PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimi Manuwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Bishop
vs
Manuwa

200 cm
22
204 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
218 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sonny Bishop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jimi Manuwa!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bishop.
Bishop throws a strike aimed at the side of Manuwa's head but Manuwa avoids it well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Manuwa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bishop controlling the position from side mount.

Bishop thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Manuwa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bishop has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop just content to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bishop prevents Manuwa from escaping the position.

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.
Bishop wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manuwa keeps working.
The referee asks Bishop politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bishop prefers to stall for the moment though.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sonny Bishop just wasn't active enough.
Manuwa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bishop counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Manuwa!
Manuwa blocking the ground and pound.
Manuwa is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Bishop looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Bishop lands a big shot there that rocks Manuwa but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bishop sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop unloads with some shots from mount but Manuwa bucks and avoids them well.
Bishop won't let Manuwa get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Bishop takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Bishop dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bishop closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Manuwa did well to prevent Bishop getting side control.

Bishop escapes and gets back to his feet.
Manuwa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Bishop counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Manuwa!
Bishop controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bishop will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bishop is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Manuwa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bishop defends it nicely.
Manuwa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bishop counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Manuwa is breathing heavily.
Bishop seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bishop missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bishop moves into full mount! Manuwa won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuwa is trying to stand up.
Bishop lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Manuwa hang on?
Bishop landing punches.
Bishop controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Manuwa for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Bishop dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bishop shoots for a double leg takedown but Manuwa sprawls well. He's pushed Bishop's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Manuwa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bishop.
Manuwa tries to clinch up.
Manuwa wants to clinch

and Bishop counters with a single leg into guard. Manuwa didn't expect that.

Bishop thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bishop wants to control from the top but Manuwa keeps moving.
Bishop passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

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 stands up and beckons Manuwa to his feet.
Manuwa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bishop.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Bishop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manuwa scores with a one two! Bishop had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Sonny Bishop has been cut.
Bishop fails with the takedown.
Jimi Manuwa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bishop fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Manuwa sprawls well initially but Bishop persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bishop throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Manuwa tries to kick Bishop off but Bishop keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop controlling the pace.

Bishop is looking for a kimura here.
Bishop stops Manuwa from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bishop is trying to control. Manuwa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Bishop gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Manuwa tries to clinch

and Bishop counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Manuwa!
Bishop thowing shots but they're missing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bishop tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sonny Bishop showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bishop, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:25
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:25

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