PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Bisping (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diomedes Panagiotis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Michael Bisping has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Bisping
vs
Panagiotis

188 cm
24
193 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

171 cm
23
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Bisping!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Diomedes Panagiotis!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panagiotis avoids a punch combination nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Bisping.
Panagiotis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bisping sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A nice combination there by Bisping.

Panagiotis shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Panagiotis was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Panagiotis thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bisping is trying to escape the mount.

Panagiotis working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Panagiotis wants to finish this one by submission but Bisping is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Panagiotis.

Panagiotis has hold of Bisping's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Bisping manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panagiotis throws some wild stikes that Bisping manages to avoid easily.
Bisping tries to hold on but Panagiotis postures up.

Panagiotis jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Bisping is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Bisping and Panagiotis has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Panagiotis looks gassed!

Panagiotis is trying to get an arm triangle but Bisping is defending well.
Bisping can't do much from the bottom here.
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That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Panagiotis prevents Bisping from escaping the position.

Panagiotis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Panagiotis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bisping manages to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Panagiotis is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bisping is just riding it out for now. Panagiotis eventually gives up the hold.

Bisping pushes Panagiotis off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bisping throws a nice looking combination but Panagiotis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bisping misses with an attempted mid kick.
Panagiotis tries for a takedown but Bisping sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bisping throws a head kick that misses.
Panagiotis is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bisping.
Bisping fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Panagiotis looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bisping throws a head kick but Panagiotis moves out of range.
Bisping misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bisping throws a series of punches but Panagiotis avoids them all with ease.
Bisping scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Panagiotis avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bisping looks to land a combination but Panagiotis avoids it well.

Panagiotis feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bisping is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bisping trying to keep a closed guard but Panagiotis is proving a slippery customer.
Bisping wants to stand up but Panagiotis is controlling him.

Panagiotis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Panagiotis drops back looking for a leg! Bisping is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bisping manages to kick Panagiotis off! Panagiotis jumps back into Bisping's guard.
Panagiotis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bisping swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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 Michael Bisping will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice body punch from Bisping.

Panagiotis shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bisping is trying to defend but Panagiotis finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Bisping is positioning himself well to prevent Panagiotis advancing to mount.

Panagiotis seems to be working for a kimura but Bisping defends the submission attempt.
Bisping wants to get back to full guard.

Panagiotis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bisping doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Panagiotis.
Bisping is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Panagiotis's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Panagiotis's back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panagiotis is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Panagiotis is really stuck here.
Bisping has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Panagiotis's body.
Panagiotis tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Panagiotis wants to escape the position.
Bisping just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
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.
Panagiotis prevents Bisping from getting a body triangle.
Bisping is trying to stick to Panagiotis's back but Panagiotis is turning into Bisping. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bisping's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Panagiotis.
Bisping looking for a sweep. Not yet Bisping, not yet.
Panagiotis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bisping is keeping the position for now.
Panagiotis postures up in Bisping's guard and throws a big left but Bisping blocks it.
Panagiotis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bisping works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Panagiotis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bisping dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bisping scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bisping keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bisping scores with a jab to the jaw.
Panagiotis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bisping.
No joy there for Bisping, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bisping throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Panagiotis shoots in but no luck this time.
Bisping throws a series of punches but Panagiotis moves out of range.
Bisping misses with a series of wild punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Panagiotis blocks a head kick by Bisping.
Panagiotis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bisping pinned against the cage. Bisping gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bisping dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A combination from Bisping does no damage.
Bisping throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bisping misses with a two punch combination.
Bisping pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bisping misses with a straight left.
Panagiotis tries for a takedown but Bisping sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bisping swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bisping throws a head kick but Panagiotis moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Panagiotis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bisping!
Bisping working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Panagiotis looking to secure an arm triangle but Bisping defends it well.
Bisping tries to hold on but Panagiotis pushes him away.

Panagiotis looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Bisping is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Bisping is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Panagiotis is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bisping has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bisping!
Bisping not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Panagiotis is looking for a triangle but Bisping pushes his legs off easily.
Bisping controls from within his opponent's guard.

Panagiotis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bisping can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Panagiotis working for a triangle but Bisping defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Panagiotis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bisping doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bisping manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Bisping avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Panagiotis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bisping gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bisping 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Panagiotis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bisping gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bisping stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Panagiotis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Panagiotis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bisping gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Diomedes Panagiotis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bisping lands a really nice looking cross but Panagiotis seems unphased.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diomedes Panagiotis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bisping has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Bisping!