PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Papa Shango (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benny Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bishop has chosen Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk Dubstep Remix as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shango
vs
Bishop

177 cm
28
166 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

181 cm
23
168 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Spartan Nutrition
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Papa Shango!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Benny Bishop!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jonathan Paton and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Shango on the side of the head.
Shango tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bishop paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Shango gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Shango manages to pull guard.
Bishop preventing the sweep.
Shango keeping full guard, as Bishop tries to pass.
Shango preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bishop avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bishop trying to control the position from guard on top but Shango is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bishop avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shango not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shango working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bishop doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bishop manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shango looking for a sweep. Not yet Shango, not yet.
Bishop advances position into side control!
Shango is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Shango is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bishop throwing shots but Shango is blocking nicely.
Shango wants to control but Bishop is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shango tries to get to full guard but Bishop has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop wants to pass the guard but Shango is defending well.
Bishop is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Shango!
Shango is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bishop postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Shango looks a forlorn figure.
Shango keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bishop lands a nice shot to the head.
Shango is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
We've been hearing good reports from Shango's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop raining down shots from the mount!

Bishop looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Bishop controlling from the full mount.
Shango tries to reverse the position but Bishop maintains control.
Bishop cracks Shango with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Bishop lands a heavy elbow.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Bishop working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Bishop looking to control but Shango is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shango tries to lock up and control but Bishop gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shango bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Shango prevents Bishop from getting back to his feet.
Bishop working a defensive guard here.
Shango forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bishop manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bishop keeping full guard, as Shango tries to pass.
Bishop wants to sweep here but Shango controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Bishop dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shango scores with a takedown into Bishop's guard.
Bishop is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Shango looking to pass the guard.
Shango forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shango works his way into full mount!
Shango tries to control but Bishop wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shango controlling from the full mount.
Papa Shango overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bishop wants to hold on but Shango pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shango controlling from the full mount.
Shango tries to control but Bishop wriggling away.
Shango is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bishop is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bishop is looking to improve his position but Shango isn't that keen on the idea.
Bishop keeps trying to improve his position.

Shango jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bishop manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Shango tries to move into full mount but can't pass Bishop's legs.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shango tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shango has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bishop can't do much from the bottom here.
Bishop gets back to half guard.

Shango seems to be looking for submissions.
Shango seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bishop does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shango is pressing down on Bishop's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bishop is holding on for now.

That's four 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.
Bishop moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bishop looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shango is one step ahead there.
Bishop not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Shango closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shango lands in his opponent's guard.
Shango advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papa Shango dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bishop swings widly with a right hand

and Shango counters with a takedown into side control.

Shango tries for a kimura but Bishop is defending well.
Shango taking a breather here.
Shango wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bishop keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shango tries to move to mount but Bishop blocks the move with his legs.
Bishop is trying to get back to half guard.
Shango is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bishop can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shango is staying tight to Bishop's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Shango tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bishop tries to improve position but can't.
Bishop tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Shango presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Shango can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bishop is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shango is really struggling to control Bishop but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Shango controlling from mount.
Shango tries to control but Bishop wriggling away.
Bishop really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop wants to control but Shango is having none of it.
Bishop is squirming around, avoiding Shango's attempts to control the action.
Shango controlling the position easily from mount.
Bishop is looking to get to half guard.
Shango takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Shango goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Bishop is on top in guard.
Bishop trying to control the position from guard on top but Shango is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shango is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shango pulls Bishop in to control the position.
Bishop must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bishop wants to control from the top but Shango keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Papa Shango showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shango 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papa Shango!
Our winner, Papa Shango, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Benny Bishop spoke after the fight, saying 'That was BOOOOOGGGGGGUUUUUUUSSSSSS!!! BBOOOOOOOOOOO!'.