PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Autry Gayle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Autry Gayle is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bishop
vs
Gayle

178 cm
21
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
180 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Bishop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Autry Gayle!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jorge Garcia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gayle tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bishop swivels and escapes.
Bishop shoots in and drives through. Gayle sprawls well.
A head kick misses from Bishop.
A head kick misses from Bishop.
Bishop tries to clinch up.
Bishop scores with a head kick.
Bishop is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Bishop scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gayle manages to get back to half guard.
Gayle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gayle.

Gayle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bishop trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gayle's guard.
Bishop preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gayle trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gayle looking for a sweep. Not yet Gayle, not yet.
Gayle throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bishop closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gayle circles away.
Bishop is looking to clinch but Gayle is avoiding it.
Bishop with a poor takedown
and Gayle counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Bishop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bishop is breathing heavily.
Bishop throws a head kick that misses
and Gayle counters with a series of strikes. Bishop will be more careful next time no doubt.

Bishop looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gayle tries to strike from the bottom.
Bishop trying to control but Gayle is working from the bottom.

Gayle looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gayle throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gayle throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Gayle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bishop doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bishop manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gayle is on top in guard.
Bishop lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gayle!
Poor strikes thrown by Bishop there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Gayle holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Bishop tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Bishop controlling his opponent.
Bishop trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gayle swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Bishop thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Bishop thowing shots but they're missing.
Bishop lands with some strikes.
Gayle is working to get back to half guard.
Bishop looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gayle keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bishop thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Poor strikes thrown by Bishop there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Bishop looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bishop seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gayle for as long as he can get away with.
Gayle can't escape the position.
Bishop trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gayle is desperately trying to improve his position but Bishop has a good base and remains in mount.

Gayle defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bishop.
Bishop is trying to take his opponent's back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mark Bishop will probably get the nod.
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.

No joy there for Gayle, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gayle tries for a takedown but Bishop circles away easily

and Bishop counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bishop wants to control but Gayle is keeping him busy.

Bishop is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
It looks like Bishop is going to stand back up.
Bishop wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gayle keeps working.
Gayle trying to get back to full guard but Bishop takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Gayle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gayle is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gayle is squirming around, avoiding Bishop's attempts to control the action.
Bishop controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gayle working to try and regain half guard.
Gayle is squirming around, avoiding Bishop's attempts to control the action.
Gayle can't escape the position.
Bishop wants to control the pace but Gayle is squirming around nicely.
Gayle manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Gayle is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bishop's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bishop's back!
Bishop is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
You can see the frustration on Bishop's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Bishop tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bishop trying desperately to get to his feet.
Bishop gets back to half guard.
Bishop keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gayle prevents Bishop from improving his position.
Gayle throwing shots but Bishop is blocking nicely.
Gayle trying to mount his opponent but Bishop defends it.
Bishop is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gayle's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gayle's back!
Bishop thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Gayle prevents Bishop from getting a body triangle.
Bishop is trying to stick to Gayle's back but Gayle is turning into Bishop. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bishop's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gayle.
Bishop is looking to stand up but Gayle isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop is trying to keep Gayle in close.
Gayle throws a strike but Bishop rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bishop stopping the sweep attempt from Gayle.
Gayle will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Bishop gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Gayle counters with a nice uppercut.
Bishop with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Gayle counter with a right hand.
Bishop on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gayle.
Autry Gayle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gayle lands with an uppercut that bounces Bishop off the cage and back into rage.
Gayle works the jab nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gayle shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gayle throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bishop on the side of the head.
Gayle lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bishop's sensitive parts.

Gayle changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bishop looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gayle working the ground and pound but Bishop is defending the strikes.
Bishop sneaks back into half guard.
Gayle blocks the strikes from Bishop.
Mark Bishop overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bishop pushes Gayle off looking to stand but Gayle dives back in and keeps control.
Bishop is looking to improve his position.

Bishop looking for submissions off his back.
Bishop is trying to maintain the position but Gayle is very close to passing his half guard.

Gayle is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bishop doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gayle.
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 Mark Bishop 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!

Gayle shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bishop but Bishop pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gayle takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gayle tries for a takedown but Bishop circles away easily

and Bishop counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gayle keeping moving, preventing Bishop from controlling successfully.
Bishop postures up in Gayle's guard and throws a big left but Gayle blocks it.
Gayle keeping moving, preventing Bishop from controlling successfully.
Bishop preventing the sweep.
Gayle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bishop trying to control but Gayle is working from the bottom.
Bishop not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gayle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bishop tries to stand but Gayle is controlling from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bishop looks to clinch
and Gayle counters with a stiff right hand.
Bishop with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gayle counters with a nice leg kick.
Bishop has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Gayle.

Gayle shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bishop's guard.
Bishop controlling Gayle's posture.
Gayle lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bishop tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gayle wants to pass the guard but Bishop is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bishop holds on and takes a little breather.

Bishop looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bishop is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gayle thows a big elbow that misses.

Bishop is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gayle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bishop trying to control the position here.
Bishop controls Gayle momentarily but Gayle frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bishop is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gayle preventing the sweep.
Bishop throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gayle with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bishop looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Bishop working for a triangle but Gayle defends it easily.
Bishop trying to control the position.
Gayle 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.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gayle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bishop utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bishop is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gayle is working Bishop over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gayle preventing the sweep.
Gayle is pushing down on Bishop's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bishop is fighting to maintain full guard but Gayle has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nice strikes from Gayle there.
Bishop trying to control here.
Ground and pound from Gayle.
Gayle drops an elbow to the side of Bishop's head.
Autry Gayle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gayle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gayle is thwarting Bishop's attempts to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mark Bishop.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bishop, 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mark Bishop!