PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johann Bismark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Swano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Bismark might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to I Don't Care Anymore - Phil Collins. Dan Swano 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!

Bismark
vs
Swano

188 cm
26
202 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
27
223 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Johann Bismark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Swano!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bismark.
Bismark shoots in but Swano avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Swano lands with a nice combination. Bismark backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Johann Bismark has been cut.
Bismark fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Swano avoids it really well and circles away.
Swano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Swano on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bismark misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swano rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Bismark counters with a shoot takedown. Swano fights it but they end up in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Swano keeping moving, preventing Bismark from controlling successfully.
Bismark is pushing down on Swano's leg trying to pass to half guard. Swano is fighting to maintain full guard but Bismark has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swano has a hand on Bismark's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Bismark takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Bismark is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Swano has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Swano!

Bismark looking for a guillotine here but Swano defends easily.

Bismark has an active guard here but Swano has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swano is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bismark gets back to full guard.
Swano postures up in Bismark's guard and throws a big left but Bismark blocks it.
Swano is looking to stand up but Bismark won't let him.

Bismark working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Swano doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Swano manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Bismark is looking for a triangle but Swano pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swano is looking to pass into half guard but Bismark pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bismark is in guard.

Bismark drops back, looking for a kneebar! Swano looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Swano looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Swano!

Swano decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Swano misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bismark.
Swano throws a combination that misses

and Bismark counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Swano is trying to maintain the position but Bismark is very close to passing his half guard.

Swano is defending against the submission attempts here by Bismark.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bismark is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Swano is just riding it out for now. Bismark eventually gives up the hold.
We've been hearing that Bismark has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Bismark is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Swano still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Swano has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johann Bismark will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Johann Bismark's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bismark gets a double leg takedown into Swano's guard.
Swano keeping moving, preventing Bismark from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Swano wants to hit a switch here but Bismark passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Swano there!

Bismark goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Swano turns into him and now he's in Bismark's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bismark looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bismark looking for a guillotine here but Swano defends easily.

Bismark looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Swano wants to get up but he can't break Bismark's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Swano trying to control the position from guard on top but Bismark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Swano wants to stand but Bismark is controlling his posture from full guard.
Swano postures up in Bismark's guard and throws a big left but Bismark blocks it.
Swano wanted to stand there but Bismark had control of the position.

Bismark has his foot on Swano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Swano works his way back into a safe position though.
Johann Bismark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Swano wants to stand but Bismark has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swano wants to control from the top but Bismark keeps moving.
Swano trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bismark's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Swano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bismark lands the left hand.
Swano misses with a head kick.

Bismark looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Swano!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bismark is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Swano is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Bismark goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Swano has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bismark but great work by Swano.
Swano tries to get to his feet but Bismark is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Swano in his guard.

Bismark had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Swano defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swano trying to control but Bismark is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johann Bismark dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Johann Bismark's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

That kick from Swano tenderised Bismark's leg. Bismark is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bismark slips a jab and a cross from Swano.
Bismark avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A punch lands to the side of Bismark 's head but he takes it in his stride.
No joy there for Swano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Swano swings widly with a right hand

and Bismark counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bismark looking to sit in guard and control but Swano gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bismark looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Swano passes into half guard.
Swano wants to stand up but Bismark has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bismark looking for submissions off his back.
Bismark tries to get to full guard but Swano has control of the leg.
It looks like Swano is going to stand back up.
Swano thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bismark's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Bismark is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Swano pulls his head out easily.
Swano wants to stand up but Bismark has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Bismark avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Swano.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Swano working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Bismark looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Swano wants to stand up but Bismark has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Swano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bismark does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bismark sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bismark circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bismark showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Swano.
Swano misses with a right hand

and Bismark counters with a single leg into guard. Swano didn't expect that.
Swano keeping moving, preventing Bismark from controlling successfully.
Bismark slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Swano tries to buck Bismark off but Bismark is having none of it.

Bismark tries for a kimura but Swano is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bismark tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bismark has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bismark trying to control the action but Swano is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Swano is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johann Bismark.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bismark, 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johann Bismark!
In his post fight interview, Johann Bismark started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.