PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Theron Bird (ranked 25146 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tito Makani (ranked 5003 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Bird
vs
Makani

204 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

184 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Theron Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tito Makani!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Radbod Blank and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bird takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Makani clinches with his opponent.

Bird pulls guard successfully.
Makani lands a couple of elbows.
Bird really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Makani from controlling successfully.
Bird trying to control the position.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Makani from controlling successfully.
Makani must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Makani is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makani slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makani in side control lands a decent elbow.

Makani is trying to get an arm triangle but Bird is defending well.
Bird can't do much from the bottom here.
Bird pushes Makani away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Makani gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bird regains half guard.
Bird is looking to control Makani's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bird avoid being mounted?
Well, if Makani is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two 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.

Makani stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Makani misses with a series of wild punches.
Bird is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Makani will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice defenses there by Bird.
A chopping leg kick lands by Makani.
Bird shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Makani pinned against the cage. Makani gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird slaps away a takedown attempt from Makani, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Bird closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Makani's guard.

Makani has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Bird is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Bird tries to break the clinch but Makani is controlling the position.
Makani is trying to stall.
Bird tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bird has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Makani uses from the top position.
Bird manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Makani manages to get himself to full guard.

Makani is working an open guard so Bird takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bird doesn't manage to clinch there - Makani circles away.
Makani loads up on a big right hand but Bird slips the punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Makani moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Makani manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Makani has a closed guard, preventing Bird from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tito Makani dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Makani goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Makani lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Bird has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Bird and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Bird displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Makani.
Theron Bird is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Makani feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bird's calf.
Bird doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Makani counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bird shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Makani's guard.

Makani is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Bird presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Makani breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Crunch! Makani slams his shin into Bird's torso.
Makani checks a low kick from Bird.
Bird fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Makani has taken the fight to the clinch.
Makani lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bird is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Makani is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Theron Bird. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Makani escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bird tries to clinch but Makani moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makani connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bird. Bird circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Makani tries a head kick but it misses.
Bird seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Bird rushes Makani and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Makani is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bird is defending well for now.

Makani jumps guard.
Bird sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've been informed that Makani has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Makani is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Makani is breathing heavily.
Bird content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird landing with the ground and pound.
Makani controlling the position.
Makani utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bird wants to stand but Makani has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bird is looking to clinch.
Bird stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bird wants it to stay on the feet.
Bird tried to counter with a leg kick but Makani avoided it.
Makani stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Makani wants it to stay on the feet.
Makani throws a counter combo.

Makani closes the distance and clinches.
Makani stalling in the clinch.
Makani tries for a takedown but Bird manages to get underhooks.
Bird dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bird changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Makani fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tito Makani showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Makani pushes Bird up against the cage in a clinch.
Bird wants a takedown but no success here.
Makani wants to break the clinch but can't.
Makani is trying to break the clinch but Bird has him pressed against the cage.
Bird blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makani tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Makani turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Bird can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Makani swings around for an armbar but Bird sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Makani's guard.
Makani takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Makani pulls Bird in close to prevent any damage.
Makani working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bird.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bird accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bird not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makani trying to keep a closed guard but Bird is proving a slippery customer.
Bird sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bird preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makani can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bird controls the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Makani looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bird is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bird shoots for a double leg takedown but Makani sprawls well. He's pushed Bird's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Makani fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bird manages to avoid it.
Bird throws a low kick but it's checked well by Makani.

Bird has closed the distance and engaged Makani in a clinch.
Bird is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bird tries to pull guard but Makani holds him up against the cage and eventually Bird drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Theron Bird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Makani is looking to control Bird's arms but Bird gets an underhook and turns him. Now Makani has his back to the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bird breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Makani throws a leg kick that is checked

and Bird counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Bird jumps guard but Makani stands there with Bird around his waist. Bird gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Makani cracks Bird with a nice body shot.
Bird letting Makani take a breather here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A short uppercut from Makani.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tito Makani.
Well Makani has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

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