PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Staal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Bishop has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with John Staal's chin.

Staal
vs
Bishop

195 cm
22
230 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
274 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Staal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop looks to score with a jab to the body but Staal is just out of range.
A head kick misses from Staal.
Bishop ducks under a wild hook from Staal.
Staal listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Staal doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Staal has taken the fight to the clinch.
Staal lands an elbow inside.
Bishop will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Staal up against the cage.
Staal dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Staal throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Bishop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Staal takes one on the button.
Staal moves out of range as Bishop strikes.
Staal shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bishop looks to land a right hand but Staal moved out of range.
Staal ducks under a wild hook from Bishop.
Staal slips a straight right by Bishop.
Staal lands a nice hook to Bishop's body. Bishop takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Staal throws a push kick but Bishop slaps the foot to one side.
Bishop takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bishop is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bishop scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Staal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bishop takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Staal scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bishop doesn't seem bothered though.
Bishop on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Staal. Staal obviously looking to wear him down.
Staal scores with a nice head shot.
Bishop throws a body punch but Staal moves out of range.
Bishop on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Staal looks to score with a jab to the body but Bishop is just out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Staal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bishop scores with a jab to the body.
Staal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bishop.
Bishop with a hook.
Staal is looking to clinch but Bishop is avoiding it.
Staal takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bishop avoids a punch combination nicely.

Staal closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bishop.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bishop breaks from the clinch.
Bishop misses with a straight right.
Bishop tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Staal was well out of range. Poor timing from Bishop.
Staal scores with a jab to the head.
Bishop misses the body punch
and Staal counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Staal.
Staal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bishop.
Staal lands a glancing blow to the side of Bishop's head.

Staal forces Bishop back against the cage and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Bishop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Staal avoids the body shot from Bishop.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bishop. Staal does a little dance to reset his feet.
A slow jab from Bishop misses its intended target.
Bishop throws a left and a right that both miss
and Staal counters with an inside leg kick.
Bishop lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bishop looks to land a left hand but Staal moved out of range nicely.
Staal throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Bishop throws a shot from downtown. Staal moves away and avoids it.
Bishop just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A big left from Staal misses.
Staal throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bishop connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Staal feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bishop's calf.
A head kick from Staal lands but Bishop takes it in his stride.
Bishop throws the left hand but Staal avoids the punch easily.
Staal slips a jab and a cross from Bishop.
Staal fails to land with a series of punches.
Bishop stalks Staal and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Staal's face. Staal staggers backwards, shaken.
Bishop throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Staal wants to clinch.
Bishop throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Staal thuds a left hand into Bishop's body.
Bishop throws a right and a left that both miss.
Staal takes one to the chin there.
Staal catches Bishop with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Staal closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop has had enough of the clinch but Staal keeps him there for the moment.
Bishop is trying to break free.
Bishop tries to circle away but Staal has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Bishop's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Staal keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bishop's efforts to push away.
Staal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Staal lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Staal is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bishop managing to block the knees to the body from Staal.
Staal is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bishop is trying to break the clinch but Staal is controlling him.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Bishop's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Staal lets loose with a powerful body kick. Bishop will feel that in the morning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Staal lands a jab to Bishop's midsection.
Staal staying out of range there.
Staal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Staal throws a right and a left that Bishop avoids nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Some wild striking there from Bishop.
Staal looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Staal keeps Bishop at a distance using the push kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bishop dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Staal swinging wildly here.
Staal scores with a body shot.
Staal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Staal chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bishop throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bishop loads up on a big right hand but Staal slips the punch.
Nice cross by Bishop.
Staal with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bishop swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Staal makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Staal.
Bishop just misses with a punch to the body.
Staal wants to clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bishop crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Staal - the referee stops the clock and Bishop gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Staal. Bishop manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Staal fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Staal dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bishop takes a head kick and keeps coming.
John Bishop seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bishop is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal feints and then cracks Bishop's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bishop down.
Staal with a hook.
A shot to the liver by Staal. Beautiful body shot.
Staal connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bishop. Bishop circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bishop misses with a looping right.
Nice uppercut there from Staal.
Staal is looking to wear down Bishop with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Staal ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Staal pushes Bishop up against the cage in a clinch.
Staal connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bishop's face.

It looks like John Bishop has been cut.
Staal stalling.
Staal is trying to maintain a safe position but Bishop gets an underhook and turns Staal into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Bishop's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Staal crunches a lovely knee into Bishop's ribcage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Staal stalls.
Staal is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bishop is keeping busy.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Staal.
Staal thuds a left hand into Bishop's body.
Bishop takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Staal instigates a clinch.
Bishop's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Staal lands an elbow just above Bishop 's eye.
Staal tries to land knees in the clinch but Bishop avoids the damage to the body.
Bishop takes an elbow to the temple.
Staal is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Staal lands an elbow that stopped Bishop in his tracks for a moment.
Staal looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Bishop breaks the clinch.
Bishop throws a sloppy body shot
and Staal counters with a stiff right hand.
Bishop loads up on a big right hand but Staal slips the punch.
Bishop throws a predictable looking body shot
and Staal counters with a low kick, right behind Bishop 's knee.
Bishop takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Staal lands with a straight right. Bishop didn't see that one coming.
Bishop takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bishop throws a lazy right hand but Staal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bishop walks forward, straight into a front kick from Staal.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Staal here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Bishop takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Staal scores with a body shot.
Staal dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Staal scores with a jab. Bishop acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Staal throws a nice outside leg kick.
Staal throws a combination. Bishop tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Staal works the jab nicely.
Staal thumps Bishop with a low kick.
Staal ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Donk. Staal catches Bishop right on the button with a cross.
Staal lands a nice shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Staal. Beautiful body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Staal. That's going to slow Bishop down.
Bishop throws a right hand that Staal ducks under and follows up with a left that Staal also avoids with ease.
Staal throws a quick inside leg kick.
Staal lands with a thumping leg kick.

Staal closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Staal obliges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Staal obliges.
A short left from Staal.
Staal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Staal.
Bishop wants to get back to striking at distance but Staal won't allow it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Staal presses Bishop against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Staal lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Staal lands a knee to the body.
Bishop has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Staal lands an elbow that stopped Bishop in his tracks for a moment.
A nice right hand lands inside from Staal.
Staal lands a body shot in the clinch.
Staal connects with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bishop as Staal tries to tie him up.
Staal digs a right hand underneath Bishop's ribcage. Bishop let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Staal leaning against his opponent.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Staal using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bishop has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Bishop breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Staal has Bishop up against the cage in a clinch.
Staal taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Staal lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bishop backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Staal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Staal dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Bishop's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Staal lands a two punch combo.
Bishop throws a big shot that misses.
Staal looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bishop throws the left hand but Staal avoids the punch easily.
Staal fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bishop.
Bishop's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Staal cracks Bishop with a good jab.
Bishop keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Staal.
Staal throws a leg kick which misses Bishop's front leg but catches the back leg as Bishop tries to avoid it.
Bishop displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Staal throws out the jab.
Bishop blocks a head kick by Staal.
Bishop looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The fighters circling - Staal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Staal rushes Bishop and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Staal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Staal lands an elbow inside that Bishop shrugs off.
Bishop dodges an elbow strike from Staal.
Staal working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Staal is trying to maintain a safe position but Bishop gets an underhook and turns Staal into the cage.
Bishop takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Staal lands a good knee to the midsection. Bishop won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal lands a damaging elbow.

Bishop pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bishop is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Staal.
Crunch! Staal slams his shin into Bishop's torso.
Staal is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bishop can do to turn this around?
Nice shot lands for Staal.
Bishop needs to keep his hands up - Staal had a free shot at his head there.
Staal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Staal moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Staal bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bishop's head backwards.
A good leg kick by Staal.
Bishop takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A thudding body kick lands there by Staal!
Staal swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bishop.
Bishop misses with a telegraphed body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Bishop on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Bishop thows a body shot but no joy.
Bishop has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Staal throws a one two combo.
Staal lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal looks to land a combination. Bishop sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Staal scores with a leg kick.
Staal moves out of range of the strikes.
Bishop takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Staal lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Staal throws a nice looking combination but Bishop bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bishop takes a kick to the side of the head.
Bishop loads up on a big right hand but Staal slips the punch.
Bishop takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Bishop lands a slapping body shot.
Staal scores with the left hand. Bishop knows he should have avoided that one.
Staal misses with a shot to the body
and Bishop makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Jab by Staal.
Staal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bishop.
Staal scores with a kick to the body.
Staal lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Staal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bishop.
Nice body kick there by Staal.
Bishop has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Staal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bishop on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A solid leg kick lands there for Staal.
Staal turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Staal lands a nice looking kick to the body. Bishop takes a step back to recover.
Staal connects with a solid leg kick.
Staal throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Crunch! Staal slams his shin into Bishop's torso.
Jab, jab by Staal - just one landing.
Bishop takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Staal throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bishop swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Staal counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bishop's knee momentarily.
Staal throws a head kick that Bishop semi-blocks.
Staal throws a nice outside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Staal throws a nice looking combination but Bishop bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Staal cracks Bishop with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staal catches Bishop with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bishop jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Staal fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bishop on the side of the head.
A punch combination from Staal misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Staal.
Staal throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bishop.
Bishop takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Staal moves into the clinch successfully.
Staal lands an uppercut.
Staal working Bishop over with knees to the body.
Staal throws a knee to the head but misses.
Staal unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Staal lands an elbow inside.
Staal lands a nice uppercut.
John Staal has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Staal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Staal working Bishop over with knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Staal gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Staal presses Bishop against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Staal is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Staal throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bishop blocks it with crossed arms.
Staal unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Staal utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Staal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Staal has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:26
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:26
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Staal!