PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Bisping (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Anthony (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bisping
vs
Anthony

190 cm
23
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Bisping!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Anthony!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Anthony Taglia and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anthony gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bisping cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like George Anthony has been cut.
Anthony stuffs the takedown.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A nice combination there by Anthony.
Nice takedown defense from Anthony. No joy for Bisping on that attempt.

Anthony closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Anthony drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bisping gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Anthony is working Bisping over against the cage.
Bisping tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Bisping fails to land.
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!
Anthony lands a hook that snaps the head of Bisping backwards.
Bisping keeps control of Anthony as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Anthony looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Anthony blocking some punches.
Bisping struggles to land a body shot inside as Anthony controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bisping misses with a punch on the inside.
Bisping gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Anthony.
Michael Bisping has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Anthony.
Anthony drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bisping misses with the head strike.
Anthony blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bisping has a couple of punches blocked by Anthony.
Bisping can't find room to land a body shot as Anthony controls the action.
Anthony blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bisping fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Anthony blocks a body shot from Bisping.
Anthony should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Anthony lands a shot to the body.
Bisping misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Anthony wants to get back to striking at distance but Bisping won't allow it.
Bisping fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bisping gets underhooks to prevent Anthony's takedown attempt.
Anthony wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bisping prevents the takedown attempt.

Anthony is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Bisping can't fight it off and eventually Anthony manages to take the fight to the floor. Bisping looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anthony throwing strikes from guard but Bisping blocks nicely.
Bisping knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Anthony on the ground.

Bisping has his foot on Anthony's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Anthony works his way back into a safe position though.
Anthony preventing the sweep.
Bisping is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anthony stands up from Bisping's guard - Anthony perhaps looking for a knockout.
Anthony shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bisping but Bisping pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bisping throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Anthony's waist but Anthony gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bisping off to one side.
Anthony misses with a takedown attempt - Bisping sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bisping takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Anthony is looking to clinch but Bisping is avoiding it.
Anthony misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Anthony looks winded!
Bisping shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Anthony as he jumps to the side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Anthony.
Anthony displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bisping.
Bisping looks for a takedown but Anthony sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony fails with a takedown attempt.
Bisping dives in and grabs Anthony's left leg, looking for a takedown. Anthony pushes down on Bisping's head and hops out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bisping.
Anthony shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bisping sprawls well. Bisping wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Anthony gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bisping.
Anthony keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Anthony closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bisping did well to prevent Anthony getting side control.

Anthony stands up and beckons Bisping to join him on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Anthony dominated that round.
The cut man is working on George Anthony's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Anthony tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bisping sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Anthony somewhat.
Bisping takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bisping is trying hard to land a takedown here. Anthony sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Anthony shoots in looking for a takedown. Bisping tries to sprawl out of it but Anthony keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bisping manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bisping.
Anthony closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bisping circles away.
Michael Bisping has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Anthony.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bisping.
Anthony wants to clinch up but Bisping keeps it at a distance.
Anthony misses with a takedown attempt - Bisping sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Anthony will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Anthony is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony slaps away a takedown attempt from Bisping, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bisping shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Anthony but Anthony pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Anthony throws a head kick but Bisping moves out of range.
Bisping looks for a takedown but Anthony sprawls well.
Bisping fails with the takedown.
Bisping will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Anthony has a takedown stuffed.

Bisping gets caught flat footed, as Anthony shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Anthony wants to control from the top but Bisping keeps moving.
Anthony preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bisping looking to hit a scissor sweep but Anthony is one step ahead there.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Anthony gets to his feet - Bisping follows without any prompting.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Anthony drives through with a takedown into guard.
Anthony trying to control but Bisping is working from the bottom.
Bisping is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bisping trying to control the position here.

Bisping is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Anthony is aware though and is defending well.

Anthony gets to his feet - Bisping follows without any prompting.
Horrible takedown by Bisping or perhaps it was just good defense by Anthony which made him look bad.
Bisping throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Anthony's waist but Anthony gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bisping off to one side.
Bisping looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Anthony shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bisping defends it nicely.
Anthony keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bisping is fending him off so far but Anthony persists. Nope, Bisping circles away and we're back to standing.
Bisping avoids the head kick by Anthony.
Nice sprawl there from Anthony as Bisping shoots in.

Bisping fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Anthony sprawls well initially but Bisping persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bisping lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bisping takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bisping lands strikes from half guard.
Bisping lands strikes from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anthony is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but George Anthony will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on George Anthony's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Anthony stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Anthony wants it to stay on the feet.
Bisping has a takedown stuffed.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Anthony.
Bisping fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Bisping. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anthony fails with the takedown.
Bisping stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bisping wants it to stay on the feet.
Bisping shoots for a takedown but Anthony saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Anthony throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bisping's waist but Bisping gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Anthony off to one side.
Bisping has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Anthony throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bisping closes this distance looking for a takedown but Anthony circles away.
Bisping shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Anthony defends it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Anthony is defended easily by Bisping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony stuffs the takedown attempt from Bisping. Bisping gets slowly back to his feet.
Bisping keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Anthony fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
George Anthony seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bisping throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Anthony's waist but Anthony gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bisping off to one side.
Anthony throws a head kick but Bisping moves out of range.
Bisping fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Anthony shoots for a takedown but Bisping saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bisping has a takedown stuffed.
Anthony misses with a takedown attempt - Bisping sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bisping tries for a takedown but Anthony sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Anthony looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Bisping!
Anthony sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bisping is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Anthony decides to stand back up. Anthony steps back and let's Bisping get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anthony tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bisping paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Bisping drives through with a takedown into Anthony's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Anthony looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bisping is one step ahead there.
Anthony has momentary wrist control but Bisping slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bisping working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Anthony's head.
Bisping is working Anthony over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bisping chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bisping scoring with some ground and pound.
Bisping sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bisping has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bisping in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bisping slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bisping scores with punches from side control.
Anthony is looking to reverse the position.
Bisping landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anthony taking punishment in the form of punches.
Bisping creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Bisping working the ground and pound from side control.
Bisping is putting a hurting on Anthony here, landing some big shots from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Anthony takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Anthony is rocked!
Michael Bisping overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A big shot lands for Bisping! That's hurt Anthony! Will he recover? Bisping fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Bisping!