PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shen Po (ranked 985 p4p, 964 weight class) and Penkosip Bizihwaile (ranked 139 p4p, 138 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Po might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Ei-tetsu Hayashi & 木下伸市. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Po
vs
Bizihwaile

177 cm
31
203
21 - 15 - 0

184 cm
34
191
18 - 16 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shen Po!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Penkosip Bizihwaile!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Po throws a jab when Bizihwaile was well out of range.
Bizihwaile slips under a jab from Po.
It seemed like Bizihwaile was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Po listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We've been informed that Bizihwaile has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Po throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bizihwaile slips a straight right by Po.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Po.
A slow jab from Po misses its intended target.
Po slips under a jab from Bizihwaile.
Po connects with a body shot that sends Bizihwaile's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bizihwaile lands a two punch combo.
Bizihwaile misses with a low kick.
Shen Po seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Po throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Po throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bizihwaile counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bizihwaile sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bizihwaile looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Po shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Po is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bizihwaile has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've been hearing good reports from Po'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.
Po wants to pass the guard but Bizihwaile is defending well.
Bizihwaile is trying to maintain the position but Po is very close to passing his half guard.

Po is trying to work for a kimura but Bizihwaile is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Po thows a huge punch but Bizihwaile dodges it nicely.
Po is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bizihwaile!
Bizihwaile prevents Po from taking his back.
Po looking to finish with strikes here!

Po wants to finish this one by submission but Bizihwaile is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Po.
Po trying to control but Bizihwaile is having none of it.
Po seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Bizihwaile is holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po content just to control the position here.
Po tries to control but Bizihwaile wriggling away.
Po misses with a head shot.

Po working for a guillotine from mount but Bizihwaile is in no mood to give up.
Po looking to ground and pound but Bizihwaile is blocking nicely.
Po controlling from the full mount.
Po can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bizihwaile is looking to escape.
Po is looking to work his way around to Bizihwaile's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bizihwaile is squirming around, avoiding Po's attempts to control the action.
Po controlling the pace for now.
Bizihwaile manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Po is trying to control. Bizihwaile wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bizihwaile is defending against the submission attempts here by Po.

Po wants to work for an arm triangle but Bizihwaile is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shen Po dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Po throws a lazy uppercut
and Bizihwaile counters with a right hand to the body.
Po shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Bizihwaile to counter with a crisp jab.
Po lands with a straight right. Bizihwaile didn't see that one coming.
Po swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bizihwaile counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Po scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bizihwaile ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bizihwaile unleashes a big counter combination but Po bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Po tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bizihwaile swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bizihwaile looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Penkosip Bizihwaile seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Po misses with a lunging right hand
and Bizihwaile connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Po shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bizihwaile sprawls well. Bizihwaile wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Po gets slowly back to his feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bizihwaile! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po thuds a left hand into Bizihwaile's body.
Po throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A countering left hand to the body from Bizihwaile misses.
Po fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Po is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bizihwaile can do to turn this around?
Po tries to clinch but Bizihwaile moves away
and Bizihwaile counters with a straight right hand.
Po misses with a hook
letting Bizihwaile counter with a right hand.

Po fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bizihwaile, pushing him back against the cage.
Bizihwaile prevents a body shot from Po.
Bizihwaile lands a right hand that snaps the head of Po backwards.
Bizihwaile scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Po takes a shot to the head.
Bizihwaile misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bizihwaile doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bizihwaile tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bizihwaile tries to throw a body punch but Po avoids it by throwing Bizihwaile back against the cage.
Po can't find room to land a body shot as Bizihwaile controls the action.
A short left from Bizihwaile.
Po lands a right hand.
Bizihwaile scores with a shoulder strike.
Po scores with a shot to the side of Bizihwaile's head.
A shot in the inside from Bizihwaile.
Nice body punch from Po.
A hook to the body from Po.
Po lands an uppercut.
Po struggles to land a body shot inside as Bizihwaile controls his hands.

Bizihwaile pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Po clinches.
Bizihwaile has had enough of the clinch but Po keeps him there for the moment.
Bizihwaile misses with a punch to the body.
Bizihwaile lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Po backwards.

Po pulls guard effortlessly.

Po has his foot on Bizihwaile's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bizihwaile works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bizihwaile won't allow Po to sweep him here.
Bizihwaile must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Po isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Bizihwaile stacks Po on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Bizihwaile!
Bizihwaile content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Po tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bizihwaile wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Po is working hard here to advance position.
Bizihwaile trying to control the action but Po is working from the bottom.
Bizihwaile controlling from side mount.

That's four 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.
Bizihwaile throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Shen Po overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Po tries to improve position but can't.
Po wants to control but Bizihwaile postures up.
Po is looking for a sweep.
Po gets back to half guard.
Po wants to get back to full guard.
Po is looking to control Bizihwaile's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Po avoid being mounted?
Po tries to get to full guard but Bizihwaile has control of the leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Penkosip Bizihwaile showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Po throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bizihwaile counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Po works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Po scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Po is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bizihwaile has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Po tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bizihwaile manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bizihwaile ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bizihwaile moves out of range of the strikes.

Bizihwaile drops Po with a beautiful combination! Po stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Bizihwaile is looking for the KO!

Po is rocked!

It looks like Shen Po has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Po misses with a left hand
and Bizihwaile counters with a powerful cross that connects right on the chin and the lights go out! A massive one punch knock out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Penkosip Bizihwaile!
Penkosip Bizihwaile seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.