PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Bishop Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conner Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bishop Jr comes into the arena with The Desolation of Smaug blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bishop Jr
vs
Gray

195 cm
21
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Bloodlust Horde Fightwear

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sonny Bishop Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Conner Gray!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bishop Jr counters with a takedown into side control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bishop Jr fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee asks Bishop Jr politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bishop Jr prefers to stall for the moment though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bishop Jr trying to control the action but Gray is working from the bottom.
Gray can't do much from the bottom here.
Bishop Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gray keeps working.
Gray can't do much from the bottom here.
Gray is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop Jr wants to control but Gray is keeping him busy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gray looks for a takedown but Bishop Jr sprawls well.

Gray looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gray wants to control from the top but Bishop Jr keeps moving.
Bishop Jr is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gray accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop Jr keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.
Gray throws a big right hand that misses.
Bishop Jr trying to control the position here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bishop Jr shoots in for a double leg but Gray sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bishop Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sonny Bishop Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Conner Gray.
Gray wants to slow Bishop Jr down by chopping away at his legs.
Gray has his takedown stuffed

and Bishop Jr counters with a single leg into guard. Gray didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop Jr wants to control from the top but Gray keeps moving.
Gray tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gray is wriggling around but Bishop Jr manages to pass to half guard.
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 trying to control the pace.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gray can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gray is refusing to be controlled, as Bishop Jr sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray tries to roll over but Bishop Jr keeps him under control.
Bishop Jr scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bishop Jr controlling the action here.
Gray blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bishop Jr.
Bishop Jr sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gray on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bishop Jr trying to control the pace.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gray has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bishop Jr is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Bishop Jr dominated that round.
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.

Gray tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bishop Jr swivels and escapes.

Bishop Jr has closed the distance and engaged Gray in a clinch.
Gray fails to pull guard.
Gray is working for takedown but Bishop Jr is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sonny Bishop Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Conner Gray.
Gray struggles to land a body shot inside as Bishop Jr controls his hands.

Gray pulls guard effortlessly.
Bishop Jr slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gray is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bishop Jr is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop Jr controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gray wants to stand up but Bishop Jr is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sonny Bishop Jr.
Gray tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bishop Jr defends well and Gray ends up having to push Bishop Jr into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gray stops a takedown attempt from Bishop Jr.
Gray has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bishop Jr avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gray has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bishop Jr avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Gray's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gray looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gray throws a nice looking combination but Bishop Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gray misses with a takedown attempt

and Bishop Jr counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop Jr slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bishop Jr with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bishop Jr throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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 wants to stand and escape but Bishop Jr is having none of it.
Bishop Jr is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Sonny Bishop Jr wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Bishop Jr fails with the takedown.
Gray fails with the takedown

and Bishop Jr counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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 trying to control from the bottom.
Bishop Jr controlling the pace.
Sonny Bishop Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bishop Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gray keeps working.

We're going to have a standup here because Sonny Bishop Jr wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Bishop Jr gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gray to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bishop Jr seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bishop Jr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gray's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop Jr is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bishop Jr works over Gray with some ground and pound from guard.
Bishop Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Gray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bishop Jr controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bishop Jr missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sonny Bishop Jr.

Bishop Jr closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gray did well to prevent Bishop Jr getting side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Bishop Jr dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bishop Jr shoots for a double leg takedown but Gray sprawls well. He's pushed Bishop Jr's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gray tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bishop Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bishop Jr displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gray.
Gray stuffs the takedown.
Bishop Jr dives in for a single leg takedown but Gray sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Bishop Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gray is trying to drag Bishop Jr to the mat but Bishop Jr just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gray drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bishop Jr gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bishop Jr gets underhooks to prevent Gray's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bishop Jr wants the takedown. Gray is fighting it off but Bishop Jr persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gray's guard against the cage.
Bishop Jr controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gray is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bishop Jr trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Bishop Jr showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sonny Bishop Jr has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gray tries to clinch but Bishop Jr moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Bishop Jr. No joy for Gray on that attempt.
Gray throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bishop Jr's waist but Bishop Jr gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gray off to one side.
Bishop Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Gray.
Bishop Jr has a takedown stuffed.

Bishop Jr shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gray trying to hold on to Bishop Jr's head to control him but Bishop Jr postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop Jr controlling the pace.
Gray is refusing to be controlled, as Bishop Jr sits in half guard.
Bishop Jr prevents Gray from improving his position.
Bishop Jr with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sonny Bishop Jr.
Bishop Jr looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gray is fending him off so far but Bishop Jr persists. Nope, Gray circles away and we're back to standing.
A swing and a miss from Gray.

Gray looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bishop Jr looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sonny Bishop Jr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gray postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Bishop Jr to stand up.

Gray feints and as Bishop Jr raises his hands in defense, Gray changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bishop Jr is trying to keep Gray in close.
Gray won't allow Bishop Jr to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gray postures up in Bishop Jr's guard and throws a big left but Bishop Jr blocks it.
Conner Gray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bishop Jr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gray.

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 Sonny Bishop Jr.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bishop Jr, 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

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.