PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Porthos Knox (ranked 907 p4p, 1008 weight class) and Penkosip Bizihwaile (ranked 139 p4p, 154 weight class). Knox kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is One Step Closer | Linkin Park. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Penkosip Bizihwaile was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Knox
vs
Bizihwaile

177 cm
25
175
9 - 6 - 1

184 cm
25
172
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

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 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Porthos Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Penkosip Bizihwaile!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bizihwaile looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Knox thows a left - swing and a miss!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Knox checks a leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Knox misses the target.

Bizihwaile clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Knox works on Bizihwaile's body with a couple of short punches.
Knox pressing his opponent against the cage.
Bizihwaile looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bizihwaile tries to work over Knox's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Knox has Bizihwaile pressed against the cage.
Knox 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bizihwaile misses with a body punch.
Bizihwaile's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Knox misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox has Bizihwaile pressed against the cage.
Knox lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Knox creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bizihwaile tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stalling in the clinch from Knox.
Bizihwaile lands a shoulder strike.

Bizihwaile breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knox checks a leg kick.
Knox is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Bizihwaile.
Bizihwaile looks to land a body kick but Knox moved away.
Bizihwaile connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Bizihwaile has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bizihwaile throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Knoxs head.
Knox tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bizihwaile tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bizihwaile has Knox pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bizihwaile misses with some punches.
Bizihwaile tries to break free but Knox pushes him back against the cage.
Knox digs a right hand into Bizihwaile's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bizihwaile's gas tank.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bizihwaile.
Bizihwaile tries to stall but Knox uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bizihwaile lands with a light punch inside.
Bizihwaile wants to get back to striking at distance but Knox won't allow it.
A right hand to the body from Bizihwaile.
Bizihwaile working hard to break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Knox.
Knox blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bizihwaile is trying to force a seperation but Knox has the dominant position.
Knox's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bizihwaile is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Knox is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bizihwaile misses with some punches.

Bizihwaile breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knox throws out a loose jab but Bizihwaile uses good head movement to avoid it.
Knox swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It seemed like Bizihwaile was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Knox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bizihwaile moves away.
Knox misses with a straight left.
Knox swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Knox will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bizihwaile throws out a counter right but Knox avoids it with no problem.
Bizihwaile jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Knox lands a nice shot that snaps Bizihwaile's head back.
Knox takes one to the chin there.
Knox fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bizihwaile manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox lands with a good body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Bizihwaile 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bizihwaile misses with a low kick.
Knox misses with an uppercut. Bizihwaile saw that one coming.
A telegraphed right hand from Knox misses the target.
Bizihwaile displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Knox throws out the jab.
Knox avoids the head kick by Bizihwaile.
Knox misses with a hook

and Bizihwaile counters with a crisp one two that drops Knox! Bizihwaile thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Knox to his feet! Knox is in big trouble!

Knox is rocked!
A head kick misses from Bizihwaile.
Bizihwaile throws a nice inside leg kick.

Bizihwaile gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bizihwaile tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Knox swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knox throws a head punch that misses.
Knox pushes Bizihwaile back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Penkosip Bizihwaile dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Knox misses with a wild body shot.
Knox misses the shot to the body.
Knox scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Porthos Knox is winning the standup battle so far.
Knox misses with a hook.
Knox thows a left - swing and a miss!
Knox misses with a right hand
and Bizihwaile counters with a stiff right hand.
Bizihwaile blocks a head kick by Knox.
Porthos Knox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knox clobbers Bizihwaile with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Knox misses with a wild body shot.

Bizihwaile sends Knox crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Bizihwaile is motioning to the referee to let Knox up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Oh Knox is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bizihwaile has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
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!
Knox on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bizihwaile. Bizihwaile obviously looking to wear him down.
Bizihwaile staying out of range there.
Knox seems to have got his legs back now.
Knox throws a hook but Bizihwaile avoids it easily.
Knox throws a body shot but no joy.
Knox throws a right hand that Bizihwaile ducks under and follows up with a left that Bizihwaile also avoids with ease.
Knox swings widly with a right hand
and Bizihwaile counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox connects with a jab.
Bizihwaile checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bizihwaile was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Knox misses with a few strikes there.
Bizihwaile lands with a thumping leg kick.
Knox works Bizihwaile's body with a nice hook.

Bizihwaile pushes Knox up against the cage in a clinch.
Bizihwaile tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bizihwaile goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Bizihwaile.
Bizihwaile swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The referee calls for Bizihwaile to work.
Bizihwaile is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bizihwaile is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The crowd are getting on Bizihwaile's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bizihwaile.
Knox lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bizihwaile misses with a hook from the clinch.

Bizihwaile breaks the clinch.

Knox pushes Bizihwaile up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Bizihwaile fails to land.
Bizihwaile tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Knox tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knox.
Knox misses with the head strike.
Knox working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A hook to the body from Knox.
Knox tries a body shot but Bizihwaile blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bizihwaile pushes Knox back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Knox lands a nice uppercut.
Knox swings wildly with an uppercut but Bizihwaile uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bizihwaile blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knox working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Bizihwaile fails to land.
Bizihwaile scores with a shot to the side of Knox's head.

Bizihwaile breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bizihwaile slips a jab from Knox.
Knox fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Knox on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Knox keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Knox wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Bizihwaile looks to land a right hand but Knox moved out of range.
Knox fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bizihwaile manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
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!
Knox needs to keep his hands up - Bizihwaile had a free shot at his head there.
Knox blocks a jab.
Knox misses with a body shot
and Bizihwaile counters with an outside leg kick.
Bizihwaile moves away from the strike by Knox.
Nice body punch from Knox.
Knox throws a lazy right hand but Bizihwaile sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bizihwaile stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Knox stuns Bizihwaile with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Knox throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bizihwaile sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Knox walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bizihwaile checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knox scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Knox bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bizihwaile misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Penkosip Bizihwaile will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Knox defending well as Bizihwaile loads up on a big left hand.
Bizihwaile misses with an attempted mid kick.
Knox ducks under a wild hook from Bizihwaile.
Knox throwing a counter right hand but Bizihwaile manages to avoid it.
Bizihwaile takes one to the side of the head.
Bizihwaile swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Knox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bizihwaile moves away.
Knox walks into a left hand.
Bizihwaile takes a jab right on the kisser.
Knox scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Knox lands a nice hook to Bizihwaile's body. Bizihwaile takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bizihwaile.
Bizihwaile pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Knox uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bizihwaile.
Knox blocks a leg kick.
Knox was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Knox keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bizihwailes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Bizihwaile misses with a looping left.
Knox looks to score with a jab to the body but Bizihwaile is just out of range.
Knox throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Knox swings for the body but Bizihwaile moves out of range.
Knox scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bizihwaile doesn't seem bothered though.
Bizihwaile looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Knox looks to throw the jab but Bizihwaile is out of range.
Knox misses the shot to the body.
Bizihwaile throws a hook but Knox blocks it.
Knox was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Knox fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Knox throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Knox backing away here, and Bizihwaile unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A slow jab from Knox misses its intended target.
Bizihwaile is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bizihwaile connects with a single shot there.
Bizihwaile throws a shot from downtown. Knox moves away and avoids it.
Knox lands a nice shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bizihwaile tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Knox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bizihwaile moves away.
Knox throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bizihwaile counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Knox throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bizihwaile counters with a right hand to the body.
Knox throws a lazy right hand but Bizihwaile sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Knox. That snapped Bizihwaile's head back.
Knox misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Bizihwaile to counter with a crisp jab.
A left lands for Knox.
Knox misses with a body shot.
Bizihwaile was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Bizihwaile thows a left - swing and a miss!
Knox throws a looping overhand right but Bizihwaile ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bizihwaile scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Knox throws a looping overhand right but Bizihwaile ducks down to avoid it.
Knox blocks a head kick by Bizihwaile.
Bizihwaile throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Knox on the side of the head.
Knox tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bizihwaile was well out of range. Poor timing from Knox.
Nice straight punches there by Bizihwaile. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Bizihwaile.
Penkosip Bizihwaile is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bizihwaile throws out a loose jab but Knox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bizihwaile moves away from the strike by Knox.
Bizihwaile misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bizihwaile slips under a jab.
Knox slips under a jab.
Bizihwaile takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Knox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bizihwaile moves away.
Bizihwaile looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox misses with a right hand
and Bizihwaile counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bizihwaile lands with an overhand left.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jab by Knox.
Porthos Knox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Bizihwaile gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knox stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Knox tries a body shot but Bizihwaile blocks it.
Knox being controlled against the cage.
Nice body punch from Knox - that landed with a thud.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Porthos Knox.
Well Bizihwaile 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Penkosip Bizihwaile!
A very excited looking Penkosip Bizihwaile rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.