to clinch but Power is having none of it.
Power changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Birmiski looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski doesn't manage to clinch there - Power circles away.
Nice defenses there by Birmiski.
Birmiski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Power swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Power circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Birmiski drops to the canvas, hurt badly! Power follows Birmiski to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Max Power!
A relieved looking Max Power thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.