PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Peter John Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

John Murphy
vs
Bishop

170 cm
28
135 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

172 cm
25
145 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Fast

STEEL PENN'S SKIN SHOP

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 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Peter John Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bryan Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop misses with a takedown
and Murphy counters with a three punch combo that has Bishop backing up. Bishop nods at Murphy to acknowledge the strikes.
Bishop swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Murphy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bishop.
Bishop shoots for a takedown but Murphy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Peter John Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Bishop.
Murphy misses with a double jab.
Bishop shoots in for a double leg but Murphy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Bishop closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bishop lands in his opponent's guard.
Bishop trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bishop controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bishop postures up.
Bishop won't allow Murphy to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop lands a couple of elbows.
Bishop throwing strikes but missing.
Bishop lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bishop is looking to work some ground and pound but Murphy has wrist control.
Bishop has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bishop postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Murphy wants to sweep but no luck.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Bishop from controlling successfully.
Murphy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bishop is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bishop trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bishop accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bishop is in close to Murphy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bishop lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bishop preventing the sweep.
Bishop is in close to Murphy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bishop thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Murphy tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Bishop tries to hold on but Murphy postures up.
Murphy tries to stand up but Bishop had a hold of his arm and he's managed to perform a nice reversal, into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Murphy is looking to control Bishop's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Murphy avoid being mounted?
Bishop slips a nice elbow through Murphy's hands, connecting with Murphy's forehead.
Bishop thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop is taking a breather. Murphy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Murphy trying to control here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bishop connects with a nice short shot to Murphy's temple.
Bishop is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bishop wants to take a breather but Murphy is having none of it.
Bishop drops an elbow to the side of Murphy's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bishop slips a nice elbow through Murphy's hands, connecting with Murphy's forehead.
Bishop scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Murphy tries to roll over but Bishop keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bishop working Murphy over with strikes.
Bishop keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bishop scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bishop connects with a nice short shot to Murphy's temple.
Bishop looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bishop is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bishop working Murphy over with strikes.
Bishop controlling the action here.
Bishop scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bishop lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bishop looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Murphy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Still in half guard, Bishop seems content to control.
Bishop tries to pass to full mount but Murphy defends it.
Murphy tries to get to full guard but Bishop has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Bishop dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bishop shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Murphy sprawls well. Murphy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bishop gets slowly back to his feet.
Murphy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murphy throws a lazy right hand but Bishop sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bishop looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Peter John Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Bishop.
Bishop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murphy gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murphy is trying to keep Bishop in close.
Bishop cracks Murphy with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bishop accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Murphy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bishop lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Murphy trying to keep a closed guard but Bishop is proving a slippery customer.
Bishop postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bishop works over Murphy with some ground and pound from guard.
Bishop landing some decent shots from guard.
Bishop pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murphy is keeping the position for now.
Bishop engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bishop is looking to work some ground and pound but Murphy has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Bishop from controlling successfully.
Bishop postures up.
Bishop missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bryan Bishop has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bishop loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bishop trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bishop scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Murphy trying to keep a closed guard but Bishop is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Murphy gets caught flat footed, as Bishop shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bishop in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bishop content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bishop showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bishop's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bishop is working Murphy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bishop keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Murphy's head.
Bishop sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bishop postures up in Murphy's guard and throws a big left but Murphy blocks it.
Murphy trying to control the position.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Bishop tries to pass.
Bishop missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bishop working some strikes from top position.
Bishop keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Murphy's head.
Bishop tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop pushing down on Murphy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bishop lands with a punch from half guard.
Bishop lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ground and pound from Bishop.
Bishop looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Murphy has hold of Bishop's hands but Bishop slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ground and pound from Bishop.
Bishop scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bishop trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Bishop is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bishop lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bishop lands with a punch from half guard.
Murphy has hold of Bishop's hands but Bishop slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Murphy wants to improve his position but Bishop is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Bishop.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan 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 closes this distance looking for a takedown but Murphy circles away.
Bishop dives in and grabs Murphy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Murphy pushes down on Bishop's head and hops out.
Bishop closes the distance and clinches up with Murphy, looking for a takedown. Bishop pushes Murphy against the cage but Murphy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Peter John Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Bishop.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bishop is defended easily by Murphy.
Murphy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murphy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Murphy wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Bishop.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A lazy body kick from Bishop
letting Murphy counter with a right hand.

Bishop looking to score a takedown here. Murphy is defending well but Bishop drives through and ends up in Murphy's guard.
Murphy wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bishop postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Murphy wants to sweep but no luck.
Bishop content to stall in guard here.
Bishop content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bishop keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Murphy's head.
Bishop cracks Murphy with a solid left hand.
Bishop working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Bishop from controlling successfully.
Murphy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bishop lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Peter John Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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 postures up in Murphy's guard and throws a big left but Murphy blocks it.
Bishop cracks Murphy with a solid left hand.
Bishop working some strikes from top position.
Bishop wants to pass the guard but Murphy is keeping the position.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Bishop from controlling successfully.
Murphy trying to control the position.
Bishop trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Bishop landing with the ground and pound.
Murphy trying to keep a closed guard but Bishop is proving a slippery customer.
Bishop wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop lands a couple of elbows.
Bishop is working Murphy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Murphy is trying to control the position but Bishop postures up.
Murphy is looking to sweep but instead, Bishop has passed into half guard.
Bishop working over Murphy with some ground and pound. Murphy looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Bishop seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Murphy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bishop content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bishop is pressing down on Murphy's thigh, looking to free his foot. Murphy is holding on for now.
Bishop winds up and cracks Murphy with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bishop drops an elbow to the side of Murphy's head.
Bishop is trying to control. Murphy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bishop lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is not content to let Bishop control the position.
Bishop lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bishop landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bishop seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Murphy slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bishop advances position into side control!
Bishop lands a decent elbow from side control.
Bishop working away.
Murphy tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Bishop presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Bishop raining down shots from the mount!
Bishop has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Murphy's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Bishop comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bishop winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

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