PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daku Ito (ranked 3323 p4p, 4351 weight class) and Tom Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tom Bishop has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ito
vs
Bishop

190 cm
25
195
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
220
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daku Ito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tom Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ito is looking to slow Bishop down with leg kicks.
Bishop throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Bishop gets a takedown into half guard.
Ito is trying to control but can't.
Bishop really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ito. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Bishop is looking for a kimura but Ito is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bishop to get the leverage.
Ito is trying to get back to full guard.
Bishop not doing much here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bishop stands up and beckons Ito to join him on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
As Bishop tries to get set, Ito tries to push him back and clinch up but Bishop manages to avoid the attempt.
Bishop throws a leg kick but Ito sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ito misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And Bishop tries to counter it with a takedown but Ito pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ito tries to clinch but Bishop moves out of range.
Ito fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tom Bishop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bishop closes the distance and clinches.
Bishop is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ito gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Bishop has picked Ito up - he's going for a ride! Bishop dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Ito is controlling Bishop's trapped leg to prevent Bishop from advancing to side control.

Bishop is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ito defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ito does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bishop tries to pass to full mount but Ito defends it.
Ito wants to get back to full guard.
Bishop takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bishop wants to pass the guard but Ito is defending well.

Bishop postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ito to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ito counters with a good, hard body kick but Bishop shrugs it off.
Daku Ito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Bishop.
Ito leaves Bishop with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ito gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bishop counters with a crisp one two that drops Ito! Bishop thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Ito to his feet! Ito is in big trouble!
Ito is breathing heavily.
Bishop tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ito defends well and Bishop ends up having to push Ito into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Bishop clinches up against the cage.
Bishop drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop wants a takedown.
Ito tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bishop smiles and moves away.

Bishop gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ito is looking to control Bishop's arms but Bishop gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ito has his back to the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bishop escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bishop shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bishop showed some decent athleticism there.
Ito is looking to get back to is feet but Bishop passes into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bishop moves into the clinch successfully.
Bishop content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Bishop missing with knees to the body.
Ito jumps guard but Bishop stands there with Ito around his waist. Ito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bishop with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Bishop has Ito pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bishop pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ito tumbling to the mat - Bishop dives into Ito's guard.
Bishop engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ito trying to keep a closed guard but Bishop is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bishop tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Bishop in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Ito throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Bishop doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ito counters with a head kick. That will keep Bishop thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bishop looking to score a takedown here. Ito is defending well but Bishop drives through and ends up in Ito's guard.
Bishop pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ito is keeping the position for now.
Bishop prevents Ito from getting back to his feet.
Ito 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.
Ito is looking to stand back up but Bishop counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ito.
Bishop looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop is looking to take a break and control but Ito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ito wants to get back to full guard but Bishop has mounted him!
Bishop looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bishop lands a couple of good shots and Ito has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Ito tries to roll but Bishop sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Will Bishop go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bishop is persistently looking for the submission but Ito is defending it well.
Bishop controlling the position well here. Ito rolled but Bishop kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Bishop showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bishop has his takedown stuffed
enabling Ito to counter with a crisp jab.
Bishop circles away from the clinch attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bishop.

Ito throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Bishop misses with a takedown attempt - Ito sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Bishop moves into range and clinches up with Ito.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bishop breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oooooh!!! Bishop has knocked Ito down with a huge combo! Bishop steps away and waves a wobbly Ito back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Ito is rocked!

It looks like Daku Ito has been cut.

Ito gets tackled into the cage by Bishop. Bishop maintains the clinch.
Oh Ito is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bishop jerks Ito's head down, straight into the path of a devastating knee! Ito drops to the floor in a crumpled heap! Bishop goes to throw a finishing haymaker but pulls out - good sportsmanship from Bishop because Ito was completely out of it. That was a nice finish - just the right level of brutality to send everyone home happy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). Tom Bishop!