PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fausto Rivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luke Bishop acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Rivas
vs
Bishop

161 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fausto Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Russell Pearce and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bishop manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rivas on his heels. He'll look to pass Rivas's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bishop trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rivas's guard.
Bishop postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Bishop thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bishop trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rivas is trying to keep Bishop in close.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rivas could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Bishop shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bishop showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop wants to get back to his feet.
Bishop tries to pass to full mount but Rivas defends it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bishop in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Bishop wants to work for an arm triangle but Rivas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bishop controlling the action here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bishop wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivas keeps working.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bishop feints and as Rivas raises his hands in defense, Bishop changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bishop trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bishop wants to control from the top but Rivas keeps moving.
Bishop controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bishop's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bishop wanted to stand there but Rivas had control of the position.
Bishop is stalling in the full guard.
Bishop tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivas is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Bishop dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bishop feints and as Rivas raises his hands in defense, Bishop changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bishop slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bishop is continuing to stall.
Bishop looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop throws a strike but Rivas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rivas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bishop wants to sweep but no luck.
Luke Bishop has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rivas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rivas being controlled here momentarily.
Bishop is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rivas is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rivas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luke Bishop is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bishop jabs at Rivas's body.

Bishop bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bishop wants to stand but Rivas has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Rivas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bishop.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bishop sitting in guard, not really doing much.
More stalling from Bishop.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bishop advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bishop wants to stand but Rivas is controlling his arm.
The referee asks Bishop politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bishop prefers to stall for the moment though.
Bishop wants to control but Rivas is keeping him busy.
Bishop controls the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bishop shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rivas napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Bishop is trying to get an arm triangle but Rivas is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Bishop showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bishop feints and as Rivas raises his hands in defense, Bishop changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bishop wants to control from the top but Rivas keeps moving.
Bishop sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rivas is proving hard to escape from.
Bishop stays in close to Rivas's body and controls the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bishop wants to stand and escape but instead Rivas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bishop is adopting a defensive guard.
Bishop manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivas manages to get himself to full guard.

Bishop has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rivas is looking to stand up but Bishop isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop trying to control but Rivas is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bishop's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bishop sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bishop forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bishop sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Bishop comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bishop 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 26:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Bishop!