PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robledo Puch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Puch kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Breathe. Bishop has chosen Pimps Around The World as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Robledo Puch has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Puch
vs
Bishop

170 cm
30
155 lbs
30 - 14 - 2

175 cm
28
160 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)
Lion Fightwear

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 30 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Robledo Puch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xavier Bishop!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puch lands a lovely overhand right.
Bishop cracks Puch with a good jab.
Puch lands a body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Bishop as he connects with a hook.

Bishop gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bishop tries to throw a body punch but Puch avoids it by throwing Bishop back against the cage.
Puch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bishop pushes Puch back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short left from Puch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bishop.
Bishop working aggressively here.

Puch manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Puch looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bishop passes into side control.
Puch is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puch is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bishop off and has taken his back!
Puch punishes Bishop with strikes from the back mount.
Puch is hanging on to Bishop's back as he tries to escape.
Bishop avoids the strikes from Puch.

Puch has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Bishop has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Bishop showing good submission defense here.

Puch patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Puch punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puch lands a shot to the body.
Puch tries to keep control of the position but Bishop is staying busy.
Bishop felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Puch has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Puch misses with an elbow to the head.

Puch is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Bishop has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bishop just looking to survive in the bad position.
Puch scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Puch scores with punches to the body.
Bishop is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Puch off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Puch throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Puch throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Bishop manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Bishop.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Puch accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Puch missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Puch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Puch trying to control but Bishop is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Puch accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Puch stands up over Bishop, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Puch is looking to work some ground and pound but Bishop has wrist control.

Bishop escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Puch gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Puch connects with a couple of short punches.
Puch throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puch working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bishop's head.
Puch throws a strike but Bishop rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Puch has an active guard here but Bishop has managed to pass into half guard.
Puch is trying to get back to full guard.
Puch moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Puch is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Puch looking for subs off his back but Bishop has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robledo Puch 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.

Puch lands a slapping body shot.
Bishop misses with a head kick.
Puch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Puch misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Xavier Bishop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Puch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bishop moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Puch sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bishop lands a head shot.
Puch walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Bishop misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bishop looks to score with a jab to the body but Puch is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puch misses with a lunging right hand
and Bishop counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Puch thinking.
Puch drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Puch uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bishop misses with a straight right.
A lazy left from Puch finds it's target.
Bishop takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bishop scores with a jab to the body.
Bishop swings for the body but Puch moves out of range.
Puch blocks a jab.
Puch misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Puch misses its intended target.
Puch throws a hook but Bishop blocks it.
Bishop is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Puch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puch steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bishop.
Xavier Bishop seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Puch throws a jab when Bishop was well out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donk. Bishop catches Puch right on the button with a cross.
Bishop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Puch ducks under a wild hook from Bishop.
Puch changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bishop takes a swing at Puch's ribcage but misses.
Puch looks to throw the jab but Bishop is out of range.

Bishop moves into the clinch.
Bishop throws a punch but it's blocked by Puch.
Puch working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Puch has had enough of the clinch but Bishop keeps him there for the moment.

Puch gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Puch lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Puch wants to work for an arm triangle but Bishop is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Puch.
Puch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Puch is nestled in close to Bishop, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Puch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Puch missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Puch thows a huge punch but Bishop dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Puch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bishop wants to get back to full guard.
Bishop gets back to full guard.
Puch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bishop's head.
Puch is fighting to break Bishop's control of his arms but Bishop is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop looking for a sweep. Not yet Bishop, not yet.
Puch throwing strikes but missing.
Puch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bishop works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Puch lands a couple of digs.
Puch missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Puch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bishop is trying to keep Puch in close.
Puch working some strikes from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Puch accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Puch postures up in Bishop's guard and throws a big left but Bishop blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Robledo Puch will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Puch avoids the body shot from Bishop.
Puch works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bishop changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Puch throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Bishop counter with a right hand.
Bishop waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Puch.
Bishop throws a body shot but no joy.
Bishop takes one on the button.
Bishop throws a hook but Puch blocks it.
Puch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop walks into a straight right hand from Puch.
Puch fails to land the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Puch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puch tries for a takedown but Bishop sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robledo Puch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Puch misses with a wild body shot.
Bishop misses with a few strikes there.
Puch changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Puch fails with the takedown.
Bishop cracks a nice hook into Puch's ribs.
Bishop tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Puch was well out of range. Poor timing from Bishop.
Bishop misses with a hook

and Puch counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bishop is pressing down on Puch's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Puch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Robledo Puch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Puch stands up over Bishop, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Xavier Bishop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Robledo Puch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puch controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bishop seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Puch seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bishop bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Puch is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bishop sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Puch moves out of range as Bishop strikes.
Puch feinted with a counter takedown.
Puch fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bishop looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Xavier Bishop is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bishop is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bishop looks to land a right hand but Puch moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puch slips under a jab from Bishop.
Puch lands with a right hand.

Puch scores with a takedown into Bishop's guard.
Puch wants to control from the top but Bishop keeps moving.
Puch not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bishop is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bishop is trying to control the position but Puch postures up.
Puch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robledo Puch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Puch, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robledo Puch!
Robledo Puch managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Hellbent , into his post fight interview.
Xavier Bishop was interviewed post fight and said 'Ogun will punish me severely for this loss!'.