PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yoshida Kotaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kotaro's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Dance Yourself Clean. Bryan 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!

Kotaro
vs
Bishop

194 cm
33
139 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

172 cm
33
145 lbs
21 - 20 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Experienced

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q160

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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoshida Kotaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bryan Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kotaro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick by Bishop misses
and Kotaro counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Bishop looks to score with a jab to the body but Kotaro is just out of range.

Bishop bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The ground and pound from Bishop seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kotaro tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bishop wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kotaro is trying to get back to his feet.
Bishop taking a breather here.
Bishop creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kotaro sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kotaro wants to control but Bishop postures up.
Kotaro is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bishop takes a little break here. Kotaro wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotaro tries to buck Bishop off but Bishop is having none of it.
Bishop scores with a couple of short elbows.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kotaro is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop happy to just control the position for now.
It looks like Bishop might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bryan Bishop was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Bishop shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Bishop was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bishop working the ground and pound from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bishop is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Bishop looks up at the clock and then as Kotaro takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Bishop smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kotaro is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bishop is controlling him well.
Kotaro is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bishop off and has taken his back!
Bishop looking very determined here, making life difficult for Kotaro.

Kotaro looking for the RNC.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kotaro's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kotaro is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Kotaro is controlling the position but Bishop somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kotaro is looking to take a break and control but Bishop is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Bishop dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bishop dives in and scores a takedown into Kotaro's guard.
Bishop is looking to advance position but Kotaro has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kotaro trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Kotaro goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Bishop turns into him and now he's in Kotaro's guard.
Bishop controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kotaro really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotaro looking to control.
Kotaro wants to sweep but no luck.
Bishop stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kotaro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bishop controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kotaro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yoshida Kotaro just wasn't active enough.

Bishop shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Bishop performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop is thwarting Kotaro's attempts to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bishop is taking a breather. Kotaro 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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bryan Bishop hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bishop misses with the combination.
Kotaro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Bishop shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Kotaro is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kotaro using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bishop tries for a takedown but Kotaro manages to get underhooks.
Kotaro connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bishop's face.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kotaro with a knee to the head.
Kotaro misses with a knee to the head.
Kotaro throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bishop blocks it with crossed arms.
Kotaro missing with knees to the body.
Kotaro stops a takedown attempt from Bishop.
Kotaro misses with a knee strike.
Bishop is looking to take this one to the mat.
Yoshida Kotaro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Bishop.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bishop goes for a takedown attempt but Kotaro pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kotaro wants to clinch.
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.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bishop tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bishop fails with the takedown.

Bishop shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kotaro's guard.
Bishop working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bishop wants to control from the top but Kotaro keeps moving.
Bryan Bishop has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bishop won't allow Kotaro to sweep him here.
Bishop wants to control from the top but Kotaro keeps moving.
Bishop trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Bryan Bishop has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
No luck for Bishop with that takedown attempt.
Kotaro misses with a head kick.

Bishop shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bishop looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kotaro is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop controlling the pace.
Kotaro trying to hold on to Bishop's head to control him but Bishop postures up.
Bryan Bishop is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bishop tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kotaro knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kotaro tries to kick Bishop off but Bishop keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bishop not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kotaro won't allow Bishop to pass to mount.
Bishop looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bishop closes the distance and clinches up with Kotaro, looking for a takedown. Bishop pushes Kotaro against the cage but Kotaro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yoshida Kotaro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Bishop.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bishop is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kotaro's half guard.
Bishop seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bishop works his way into side control.
Bishop taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Yoshida Kotaro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kotaro manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kotaro trying to control here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bryan Bishop has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kotaro, as that shot connected.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bishop looking to score a takedown here. Kotaro is defending well but Bishop drives through and ends up in Kotaro's guard.
Bishop controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Bishop!
After winning the bout, Bryan Bishop thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.