PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Conner Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sonny Bishop Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bishop Jr has chosen The Desolation of Smaug as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Gray
vs
Bishop Jr

185 cm
19
195 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Merciless Gladiators

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Conner Gray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sonny Bishop Jr!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gray shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bishop Jr but Bishop Jr pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A punch combination from Gray misses.
Gray tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bishop Jr swivels and escapes.
Gray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bishop Jr avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conner Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gray fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gray falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bishop Jr counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bishop Jr.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bishop Jr stays in close to Gray's body and controls the position.
Bishop Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Gray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop Jr loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bishop Jr's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Let's hope that Bishop Jr has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Bishop Jr stops Gray from standing up.

Sonny Bishop Jr has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gray misses with a takedown attempt - Bishop Jr sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gray misses with a wild combination.
Gray misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gray looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Bishop Jr manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gray on his heels. He'll look to pass Gray's guard now, I'm sure.
Bishop Jr won't allow Gray to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop Jr showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Gray wriggles free and stands up.
Horrible takedown by Bishop Jr or perhaps it was just good defense by Gray which made him look bad.
Gray with a poor takedown

and Bishop Jr counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bishop Jr taking a breather here.
Bishop Jr in side control lands a decent elbow.
Gray regains half guard there - taking advantage of Bishop Jr's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop Jr looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gray wants to get back to his feet.
Bishop Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gray keeps working.
Gray on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gray tries to get out of the position.
Gray wants to improve his position but Bishop Jr is controlling well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bishop Jr in particular looking to stall.
Gray makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gray.
Gray wants to stand up but Bishop Jr is controlling him.
Bishop Jr controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray wants to stand but Bishop Jr is controlling the position.
Bishop Jr stays in close to Gray's body and controls the position.
Gray has control of Bishop Jr's left arm, preventing Bishop Jr from doing any damage.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sonny Bishop Jr wasn't active enough on the ground.

Bishop Jr shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gray's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bishop Jr stops Gray from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bishop Jr sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Bishop Jr 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.

Bishop Jr blocks a head kick by Gray.
Bishop Jr swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice takedown defense from Gray. No joy for Bishop Jr on that attempt.
Gray misses with a takedown attempt

and Bishop Jr counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gray won't be happy with that.
Sonny Bishop Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gray is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gray sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bishop Jr is nestled in close to Gray, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gray looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Gray wants to get back to his feet.
Gray tries to get to full guard but Bishop Jr has control of the leg.
Bishop Jr looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gray with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bishop Jr is trying to control the action in half guard but Gray is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gray is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bishop Jr not doing much here.
Bishop Jr thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gray's head.
Bishop Jr controlling the pace.
Bishop Jr's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bishop Jr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gray is looking to escape.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sonny Bishop Jr hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Gray throws a right and a left that Bishop Jr avoids nicely.

Bishop Jr gets a double leg takedown into Gray's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bishop Jr keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gray's head.
Bishop Jr is pushing down on Gray's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gray is fighting to maintain full guard but Bishop Jr has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nice strikes from Bishop Jr there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bishop Jr working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bishop Jr seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gray is trying to stand up here but Bishop Jr is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop Jr working the head and body with strikes.
Bishop Jr looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bishop Jr lands a nice short elbow.
Still in half guard, Bishop Jr seems content to control.
Gray pushes Bishop Jr off looking to stand but Bishop Jr dives back in and keeps control.
Bishop Jr trying to control from half guard but Gray is working away.
Bishop Jr controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sonny Bishop Jr was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gray misses with a two punch combination.
Gray shoots in and drives through. Bishop Jr sprawls well.
Bishop Jr shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gray pinned against the cage. Gray gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gray walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bishop Jr checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Gray throws a nice looking combination but Bishop Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bishop Jr avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conner Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bishop Jr is defended easily by Gray.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Bishop Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gray changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bishop Jr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gray lands an elbow.

Gray is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bishop Jr is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Bishop Jr throws Gray to one side and escapes!
Gray doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Bishop Jr decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gray's guard.
Bishop Jr scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bishop Jr 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.
Bishop Jr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gray works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gray is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bishop Jr seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Gray is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bishop Jr showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Conner Gray.
Gray tries for a takedown but Bishop Jr circles away easily

and Bishop Jr counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gray won't be happy with that.
Gray is pushing Bishop Jr's head away, looking to escape. Bishop Jr manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bishop Jr controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Bishop Jr's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Bishop Jr controlling the position from side mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gray is trying to get back to half guard.
Bishop Jr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bishop Jr is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gray will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Bishop Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gray keeps working.
Bishop Jr controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sonny Bishop Jr was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gray lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Gray. No joy for Bishop Jr on that attempt.
Gray goes for a double leg but Bishop Jr avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bishop Jr continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conner Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bishop Jr is trying to trip Gray. He has hold of a leg but Gray is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Bishop Jr persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Gray manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gray unloading with bombs!
Bishop Jr regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop Jr regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Gray.
Sonny Bishop Jr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bishop Jr looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gray throws a big elbow that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bishop Jr is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Conner Gray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gray postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bishop Jr is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gray, into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sonny Bishop Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bishop Jr winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sonny Bishop Jr!
In his post fight interview, Sonny Bishop Jr started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.