PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ray Reilly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Bishop (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.

Reilly
vs
Bishop

168 cm
24
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

172 cm
37
145 lbs
29 - 27 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ray Reilly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bryan Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop throws a sloppy head kick and Reilly moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bishop.
Bryan Bishop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bishop fails to land the takedown.
Bishop shoots in but no luck this time.
Ray Reilly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Bishop.
Bishop fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reilly avoids it really well and circles away.
Reilly throws an overhand right that lands on Bishop's shoulder, as Bishop tries to avoid the shot.
Reilly throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Bishop darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bishop takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop is trying to control. Reilly wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Reilly trying to hold on to Bishop's head to control him but Bishop postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bishop shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reilly pinned against the cage. Reilly gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Reilly closes the distance and clinches.

Reilly breaks from the clinch.
Bishop throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reilly tries a head kick but it misses.
Reilly lands with a right hand.

Bishop scores with a takedown into Reilly's guard.
Bishop in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Reilly is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bishop engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bishop fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bishop tries to bum rush Reilly with a series of wild strikes but Reilly uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bishop misses with a takedown attempt
and Reilly counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bishop shoots in for a double leg but Reilly sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Reilly rushes Bishop and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Reilly breaks the clinch.
Bishop shoots in but Reilly avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bishop throws a series of punches but Reilly moves out of range.
Reilly tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bishop swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Reilly lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bishop throws a head kick but Reilly moves out of range.
Bishop misses with a takedown attempt - Reilly sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bishop doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Reilly connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Reilly gets caught napping as Bishop dives in and scores a takedown. Reilly manages to retain guard.
Bishop's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Reilly seems keen to control Bishop's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ray Reilly wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Reilly tries to close the distance and clinch but Bishop swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bishop rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Reilly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A big left from Reilly misses.
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 Ray Reilly will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Reilly tries to clinch but Bishop moves out of range.
Bishop swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Reilly stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reilly wants it to stay on the feet.
Bishop misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jab by Reilly.
Bishop shoots for a double leg takedown but Reilly sprawls well. He's pushed Bishop's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ray Reilly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Bishop.
Bishop fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bishop misses with a takedown attempt - Reilly sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bishop throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reilly's waist but Reilly gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bishop off to one side.
Nice shot lands for Reilly.
Bishop fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bishop shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reilly pinned against the cage. Reilly gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bishop fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reilly comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ray Reilly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reilly throws a head kick that half lands.
Bishop takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Bishop is rocked!
Reilly throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ray Reilly is winning the standup battle so far.
Bishop shoots in but Reilly avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Reilly tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Reilly looks to throw the jab but Bishop is out of range.
Bishop avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bishop throws a leg kick
and Reilly counters with a head kick. That will keep Bishop thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
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 misses with a takedown
and Reilly counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bishop is still on wobbly legs! Can Reilly finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reilly moves into the clinch.
Bishop seems to have recovered his senses.
Bishop is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Reilly is defending well.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Reilly manages to break the clinch.

Reilly tries to sprawl but Bishop drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bishop moves nicely into side control.
Bishop lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
An elbow from Bishop crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop grinds an elbow into Reilly's temple.
Sloppy strikes there by Bishop.
Bishop controls the position.
Bishop landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Reilly manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Reilly is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reilly regains full guard. Nicely done.
Reilly is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bishop controls from within his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Reilly dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Reilly displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bishop.
Reilly is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bishop.
Bishop throws a nice looking combination but Reilly bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bishop fails with a takedown attempt.
Reilly connects with a nice looking jab.

Reilly moves into the clinch.

Reilly breaks from the clinch.
Bishop tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Reilly swivels and escapes.
Ray Reilly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Bishop.
Bishop shoots in and drives through. Reilly sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop avoids a punch combination nicely.

Bishop 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.
We've been hearing good reports from Reilly's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Reilly tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bishop scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Reilly trying to control the position.
Bishop missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ray Reilly is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ray Reilly just wasn't active enough.
Reilly keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Reilly pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bishop dives in and grabs Reilly's left leg, looking for a takedown. Reilly pushes down on Bishop's head and hops out.

Bishop changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Reilly looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Reilly is trying to improve his position.
Bishop controlling the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reilly is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bishop is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Bryan Bishop has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Bishop shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Bishop misses.
Ray Reilly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bishop throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reilly's waist but Reilly gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bishop off to one side.
Reilly throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bishop fails with the takedown.
Reilly thuds a left hand into Bishop's body.
Bishop takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Reilly tries to clinch there but Bishop circles away.
Bryan Bishop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bishop shoots in but Reilly avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reilly fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bishop on the side of the head.
Reilly throws a wild body kick that Bishop sees coming a mile off.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bryan Bishop.
I think Reilly 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Reilly!