PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Diggs (ranked 3075 p4p, 284 weight class) and Keith Bishop (ranked 1433 p4p, 165 weight class). Robert Diggs had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Diggs
vs
Bishop

190 cm
36
265 lbs
21 - 21 - 1

200 cm
35
250 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 21 - 1, fighting out of London, Robert Diggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keith Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop connects with a right hand. Diggs shakes it off.
Bishop connects with a body shot.
Bishop misses with a hook.
Diggs went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Diggs displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bishop throws out the jab.
Diggs is looking to clinch.

Diggs drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bishop keeping full guard, as Diggs tries to pass.
Diggs throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop is adopting a defensive guard.
Diggs looking to sit in guard and control but Bishop gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diggs working a defensive guard but Bishop passes into half guard.
Diggs wants to get back to his feet.
Diggs misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Diggs 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.
Diggs wants to improve his position but Bishop is controlling well.
Diggs is controlling Bishop's trapped leg to prevent Bishop from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bishop stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bishop passes to side control.
Diggs is pushing Bishop's head away, looking to escape. Bishop manages to hold on to the position though.
Diggs is trying to control Bishop's posture but Bishop avoids it.
Bishop controls the position.
Bishop is looking to take a break and control but Diggs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diggs is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diggs is working hard here to advance position.

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

Diggs changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bishop looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Diggs wants to control but Bishop is keeping him busy.
Bishop controls the position for a moment.
Diggs moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diggs wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bishop keeps working.
Bishop tries to improve position but can't.

Diggs is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bishop has escaped the position, nice work there.
Diggs wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bishop keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bishop struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith 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.

Diggs looks for a takedown but Bishop sprawls well.
It seemed like Bishop was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bishop misses with a wild body shot.
Bishop blocks a head kick by Diggs.
Diggs shoots and misses
and Bishop counters with a solid body kick.

Bishop gets tackled into the cage by Diggs. Diggs maintains the clinch.
Bishop lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bishop has a couple of punches blocked by Diggs.
A nice left hand lands by Bishop.

Diggs manages to pull guard.

Bishop avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
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.
Bishop has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diggs throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bishop escapes and throws Diggs's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Diggs tries to improve position but can't.
Diggs is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Bishop slows the pace down.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Bishop. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Bishop stands up and beckons Diggs to his feet.
Diggs looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Diggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bishop tries to bum rush Diggs with a series of wild strikes but Diggs uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bishop looks to score with a jab to the body but Diggs is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Bishop.
Bishop throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diggs looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Diggs tries to clinch up
and Bishop counters with a good, hard body kick but Diggs shrugs it off.
Bishop lands a leg kick that knocks Diggs off balance momentarily.
Diggs is looking to clinch.
Bishop uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Diggs darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Bishop manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Diggs keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diggs blocks a body shot from Bishop.
Diggs jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bishop walks away with a smile on his face. Diggs gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Diggs changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bishop tries to avoid it but Diggs manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bishop to the ground. Bishop escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A little jabbing left from Bishop on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bishop throws a half hearted mid kick.
Diggs bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Keith Bishop seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bishop misses with a body kick.
Bishop misses with a looping left.
Diggs is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Bishop.
Bishop looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bishop looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bishop tries to land a body kick

and Diggs counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Diggs.
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.

Diggs wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Bishop showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bishop throws a body shot but no joy.
Diggs throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bishop's waist but Bishop gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diggs off to one side.
A punch combination from Bishop misses.
Diggs looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bishop throws a hook but Diggs avoids it easily.
Diggs throws a counter high kick but Bishop was just alert enough to avoid it.
Bishop throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diggs doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bishop counters with a big head kick but Diggs shrugs it off.
Horrible takedown attempt by Diggs or perhaps it was just good defense by Bishop, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Diggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bishop misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diggs looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bishop looks to score with a jab to the body but Diggs is just out of range.
Bishop throws a body shot but no joy.
Diggs tries to counter by clinching up but Bishop breaks away and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diggs.
Bishop connects with a looping right hand.

It looks like Robert Diggs has been cut.

Bishop drives through and clinches with Diggs against the cage.
A short uppercut from Bishop.
Bishop misses with a short punch on the inside.

Diggs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bishop swings for the body but Diggs moves out of range.
Diggs tries to clinch up.
Bishop looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Diggs shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Diggs tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bishop defends well and Diggs ends up having to push Bishop into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bishop avoids the head kick by Diggs.
Bishop lands with a kick to the ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bishop lands a really nice looking cross but Diggs seems unphased.
Keith Bishop is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Robert Diggs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Bishop finds it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bishop tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diggs's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bishop connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Diggs scrambles back to his feet.
Keith Bishop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diggs takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Bishop throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bishop jabs at Diggs's body.
Diggs takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bishop stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bishop throws a sloppy head kick and Diggs moves out of range easily.
Bishop avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bishop scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Bishop gets caught flat footed, as Diggs shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bishop looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diggs stops Bishop from standing up.
Bishop keeping full guard, as Diggs tries to pass.
Bishop looking for a sweep. Not yet Bishop, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diggs missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diggs slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bishop is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Diggs's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Bishop makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bishop.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diggs gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Bishop.
Bishop throws a push kick but Diggs slaps the foot to one side.
Diggs fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bishop avoids it really well and circles away.
Keith Bishop is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Bishop tries to keep at a distance but Diggs has taken the fight into the clinch.
Robert Diggs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diggs with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

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