PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodef Canmelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Canmelianenko comes to the cage accompanied by Emperor - The Loss And Curse Of Reverence. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Canmelianenko
vs
Bishop

189 cm
26
260 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

188 cm
22
274 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodef Canmelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Canmelianenko with a poor takedown
letting Bishop counter with a right hand.
Canmelianenko misses with a takedown
and Bishop counters with a left to the body.
Canmelianenko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bishop tries to avoid it but Canmelianenko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bishop to the ground. Bishop escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodef Canmelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Canmelianenko takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canmelianenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Canmelianenko.
No luck for Canmelianenko with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bishop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Canmelianenko moves forwards but Bishop connects with a nice, crisp jab.
John Bishop is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Canmelianenko shoots in for a double leg but Bishop sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Canmelianenko.
Bishop lunges at Canmelianenko with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Canmelianenko's hand.
Bishop catches Canmelianenko with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bishop misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Canmelianenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bishop takes a swing at Canmelianenko's ribcage but misses.
Canmelianenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Horrible takedown by Canmelianenko or perhaps it was just good defense by Bishop which made him look bad.
Canmelianenko with a poor takedown
and Bishop counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The crowd cheers as Bishop lands an impressive looking overhand right. Canmelianenko doesn't seem phased though.

Canmelianenko scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Canmelianenko is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Canmelianenko is working for a kimura but Bishop is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop is looking to control Canmelianenko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bishop avoid being mounted?
Bishop is controlling Canmelianenko's position as best he can from this difficult position.

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.
Canmelianenko wants to free his trapped foot but Bishop is holding on for dear life with his legs.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Bishop hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Canmelianenko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bishop.
Canmelianenko shoots for a takedown but Bishop saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop clobbers Canmelianenko with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bishop throws a shot to the body.
Bishop looks to score with a jab to the body but Canmelianenko is just out of range.
No luck for Canmelianenko with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canmelianenko closes the distance and clinches up with Bishop, looking for a takedown. Canmelianenko pushes Bishop against the cage but Bishop circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodef Canmelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bishop stuffs the takedown attempt from Canmelianenko. Canmelianenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Bishop jabs at Canmelianenko's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Bishop will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bishop scores with a jab to the body.
Canmelianenko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bishop sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bishop lands with a nice body punch.
Canmelianenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bishop counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bishop lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Bishop. Those never looked like landing.
John Bishop seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bishop scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Bishop scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop looks to score with a jab to the body but Canmelianenko is just out of range.
Canmelianenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Canmelianenko throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Rodef Canmelianenko has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bishop. Canmelianenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bishop throws a nice looking combination but Canmelianenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bishop misses with a body punch
and Canmelianenko counters with a left and a right that stings Bishop.
Bishop is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Canmelianenko rather than just go for the knockout.
Bishop lands a lovely overhand right.
John Bishop is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canmelianenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bishop circles away.
Rodef Canmelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodef Canmelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bishop lands a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bishop lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Canmelianenko backs up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
John 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

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