PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Vims (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Vims acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Bishop
vs
Vims

172 cm
37
145 lbs
28 - 26 - 0

172 cm
27
148 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bryan Bishop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Vims!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vims misses with a series of wild punches.
Vims misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bishop.
Vims throws a head kick that misses.

Bishop looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bishop lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vims has momentary wrist control but Bishop slips an elbow through the middle.
Bishop slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bishop's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Vims looking for a guillotine here but Bishop defends easily.
Bishop sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vims is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bishop sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bryan Bishop.
Bishop looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vims is fending him off so far but Bishop persists. Nope, Vims circles away and we're back to standing.
Bishop staying out of range there.

Bishop closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Vims's guard.
Bishop in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bishop controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Vims is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bishop throwing strikes but missing.
Bishop is stalling in the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Bryan Bishop has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Bishop shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vims as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bishop closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Vims is looking for a sweep. Bishop is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vims tries to kick Bishop off but Bishop keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Vims is looking for a sweep. Bishop is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Vims looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vims felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Vims tries to roll over but Bishop keeps him under control.
Vims wants to get back to his feet.
Bishop controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vims is trying to get back to full guard.
Vims keeps trying to improve his position.
Bishop missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bishop working the head and body with strikes.
Bishop is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bishop prevents Vims from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Bishop dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Vims stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Vims throws a looping overhand right but Bishop ducks down to avoid it.
Bishop misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vims swings for the body but Bishop moves out of range.
Vims throws a hook but Bishop avoids it easily.

Vims tries to sprawl but Bishop drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Bishop there.
Bishop with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Vims is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Bishop jumps into side control!
Vims is letting Bishop control him for a moment.
Vims is looking to reverse the position.
Vims is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Bishop working the head and body with strikes.
Vims 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.
Bishop is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Vims will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vims regains half guard.
Vims trying to control but Bishop postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vims can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Bishop content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bishop seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bishop trying to mount his opponent but Vims defends it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Bishop has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vims is trying desperately to improve position.
Bishop landing strikes from the mount.
Vims is looking to improve his position but Bishop isn't that keen on the idea.
Bishop scoring with strikes but Vims is staying in there.
Bishop connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Vims that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Vims wants to hold on but Bishop pushes him away.
Vims really wants to buck Bishop off and get back to his feet.
Bishop prevents Vims from getting the reversal.
Bishop scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vims working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Bishop dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vims looks to land a combination but Bishop avoids it well.
A slow jab from Vims misses its intended target.
Bishop shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Bishop fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vims sprawls well initially but Bishop persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bishop controlling the action here.
Bishop looks to land a strike but Vims avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Vims 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.
Bishop scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bishop is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vims controls Bishop momentarily but Bishop frees himself.
Vims really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bishop. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vims is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bishop stands and throws Vims's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Vims trying to remain calm as Bishop controls from the top position.
Bishop lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop grinds an elbow into Vims's temple.
Vims tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bishop lands some shots froms side control.
Bryan Bishop is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vims is trying to improve his position.
Bishop landing strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vims tries to improve position but can't.
Vims pushes Bishop away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bishop gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bishop controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vims wants to control but Bishop postures up.
Bishop moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Bishop has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vims 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sloppy strikes from Vims. Those never looked like landing.
Vims throws the left hand but Bishop avoids the punch easily.
Vims missing with a left hand there. Bishop was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Paul Vims has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryan Bishop is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bishop fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vims waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bishop.

Bishop looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Vims!
Bishop controls the position from side control.
Bishop working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Bishop!
A relieved looking Bryan Bishop thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.