PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marlo Froch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bishop Deacon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Froch's entrance music is Can't be touched. A fine choice. Deacon has chosen You Raise me Up by Josh Groban as his entrance music. Marlo Froch could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Bishop Deacon's chin.

Froch
vs
Deacon

176 cm
33
167 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

173 cm
27
166 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marlo Froch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bishop Deacon!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Deacon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Froch counters with a one-two to the body.
Froch stuffs the takedown.
Deacon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Marlo Froch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bishop Deacon.
Deacon misses with a left hand
and Froch counters with a leg kick.
Deacon has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Froch.
Deacon has his takedown stuffed
and Froch counters with a thumping low kick.
Froch walks into a left hand.
Deacon shoots for a double leg takedown but Froch sprawls well. He's pushed Deacon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Froch dodges the punch combination from Deacon.
Deacon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Froch swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Deacon is defended easily by Froch.
Bishop Deacon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Deacon misses with a hook.
Froch throws a right hand that Deacon ducks under and follows up with a left that Deacon also avoids with ease.
Froch gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Deacon cracks Froch with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Deacon misses the jab.
Froch misses the shot to the body.
Deacon closes the distance and clinches up with Froch, looking for a takedown. Deacon pushes Froch against the cage but Froch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Deacon feints and as Froch raises his hands in defense, Deacon changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Deacon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Froch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Froch is trying to keep Deacon in close.
Deacon trying to control the position from guard on top but Froch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Deacon is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Froch pulls Deacon in to control the position.
Deacon stops Froch from standing up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Deacon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Deacon is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Deacon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Deacon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Froch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Deacon is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deacon's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Froch keeping moving, preventing Deacon from controlling successfully.
Froch keeping full guard, as Deacon tries to pass.
Deacon is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Deacon wants to control from the top but Froch keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bishop Deacon was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Froch checks a low kick from Deacon.
Deacon takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Deacon misses with a low kick as Froch jumps back.
Froch checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deacon closes this distance looking for a takedown but Froch circles away.
Marlo Froch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Deacon misses with the combination.
Deacon throws a right hand that misses
and Froch counters with a head kick. That will keep Deacon thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Deacon fails to land the takedown.
Froch leaves Deacon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Deacon misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Froch to counter with a crisp jab.
Froch avoids the body shot from Deacon.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Deacon misses with an attempted mid kick.
No luck for Deacon with that takedown attempt.
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!
Froch scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bishop Deacon dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Deacon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Deacon moves out of range of the leg kick from Froch.
Bishop Deacon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Froch fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Deacon checks it well.
Deacon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Froch counters with a right hand to the body.
A punch combination from Deacon misses.
Deacon with a lazy takedown attempt
and Froch counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Deacon is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Froch uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Deacon.
Deacon shoots in but Froch avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Marlo Froch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bishop Deacon.
Froch dips to his left and cracks Deacon with an uppercut!
Left hook, right uppercut from Deacon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deacon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Deacon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Froch is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Deacon is keeping busy.
Froch dodges an elbow strike from Deacon.
Deacon blocks an uppercut.
Froch scores with a shoulder strike.
Deacon lands a left hand that snaps the head of Froch backwards.
Froch blocking some punches.
Deacon is trying to maintain a safe position but Froch gets an underhook and turns Deacon into the cage.
A short right from Froch on the inside.
Froch blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Deacon drops down looking for an ankle pick but Froch pulls his leg out and moves away.
Froch jabs at Deacon's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deacon takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Froch is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Deacon.
Froch misses with a head kick.
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!
Deacon misses with a straight left.
Marlo Froch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A lazy left from Deacon finds it's target.
Deacon lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Deacon swinging wildly here.
Deacon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deacon shoots for a double leg takedown but Froch sprawls well. He's pushed Deacon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A big left from Deacon misses.
No joy there for Deacon, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Deacon shoots and misses
and Froch counters with a straight right hand.
Froch keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Deacon has Froch up against the cage in a clinch.
Deacon avoids the elbow strike from Froch, against the cage.
Froch lands with a left to the head.
Deacon scores with a shoulder strike.
Froch lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deacon makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Deacon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Froch avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Froch goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Froch prevents the takedown attempt.
Froch lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Froch misses with a punch on the inside.
Froch scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Froch is trying to stall.
Froch will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Deacon up against the cage.
Froch lands an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Deacon lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Deacon throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Froch cracks Deacon with a nice body shot.
Deacon is breathing heavily.
Froch lands a body shot in the clinch.
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 Marlo Froch 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. This is the final round!

Froch clinches with his opponent.
Froch stalling in the clinch but Deacon improves position.
Deacon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Froch.
Froch has a couple of punches blocked by Deacon.
Froch is trying to stall.
Deacon prevents a body shot from Froch.
Froch pressing his opponent against the cage.
Marlo Froch has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Deacon.
Froch is trying to maintain a safe position but Deacon gets an underhook and turns Froch into the cage.
Deacon blocking some punches.
Froch throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Deacon struggles to land a body shot inside as Froch controls his hands.
Deacon trying to control the position but instead, Froch has worked for underhooks and has pushed Deacon into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deacon working aggressively here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Deacon as Froch tries to tie him up.
Froch tries a body shot but Deacon blocks it.
Froch blocking some punches.
Deacon is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Froch is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Deacon looking to stall.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Froch creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Froch throws a head punch that misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Froch.
Deacon throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Froch trying to stall but Deacon improves his position.
Deacon tries a body shot but Froch blocks it.
Deacon avoids the elbow strike from Froch, against the cage.
Deacon throws a head punch that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Deacon.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Froch takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Froch is looking to control Deacon's arms but Deacon gets an underhook and turns him. Now Froch has his back to the cage.
Deacon taking a breather.
Deacon swings wildly with an uppercut but Froch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Deacon misses with a hook to the ribs.
Deacon gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Marlo Froch has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Deacon throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Deacon effectively controlling the action here.
Froch misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Froch as Deacon tries to tie him up.
Deacon leaning his opponent against the cage.
Froch makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Deacon throws an elbow that misses.
Froch prevents a body shot from Deacon.
Deacon tries to pull guard but Froch won't allow it.
Froch gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Deacon.
Marlo Froch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bishop Deacon.
Froch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Froch misses with a punch on the inside.
Deacon misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deacon stalling in the clinch but Froch improves position.
Deacon misses with the head strike.
Froch is trying to maintain a safe position but Deacon gets an underhook and turns Froch into the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Deacon.
Froch misses with a punch to the body.
Come on Deacon - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Deacon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Froch walks away with a smile on his face. Deacon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Froch tries a head kick but it misses.

Deacon gets a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Deacon misses with the head strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A body shot lands from Deacon.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Deacon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Froch is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Deacon goes for a takedown attempt but Froch pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bishop Deacon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Deacon has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bishop Deacon!
After the fight, Bishop Deacon was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.