PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vesa Sykk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sykk has chosen Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name as his entrance music. Arthur Bishop could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Vesa Sykk's chin.

Bishop
vs
Sykk

163 cm
26
148 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

172 cm
28
155 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.
SP Ultimate Nutrition

Mohito Fightwear
SP Ultimate Nutrition

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Arthur Bishop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vesa Sykk!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop jabs Sykk to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bishop's corner calls for a 1-2. Bishop obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sykk walks forward, straight into a front kick from Bishop.
Sykk throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bishop's head.

Sykk clinches up against the cage.
Sykk throws an elbow but it misses.
Bishop fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sykk tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bishop's elbow.
Bishop pushes Sykk back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sykk tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bishop's elbow.
Bishop prevents a body shot from Sykk.
Bishop lands a hook that snaps the head of Sykk backwards.
Bishop avoiding damage as Sykk throws knees to the body.
Sykk prevents a body shot from Bishop.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right from Bishop.
Bishop tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bishop misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bishop takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sykk lands with a left to the head.
Sykk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bishop.
Sykk lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bishop is defending well for now.
Bishop lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sykk misses with the head strike.
Sykk lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bishop backwards.
Sykk just leaning against Bishop, taking a breather.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sykk.
Sykk prevents a body shot from Bishop.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sykk misses with a punch to the body.
Bishop misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sykk scores with a hook to the body.
Sykk misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bishop lands a hook that snaps the head of Sykk backwards.
Sykk swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sykk tries to land knees in the clinch but Bishop avoids the damage to the body.
Bishop lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bishop avoids the elbow strike from Sykk, against the cage.
Bishop tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sykk lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop blocking some punches.
Sykk comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sykk misses with the head strike.

Sykk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bishop uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sykk.
Bishop cracks the inside of Sykk's front leg.
Sykk shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Bishop blocks a head kick by Sykk.
Bishop throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bishop on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bishop misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bishop misses with a low kick.
Sykk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bishop.
Bishop throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Sykk.
Bishop does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Bishop throws a leg kick but Sykk sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sykk has managed to clinch.
Sykk tries a body shot but Bishop blocks it.
Sykk looking to throw knees to the head but Bishop is blocking nicely.
Bishop lands a left hand.
Bishop goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sykk misses with some punches.
Bishop misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sykk lands a damaging elbow.
Bishop is struggling to control the position.
Sykk stalling in the clinch but Bishop improves position.
Bishop lands a hook that snaps the head of Sykk backwards.
Sykk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bishop is defending well for now.
Sykk scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A right hook to the body lands for Bishop.
Bishop lands a body shot in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Sykk scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sykk has a couple of punches blocked by Bishop.
Sykk looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sykk seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Bishop misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bishop dodges an elbow strike from Sykk.

Bishop drags the fight down to the ground.
Bishop trying to control the position.
Sykk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bishop tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bishop looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sykk puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sykk throws a strike but Bishop avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Sykk has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bishop utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vesa Sykk will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sykk takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bishop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sykk misses with a head kick.
Bishop throws a big counter combination but Sykk scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sykk throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Sykk connects with a body shot.
Sykk throws a wild body kick that Bishop sees coming a mile off.
Bishop lands a glancing blow to the side of Sykk's head.
That kick from Bishop tenderised Sykk's leg. Sykk is trying to keep his angry face on.
Both fighters circling a little - Bishop finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Sykk throws a body punch but Bishop moves out of range.
Bishop wants to clinch up but Sykk keeps it at a distance.
Bishop throws the left hand but Sykk avoids the punch easily.
Bishop plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Bishop blocks a head kick by Sykk.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sykk misses with a low kick.
Bishop throwing a counter right hand but Sykk manages to avoid it.
A combination from Sykk does no damage.
Sykk tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykk throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Bishop counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Bishop tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sykk manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bishop checks a leg kick.
Sykk takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sykk takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sykk looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sykk checks a leg kick.
Sykk throws a wild body kick that Bishop sees coming a mile off.
Sykk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bishop.
Bishop misses with an uppercut. Sykk saw that one coming.
Sykk looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice body punch from Bishop.
Bishop jabs at Sykk's body.
Sykk thuds a left hand into Bishop's body.
Bishop moves out of range of the body kick from Sykk.
Sykk takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bishop lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bishop is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sykk.
Sykk swings for the body but Bishop moves out of range.
Bishop connects with a nice looking jab.
Bishop tests Sykk's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bishop throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sykk is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bishop rather than just go for the knockout.
Sykk tries to clinch up.
Bishop fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sykk.
Sykk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sykk misses with a leg kick
and Bishop counters with a straight right hand.
Sykk swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bishop looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Arthur Bishop is winning the standup battle so far.
Bishop avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bishop attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bishop blocks a head kick by Sykk.
Bishop connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sykk throws a leg kick but Bishop sees it coming and moves out of range.
Bishop fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bishop avoids the head kick by Sykk.
Sykk slips under a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sykk.
Bishop lands with a straight right. Sykk didn't see that one coming.
Sykk scores with a jab to the body.

Sykk has managed to clinch.
Bishop blocks an uppercut.
Bishop presses Sykk against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A shot in the inside from Bishop.
Sykk lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bishop creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sykk throws a head punch that misses.
Bishop tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sykk's elbow.
Vesa Sykk seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bishop lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop tries a body shot but Sykk blocks it.
Sykk tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bishop as Sykk tries to tie him up.
Bishop avoids the elbow strike from Sykk, against the cage.
Sykk gets through Bishop's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Sykk manages to break the clinch.
Bishop checks the leg kick nicely there.

Sykk clinches up with Bishop and pushes him back against the cage.
Bishop prevents a body shot from Sykk.
Sykk misses with some punches.
Bishop's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bishop.
Bishop pushes Sykk back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bishop tries to throw a body punch but Sykk avoids it by throwing Bishop back against the cage.
Sykk throws an elbow that misses.
Sykk is looking to control Bishop's arms but Bishop gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sykk has his back to the cage.
A shot in the inside from Bishop.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Bishop dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sykk tries to clinch up.
A good leg kick by Bishop.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bishop. Sykk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bishop throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sykk's head.

Sykk is rocked!
Bishop takes a swing at Sykk's ribcage but misses.
Sykk is still on wobbly legs! Can Bishop finish him?
Bishop jabs Sykk to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sykk dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bishop. That did some damage!
Sykk moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sykk.
Sykk seems to have recovered his senses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bishop.
Bishop looks to land a right hand but Sykk moved out of range.
Bishop throws a leg kick but Sykk checks it.
Vesa Sykk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bishop is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bishop misses with a wild body shot.
Sykk throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sykk ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bishop takes a swing at Sykk's ribcage but misses.
Sykk checks a leg kick.
Sykk takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bishop tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sykk is able to avoid easily.
Bishop walks into a stiff left hand from Sykk.
Decent striking displayed by Bishop there.
Sykk lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bishop throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sykk buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sykk misses the jab.
Bishop throws a quick counter head kick but Sykk was just out of range.
Sykk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sykk is looking to score with low kicks.
Bishop throws a leg kick but Sykk sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sykk throws a body shot but no joy.
Bishop fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sykk's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykk ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
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!
Sykk scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bishop in his tracks.
Bishop throws a body kick that misses.
Bishop misses the shot to the body.
Bishop takes a swing at Sykk's ribcage but misses.
Bishop misses the shot to the body.
Bishop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
As Bishop backs off Sykk throws a huge counter combo but Bishop manages to avoid it all.
Sykk blocks a head kick by Bishop.
Bishop tries to move into range but Sykk moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bishop.
Bishop misses with a few strikes there.
Sykk is looking to clinch but Bishop is avoiding it.
Sykk throws a chopping leg kick but Bishop manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Bishop scores with a spinning back kick!
Bishop misses with a jab to the body
and Sykk makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bishop looks for the body kick but Sykk saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop keeps the fight on the outside.
Bishop scores with a nice body kick.
Sykk lands a really nice looking cross but Bishop seems unphased.
Bishop misses with a kick to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Sykk. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sykk.
Bishop throws a leg kick that misses.
Bishop looks to land a right hand but Sykk moved out of range.
Bishop uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sykk.
Sykk takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bishop misses with a low kick.
Bishop lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sykk fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jab from Sykk.
Sykk throws a head kick that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Bishop. Sykk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bishop blocks a leg kick.
Sykk has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bishop misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sykk steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Bishop.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Bishop misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sykk! But no joy.
Bishop pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bishop takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Bishop scores with a head kick. Sykk tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sykk ducks under a wild hook from Bishop.
Bishop avoids the head kick by Sykk.
It appears Bishop was looking to counter with a kick there.
Bishop blocks a leg kick.
Bishop throws a jab when Sykk was well out of range.
Bishop looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bishop scores with a spinning back kick!
Sykk waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bishop.
Bishop steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sykk.
Sykk takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bishop lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bishop waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sykk.

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 Arthur Bishop.
I think Bishop 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Bishop!
An out of breath Arthur Bishop thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.