PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Efren Bird (ranked 5202 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Homes (ranked 5283 p4p, 0 weight class). Larry Homes is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bird
vs
Homes

171 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
19
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Efren Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Larry Homes!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bird closes the distance and clinches up with Homes, looking for a takedown. Bird pushes Homes against the cage but Homes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Homes tries to counter with a clinch but Bird shakes him off and moves away.
Bird takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Efren Bird has been cut.
A lazy body kick from Homes

and Bird counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bird.
Bird is standing up over Homes. Homes looks to escape but Bird dives into side control.

Bird tries for a kimura but Homes is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Homes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Homes tries to escape but Bird is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Homes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Bird looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bird misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Homes tries to buck Bird off but Bird is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Bird has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Homes. Bird shrugs it off though.

Bird drives through with a takedown into Homes's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Homes wants to get back to his feet but Bird passes into half guard.

Bird is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Homes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bird.
Homes is looking for a sweep. Bird is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Homes is trying to stand up here but Bird is controlling him well.

Bird wants to work for an arm triangle but Homes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Homes actively working from the bottom here.
Homes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bird's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bird's back!
Bird turns into Homes and is now in his guard.
Bird trying to control the position from guard on top but Homes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bird content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Homes controls Bird momentarily but Bird frees himself.
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 Efren Bird will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Efren Bird's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A bone on bone clash there as Bird blocks the leg kick.
Bird looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bird or perhaps it was just good defense by Homes, which made it look bad.
Bird on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Bird shoots for a takedown but Homes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Homes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Efren Bird is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Homes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Homes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bird manages to avoid it.
Bird shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Homes but Homes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efren Bird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Homes circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Homes thuds his right hand into Bird's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Larry Homes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bird tries for a takedown but Homes circles away easily
and Homes counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bird feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bird really is a fat lump.
Homes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bird is controlling him.
Bird would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Homes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Homes holds on and takes a little breather.
Homes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Homes wants to hit a switch here but Bird passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Homes there!
Efren Bird overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Homes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bird stands up from mount. Strange move.
Homes lands with a good body shot.
Bird takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bird has a takedown stuffed.
Homes lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Homes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bird looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Homes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bird's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bird throws an elbow that misses. Homes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bird's guard. Nice move by Homes!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bird throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Homes wants to control from the top but Bird keeps moving.
Homes preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Homes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Efren Bird's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Homes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Homes scores with a body shot.
Bird looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bird fails with a takedown attempt.
Homes digs a good hook to Bird's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bird needs to keep his hands up - Homes had a free shot at his head there.

Bird clinches up with Homes and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bird tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Homes smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Homes.
Homes throws a head kick that misses.
Good exchange - Homes coming out on top.
Bird will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efren Bird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bird looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Homes is fending him off so far but Bird persists. Nope, Homes circles away and we're back to standing.
Homes throws a big counter head kick but Bird avoids it with no problem.
Bird takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bird chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Homes can pounce on him.
Homes lands a nice hook to Bird's body. Bird takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Homes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Homes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bird, pushing him back against the cage.
Bird wants a takedown but no success here.
Homes lands an elbow just above Bird 's eye.

Homes turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Homes manages to end up in side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bird is trying to buck Homes off.
Bird is trying to work for a sweep but Homes has mounted him!
Bird wants to control but Homes is having none of it.
Bird is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bird is in a horrible position here. Homes smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Homes controlling his opponent.
Homes looking to control but Bird is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bird is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Homes scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bird?
Homes with a couple of short strikes.
Homes fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Bird manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird wants to get back to full guard.
Homes seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Bird is trying to maintain the position but Homes is very close to passing his half guard.
Homes is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Homes decides to return to a standing position.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Homes.
Larry Homes seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Bird has closed the distance and engaged Homes in a clinch.

Homes manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Bird sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bird wants to stand but Homes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Homes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Homes 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry Homes!