PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mats Söderlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mats Söderlund is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bishop
vs
Söderlund

163 cm
24
163 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
24
181 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arthur Bishop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mats Söderlund!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Phil Schofield and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Söderlund misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bishop.
Söderlund blocks the body kick.
Bishop paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Söderlund cracks the inside of Bishop's front leg.
Bishop pushes Söderlund away with a front kick.
Bishop throws a jab when Söderlund was well out of range.
Bishop chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bishop swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Söderlund.

It looks like Mats Söderlund has been cut.
Nice body punch from Bishop.
Söderlund takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bishop lands a front kick.
Söderlund looks winded!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A good leg kick by Bishop.
Söderlund just misses with a punch to the body.
Bishop feints and then cracks Söderlund's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Söderlund down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Söderlund has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bishop lets loose with a powerful body kick. Söderlund will feel that in the morning.
Bishop bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Söderlund's head.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Bishop and Söderlund goes tumbling to the canvas! Bishop follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bishop slips a nice elbow through Söderlund's hands, connecting with Söderlund's forehead.
Bishop with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Söderlund is defending against the submission attempts here by Bishop.

Bishop looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Söderlund is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bishop scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop stalling.
Söderlund slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bishop preventing the sweep.
Bishop advances to half guard.

Söderlund is defending against the submission attempts here by Bishop.
Bishop prevents Söderlund from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bishop lands a nice short elbow.
Söderlund wants to stand back up but Bishop manages to pass into side control.
Bishop controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Söderlund takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Söderlund gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bishop moves into full mount! Söderlund won't be happy about that!
Bishop lands a couple of good shots and Söderlund has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
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.

Bishop has the hooks in. Söderlund is starting to panic. He's trying to push off one of the legs but he's left his neck open to attack. Bishop passes his arm under Söderlund's neck and tightens up a rear naked choke! This one is surely all over! Yes, Söderlund taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Arthur Bishop!
A relieved looking Arthur 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.