PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lance Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Eddard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karl Eddard 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!

Bishop
vs
Eddard

190 cm
22
208 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

194 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lance Bishop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karl Eddard!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Colin Fray and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop has a takedown stuffed.
Eddard leaves Bishop with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Eddard is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Eddard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Eddard feints the counter takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lance Bishop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bishop lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bishop has a takedown stuffed.
Bishop connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop fails with the takedown

and Eddard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bishop won't be happy with that.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Eddard working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Bishop wants to control but Eddard postures up.
Eddard works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Bishop tries to bench press Eddard off him but Eddard keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Eddard trying to control the position but Bishop is working away.
Bishop is looking for a sweep.
Eddard tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Eddard misses with the ground and pound.
Bishop tries to buck Eddard off but Eddard is having none of it.

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.
Eddard wants to control but Bishop is keeping him busy.
Eddard tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bishop is trying to get back to half guard.
Bishop manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Bishop content to control rather than advance.
Eddard is positioning himself well to prevent Bishop advancing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eddard's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bishop looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Eddard is looking for a sweep. Bishop is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Eddard is trying to control but can't.
Eddard is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eddard is concentrating on defense, preventing Bishop from advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Eddard is looking to improve his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Eddard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Eddard looks to score with a jab to the body but Bishop is just out of range.
Bishop ducks under a wild hook from Eddard.

Eddard drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Eddard preventing the sweep.
Bishop is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bishop trying to pass the guard but Eddard defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Eddard is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Eddard 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.

Bishop is trying hard to land a takedown here. Eddard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Eddard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bishop walks into a stiff left hand from Eddard.
Eddard digs a good body shot into Bishop's ribs.

Eddard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Eddard showed some decent athleticism there.
Eddard working the head and body with strikes.
Eddard controlling the action here.
Eddard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bishop with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bishop is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Cylon Training Academy, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eddard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bishop with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop trying to control from the bottom.
Eddard winds up and cracks Bishop with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bishop taking some punishment here, with Eddard in his half guard.
Eddard wants to control but Bishop is keeping him busy.
Bishop trying to hold on to Eddard's head to control him but Eddard postures up.
Eddard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Eddard winds up and cracks Bishop with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bishop slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bishop can't keep his opponent in guard - Eddard advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eddard trying to control the action but Bishop is working from the bottom.
Eddard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Eddard wants to pass to mount but Bishop is defending the position.
Nice strikes from Eddard there.
Eddard slips a nice elbow through Bishop's hands, connecting with Bishop's forehead.
Bishop slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Eddard throws a strike but Bishop rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Karl Eddard has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eddard has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Bishop trying to control the position from guard on top but Eddard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Bishop scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Eddard is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Eddard is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop trying to control the action but Eddard is working from the bottom.
Eddard tries to get to full guard but Bishop has control of the leg.
Bishop is looking to advance position but Eddard won't allow it.
Eddard wants to control the action here but instead Bishop manages to pass to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bishop goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Eddard is on top in guard.
Eddard throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Eddard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 misses with a takedown attempt - Eddard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Eddard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bishop shoots in looking for a takedown but Eddard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bishop's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Eddard bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bishop's head backwards.

Eddard looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bishop is looking for a sweep. Eddard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bishop gets back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop wants to improve his position but instead Eddard has moved into half guard.
Bishop wants to get back to full guard but Eddard has mounted him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eddard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Bishop is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bishop is working hard here to advance position.
Eddard pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Eddard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Bishop is bucking up trying to escape but Eddard cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Eddard prevents Bishop from getting the reversal.
Eddard pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Lance Bishop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop can't escape the position.
Eddard raining down hammerfists from mount.
Eddard raining down hammerfists from mount.
Eddard tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bishop is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bishop sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Eddard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Eddard seems content to control.
Eddard winds up and cracks Bishop with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bishop tries to get to full guard but Eddard has control of the leg.
Eddard is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Eddard wants to pass the guard but Bishop is defending well.

Bishop looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Eddard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bishop is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Eddard looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Eddard passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Bishop!
Bishop is working to get back to half guard.
Karl Eddard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Eddard controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl Eddard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Eddard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl Eddard!