PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between hulk smash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bishop comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Skatalites - James Bond kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Larry Bishop will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

smash
vs
Bishop

160 cm
22
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

201 cm
22
256 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, hulk smash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Larry Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
smash avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
smash shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bishop sprawls well. Bishop wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. smash gets slowly back to his feet.
smash shoots for a double leg takedown but Bishop sprawls well. He's pushed smash's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bishop is looking to clinch but smash is avoiding it.
Bishop doesn't manage to clinch there - smash circles away.

smash drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
smash might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
smash tries to free his leg and advance position but Bishop is retaining full guard.
smash lands a couple of digs.
smash is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
smash throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bishop working a defensive guard here.
Bishop wants to stand up but smash is controlling him.
smash trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
smash in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bishop trying to keep a closed guard but smash is proving a slippery customer.
smash throwing strikes from guard but Bishop blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by smash or perhaps it was just good defense by Bishop which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for hulk smash. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bishop drops smash with a beautiful combination! smash stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Bishop is looking for the KO!

It looks like hulk smash has been cut.
smash is breathing heavily.
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!

smash shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
smash cracks Bishop with a solid left hand.

Bishop uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Bishop or perhaps it was just good defense by smash which made him look bad.
Bishop connects with a body shot.
Bishop misses with a takedown attempt

and smash counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by smash.
smash won't allow Bishop to sweep him here.
Bishop is adopting a defensive guard.
smash trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
smash throwing strikes from guard but Bishop blocks nicely.
smash with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
smash throwing strikes from guard but Bishop blocks nicely.
smash postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

smash got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bishop has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, smash has managed to get both his arms back between Bishop's legs - danger averted.
Bishop has smash pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
smash throws a big right hand that misses.
Bishop looking to control.
smash lands a couple of digs.
Bishop lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for smash!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop landing shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bishop scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bishop avoids the attempt from smash to control.
Bishop trying to control but smash is having none of it.
Bishop with the ground and pound from mount.

Bishop working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
smash tries to lock up and control but Bishop gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
smash can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bishop can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as smash is looking to escape.
smash really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
smash has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A nice elbow there by Bishop.
Bishop is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. smash can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bishop in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Bishop tries to control but smash wriggling away.
smash can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Bishop dominated that round.
The cut man is working on hulk smash'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.

Bishop clinches up with smash and pushes him back against the cage.
Bishop looking for a takedown.
Bishop stops a takedown attempt from smash.
Bishop can't break the clinch.

Bishop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bishop tries to clinch up but smash circles away and keeps his distance.
smash shoots for a takedown but Bishop saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Bishop. No joy for smash on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for hulk smash. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bishop misses with a takedown attempt - smash sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bishop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bishop shoots for a takedown but smash saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Bishop moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bishop breaks from the clinch.

smash decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
smash throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bishop avoiding damage under a succession of punches from smash.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop trying to control but smash postures up.
smash is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Bishop is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst smash is controlling him.
hulk smash overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
smash postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
smash trying to control but Bishop is working from the bottom.
smash wants to pass the guard but Bishop is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bishop fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bishop is looking to clinch.
smash shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bishop but Bishop pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bishop looks for a takedown but smash sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Bishop darts in and clinches smash up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bishop.
Bishop lands with a short shot to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Bishop.
smash is trying to stall.
Bishop lands with a left to the head.
Bishop taking a breather.
smash is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bishop gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bishop digs a right hand into smash's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on smash's gas tank.
Bishop drops to a knee looking for a takedown but smash gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Bishop pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bishop fails with the takedown.

smash changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bishop looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop wants to control but smash postures up.
smash creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Bishop throws smash to one side and escapes!
Bishop with a poor takedown

and smash counters with a takedown into side control.

smash is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bishop knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
smash cracks Bishop with a big right hand but Bishop just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
smash working the strikes but Bishop uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
smash throwing shots but Bishop is blocking nicely.
smash wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bishop keeps working.
Bishop is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of smash's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take smash's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop is not going to allow smash to sit and survive in this position.
Bishop connects with a big shot to the side of smash's head.
Bishop connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for smash to escape the position.
Bishop is not going to allow smash to sit and survive in this position.
Bishop is hanging on to smash's back as he tries to escape.
smash trying to control but not successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
smash rolls, trying to escape but Bishop keeps control of the position.
smash looking very determined here, making life difficult for Bishop.
Bishop lands strikes to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

hulk smash dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on hulk smash's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bishop throws a series of strikes that have smash backpedaling.
smash fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
smash tries for a takedown but Bishop sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
smash stuffs the takedown.
Bishop dives in and grabs smash's left leg, looking for a takedown. smash pushes down on Bishop's head and hops out.

Bishop rushes smash and presses him up against the cage.
Bishop works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Bishop manages to break the clinch.

Bishop gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bishop avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
smash tries to free his leg and advance position but Bishop is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
smash working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Bishop had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. smash is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Bishop Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take smash's back instead.
smash is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop lands a shot to the head.
Bishop scores with punches and elbows.

Bishop is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. smash knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften smash for a finish.
Bishop is trying to stick to smash's back but smash is turning into Bishop. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bishop's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by smash.
smash postures up.
smash keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bishop's head.

Bishop is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
smash postures up and lands a big shot to Bishop's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
smash stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bishop swivels though and keeps the full guard.
smash stops Bishop from standing up.
Bishop controls smash momentarily but smash frees himself.
smash lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
smash working some strikes from top position.
Bishop seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
smash missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
smash shoots for a takedown but Bishop saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for hulk smash. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bishop lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as smash backs up against the cage.

Bishop has taken the fight to the clinch.
smash tries for a takedown but Bishop manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop is working for takedown but smash is calmly controlling the position for now.
smash fails to pull guard.
Bishop is trying to break free.
A short left from Bishop.
smash looking for a takedown.
smash drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bishop pulls his leg out and moves away.
smash fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
smash takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
smash fails with a takedown attempt.
Bishop wants to clinch.
Bishop moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop tries to clinch but smash moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bishop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

smash 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.
smash trying to control the position from guard on top but Bishop is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bishop looking for a sweep. Not yet Bishop, not yet.
Bishop is trying to control the position but smash postures up.
smash keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bishop's head.
smash scoring with some ground and pound.
smash scoring with some ground and pound.
Bishop working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from smash.

Bishop scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
smash closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bishop circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Bishop comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bishop 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

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