PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Evans comes to the cage accompanied by "A Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams Jr.. Bishop is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Drunkula - Lift The Whip. Billy Bishop told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Evans
vs
Bishop

175 cm
27
142 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

169 cm
27
142 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Battalion Athletics
Battalion Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Freddy Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Billy Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Joseph Jones and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans misses with a straight right.
Bishop uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Evans.

Bishop forces Evans back against the cage and clinches.
Bishop tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Evans avoids it.
Bishop tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bishop goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bishop lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Evans.
Bishop misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Evans.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Evans drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bishop gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bishop gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Evans.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop misses with a knee strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bishop.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop connects with a knee to the head.
Bishop working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Bishop won't allow it.
Bishop lands with a right to the head.
Bishop lands a body shot in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Evans.

Evans breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Evans sizes up Bishop with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Evans tries to keep at a distance but Bishop has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bishop misses with a hook to the ribs.
A frustrated look appears on Evans's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Evans avoiding damage as Bishop throws knees to the body.
Bishop struggles to land a body shot inside as Evans controls his hands.
Evans has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bishop avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddy Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bishop misses with a punch to the body.
Bishop misses with the head strike.
Bishop lands a body punch in the clinch.
Bishop swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bishop working aggressively here.
Bishop with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bishop.
Bishop throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Bishop tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bishop lands a nice uppercut.
Bishop pushes Evans back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Bishop keeps control of Evans as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Evans blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop swings wildly with an uppercut but Evans uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bishop doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bishop lands a body punch.
A left hand lands to the body for Bishop.
Bishop lands an uppercut.
Bishop tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bishop using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Bishop digs a right hand underneath Evans's ribcage. Evans let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Bishop lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bishop tries to throw a body punch but Evans avoids it by throwing Bishop back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Bishop as the two fighters clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Bishop.
Bishop tries to land knees in the clinch but Evans avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans goes for a takedown attempt but Bishop pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Evans avoids the body shot from Bishop.
Evans looks to throw the jab but Bishop is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Bishop misses the target.
Evans is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Evans looks to land a left hand but Bishop moved out of range nicely.
Freddy Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bishop moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Evans.
Evans looks to land a left hand but Bishop moved out of range nicely.
Bishop steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Evans.
Bishop thuds a left hand into Evans's body.
Evans throws a predictable looking body shot
and Evans takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Evans jabs at Bishop's body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Evans is trying to force a seperation but Bishop has the dominant position.
Bishop misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Bishop dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bishop darts in and clinches Evans up against the cage.
Bishop pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A short left from Bishop.
Evans has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bishop avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bishop misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bishop misses with an elbow strike.
Evans wants a takedown but no success here.
Evans is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddy Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans avoiding damage as Bishop throws knees to the body.
Bishop working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bishop lands a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Bishop.
Bishop working aggressively here.
Bishop is leaning against Evans and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans fails to pull guard.
Evans prevents a body shot from Bishop.
Bishop tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Evans avoids it.
Bishop throws a punch but it's blocked by Evans.
Bishop lands a body shot.
Bishop makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bishop tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Evans tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bishop smiles and moves away.
Evans throws a big shot that misses.
Evans takes a swing at Bishop's ribcage but misses.
Bishop throws a series of punches but Evans moves out of range.
Bishop lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bishop looks to score with a jab to the body but Evans is just out of range.
Bishop steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Evans.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bishop lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Evans bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bishop's head.
Bishop ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Bishop drives through and clinches with Evans against the cage.
Evans wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bishop creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Evans blocks an uppercut.
Bishop doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Knees to the body from Bishop.
A frustrated look appears on Evans's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bishop throws a knee to the head but misses.
Evans blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bishop lands a body punch in the clinch.
Evans can't break the clinch.
Bishop tries to throw a body punch but Evans avoids it by throwing Bishop back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bishop tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Evans avoids it.
Evans managing to block the knees to the body from Bishop.
Bishop tries a body shot but Evans blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bishop.
Bishop misses with a punch to the body.
Bishop swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Evans blocks a body shot from Bishop.
Bishop landing knees to the head.
Bishop with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bishop lands an elbow inside.
Bishop misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bishop tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bishop misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Evans.

That's four 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.
Bishop scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bishop tries a body shot but Evans blocks it.
Bishop throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Evans blocks an uppercut.
Bishop fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Evans can't get the takedown.
Bishop prevents a takedown attempt there.

Evans has Bishop pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Evans pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Bishop tumbling to the mat - Evans dives into Bishop's guard.

Bishop looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Evans has picked Bishop up and slammed him! Bishop can't keep hold of the triangle and Evans manages to pass to side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Bishop showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bishop throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bishop misses with a head kick.
Bishop misses the shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Evans throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bishop walks into a left hand.
Bishop misses with a wild body shot.
Bishop takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Evans throws out a loose jab but Bishop uses good head movement to avoid it.
Evans listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bishop lands with a nice body punch.
Evans lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A head kick misses from Bishop.
Bishop misses with a head kick.
Bishop misses the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bishop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bishop uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Evans.
Evans pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Evans wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bishop is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Evans rather than just go for the knockout.
Evans rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bishop moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bishop ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Evans throws a jab but it's blocked by Bishop.
Evans is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bishop.
Bishop throws a right and a left that both miss.
Evans misses with an uppercut. Bishop saw that one coming.
Bishop misses with the combination.
Bishop needs to keep his hands up - Evans had a free shot at his head there.
Bishop keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Evans.

Bishop closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bishop.
Bishop swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Evans blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bishop goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bishop tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bishop.
Bishop missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Evans manages to break the clinch.
Bishop misses with a looping left.
Bishop misses with a head kick.
Evans throws an overhand right that lands on Bishop's shoulder, as Bishop tries to avoid the shot.
Bishop is looking to clinch but Evans is avoiding it.
Evans keeps the fight on the outside.
Evans throws a body punch but Bishop moves out of range.
Bishop wants to clinch up but Evans keeps it at a distance.
Evans swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bishop.
A left and a right from Bishop both land. Nice combination.
Evans swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Evans lands an overhand right.
Evans dodges the punch combination from Bishop.
Bishop gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Evans falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bishop counters with a nice uppercut.
Evans scores with a nice right hand.
Bishop fails with an attempt to clinch.
Evans is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop wants to clinch.
Evans takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Evans connects with the punch.
Bishop bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bishop slips a jab from Evans.
Evans scores with a hook to the body. Bishop takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Evans misses the jab.
Bishop throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bishop throws a sloppy body shot
and Evans connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A big right from Evans misses.
Evans tries to bum rush Bishop with a series of wild strikes but Bishop uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Evans misses with a looping right.
Bishop takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Evans ducks under a wild hook from Bishop.
Bishop lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Jab, jab by Bishop - just one landing.
Evans goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Jab, jab by Evans - just one landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bishop lands a head kick. Evans smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Evans is rocked!
Evans connects with a jab.
Bishop defending well as Evans loads up on a big left hand.
Nice shot lands for Evans.
A shot to the body from Evans misses
and Bishop counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Evans throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bishop sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bishop tries to clinch but Evans moves out of range.
Evans walks into a straight right hand from Bishop.
The crowd cheers as Evans lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bishop doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice defenses there by Bishop.
Evans throws a right and a left that Bishop avoids nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Evans scores with a four punch combination!
Evans takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Evans sizes up Bishop with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Evans throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bishop.
An inside leg kick from Bishop misses.
Evans throws a lazy right hand but Bishop sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A head kick misses from Bishop.

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 Freddy Evans.
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 Reed Andrews scores the fight for Billy Bishop!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Billy Bishop!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Billy Bishop!

Billy Bishop wins by unanimous decision!