PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carl Barat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sonny Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barat
vs
Bishop

192 cm
22
237 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Carl Barat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sonny Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bishop darts in and clinches Barat up against the cage.
Bishop drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Barat gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Barat tries to stall but Bishop uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Bishop breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barat closes the distance but Bishop moves to the side
and Bishop counters with a nice body kick.
Barat takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bishop throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Barat shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barat showed some decent athleticism there.
Bishop misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Barat is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Barat decides to stand and escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop throws a nice looking combination but Barat bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barat tries for a takedown but Bishop circles away easily

and Bishop counters by clinching up.
Barat tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bishop just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Bishop.
Bishop crunches a lovely knee into Barat's ribcage.
Bishop throws a head punch that misses.
Bishop goes for a takedown attempt but Barat pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Barat throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bishop's waist but Bishop gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barat off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carl Barat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barat is breathing heavily.
Bishop has a takedown stuffed.

Bishop moves into range and clinches up with Barat.
Barat is pressed up against the cage. Bishop has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Barat down to the mat. Barat avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Barat has his takedown stuffed

and Bishop counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bishop escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bishop tries to clinch but Barat moves out of range.
Barat looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bishop is fending him off so far but Barat persists. Nope, Bishop circles away and we're back to standing.
Barat is looking to clinch.
Barat throws a lazy right hand but Bishop sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bishop shoots in but Barat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bishop doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Barat moves into the clinch.
Bishop just leaning against Barat, taking a breather.
Bishop wants to break free but Barat has control.
Bishop tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barat wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bishop has him pressed against the cage.
Barat wants to get back to striking at distance but Bishop won't allow it.

Bishop has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Barat clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Barat breaks Bishop's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barat stopping the sweep attempt from Bishop.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bishop can do anything to dispel that myth.

Bishop is looking for a triangle but Barat pushes his legs off easily.
Bishop controls Barat momentarily but Barat frees himself.
Bishop striking off his back but it's not causing Barat any problems.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Barat is looking to clinch.
Bishop shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barat as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barat keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A head kick by Barat misses

and Bishop counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Barat!
Barat is wriggling around trying to escape.
Barat wants to control but Bishop is having none of it.
Barat regains half guard.
Bishop is keen to just control but Barat is a slippery customer.
Barat is holding on to half guard well.
Barat manages to get to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barat is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bishop has managed to clinch.
Barat on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bishop tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Barat just stands there and leans against the cage.

Bishop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barat swinging wilding here.
Barat throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barat misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barat tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bishop swivels and escapes.
Barat tries for a takedown but Bishop sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carl Barat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barat throws a head kick that misses
and Bishop counters with an inside leg kick.

Bishop moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bishop tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Bishop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bishop pushes Barat away with a front kick.
Bishop fails with the takedown

and Barat counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barat stands up and waves to Bishop to follow him.
Bishop misses with a takedown attempt

and Barat counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bishop's guard now.
Barat is looking to work some ground and pound but Bishop has wrist control.
Bishop is trying to hold Barat in close to prevent damage but Barat has managed to pass into half guard.
Bishop is looking to control Barat's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bishop avoid being mounted?

Barat is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bishop defends it well.
Barat missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Barat throwing shots but Bishop is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barat is looking for a kimura but Bishop is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Barat to get the leverage.

Bishop pushes Barat off and gets back to his feet.

Bishop scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bishop is trying to control the action in half guard but Barat is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bishop content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bishop is keen to just control but Barat is a slippery customer.
Barat regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Bishop.
Bishop trying to control but Barat is working from the bottom.

Barat had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Bishop is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Barat Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Bishop's back instead.
Bishop is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop tries to escape but Barat has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Bishop manages to reverse the position and now he's in Barat's guard. Nice work there by Bishop.
Bishop trying to control but Barat is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barat wants to clinch.
Barat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bishop changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bishop ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bishop shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barat as he jumps to the side.
Bishop stuffs the takedown attempt from Barat. Barat gets slowly back to his feet.
Bishop tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barat has a takedown stuffed.
Horrible takedown by Barat or perhaps it was just good defense by Bishop which made him look bad.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barat looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Barat looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bishop!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barat controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Barat dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bishop gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Barat counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Barat missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barat passes into half guard.
Bishop trying to hold on to Barat's head to control him but Barat postures up.
Bishop is trying to keep from getting into a worse position than he's already in but Bishop is working away and isn't letting himself get tied up.
Bishop wants to improve his position but Barat is controlling well.
Barat perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bishop moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bishop is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barat pushes down on Bishop's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bishop wants to get back to full guard but Barat has mounted him!
Bishop is in all sorts of trouble here.
Barat controlling the position easily from mount.
Barat unloading with bombs!
Bishop is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bishop is persisting with the attempt to improve his 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.
Barat lands a big shot there that rocks Bishop but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bishop is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bishop can't escape the position.

Barat stands up from mount. Strange move.

Barat gets a takedown into half guard.
Barat is thwarting Bishop's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barat throwing shots but Bishop is blocking nicely.
Barat content to control rather than advance.
Bishop gets full guard.
Bishop not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barat trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Barat gets to his feet - Bishop follows without any prompting.
Barat misses with the combination.
Barat fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bishop throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barat's waist but Barat gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bishop off to one side.

Barat changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bishop looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barat takes a little break here. Bishop wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Bishop is looking for a sweep.
Barat working away.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
You can see the frustration on Bishop's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bishop gets back to half guard.
Bishop looks like he's trying to stand up.
Barat content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Barat showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barat has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Barat!