PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenji Smith has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Smith
vs
Bishop

178 cm
28
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kenji Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop throws a nice head kick!

Bishop moves into the clinch.

Bishop has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Smith regains guard immediately.

Bishop got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smith has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bishop has managed to get both his arms back between Smith's legs - danger averted.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bishop content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bishop wants to stand up but Smith has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bishop is working away from the top position though.
Bishop not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bishop works his way into full mount!
Smith is trying desperately to improve position.
Bishop lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Bishop controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working to get back to half guard.
Smith bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Smith wants to pass the guard but Bishop is keeping the position.
Bishop looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Bishop is retaining full guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Bishop is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.

Smith is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bishop is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bishop has escaped and now he's on top!

Smith looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Bishop trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Bishop is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.
Bishop stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Bishop controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bishop is looking to stand up but Smith won't let him.
Bishop landing with the ground and pound.
Bishop won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith looking to control.
Bishop controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Bishop sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Bishop dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bishop feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bishop working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bishop won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Bishop looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Bishop avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Xavier Bishop has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bishop is pushing down on Smith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Bishop has managed to sneak the leg through.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bishop wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bishop looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bishop slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here as Bishop stalls from top position.
Smith tries to buck Bishop off but Bishop is having none of it.

Bishop has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Bishop shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smith's guard.

Smith working for a triangle but Bishop defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.
Bishop postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.
Smith lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bishop pushes Smith off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

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

Smith is rocked!
Bishop lands a decent elbow from side control.
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Smith is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Bishop can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Xavier Bishop!
After winning the bout, Xavier Bishop thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.