PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sol Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Monteiro (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.

Bishop
vs
Monteiro

151 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

192 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sol Bishop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Monteiro!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Monteiro moves into the clinch.
Bishop blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Monteiro lands a shoulder strike.
Bishop really is a fat lump.
Bishop misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bishop fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Monteiro is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Monteiro pulls guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bishop trying to control the position from guard on top but Monteiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bishop tries to stand but Monteiro is controlling from the bottom.
Bishop stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Monteiro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bishop stops Monteiro from standing up.
Bishop working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bishop loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop postures up in Monteiro's guard and throws a big left but Monteiro blocks it.
Monteiro seems keen to control Bishop's posture.
Bishop wants to stand and escape but instead Monteiro has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Monteiro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bishop trying to keep a closed guard but Monteiro is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Monteiro decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bishop, up you get!

Monteiro has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bishop is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Monteiro to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sol Bishop. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Monteiro has clasped his hands together around Bishop's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Monteiro decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bishop to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Monteiro tries to clinch there but Bishop circles away.

Monteiro closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bishop did well to prevent Monteiro getting side control.
Monteiro prevents Bishop from standing back up.
Monteiro misses with a head shot. Bishop uses the momentum to regain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bishop is breathing heavily.
Monteiro is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bishop is working an open guard so Monteiro takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Monteiro lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bishop circles away quickly and effectively.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bishop jumps guard but Monteiro stands there with Bishop around his waist. Bishop gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Monteiro manages to pull guard.
Bishop trying to control the position from guard on top but Monteiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Monteiro has a closed guard, preventing Bishop from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monteiro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bishop is aware though and is defending well.
Monteiro looking to control.
Monteiro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bishop manages to get himself to full guard.
Bishop wants to stand and escape but Monteiro is having none of it.
Bishop might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Monteiro trying to control but Bishop is working from the bottom.

Monteiro stands and steps away. Bishop gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Monteiro dominated that round.
That's time! Bishop's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Monteiro clinches up with Bishop and pushes him back against the cage.
Monteiro wants to break free but Bishop has control.
Bishop tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Monteiro just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bishop trying to stall but Monteiro improves his position.
Bishop is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Monteiro gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bishop jumps guard but Monteiro turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sol Bishop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bishop is trying to pull guard but Monteiro has him pressed against the cage.
Bishop jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Monteiro walks away with a smile on his face. Bishop gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Monteiro 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Monteiro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Monteiro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bishop utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Monteiro drops back looking for a leg! Bishop is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bishop manages to kick Monteiro off! Monteiro jumps back into Bishop's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monteiro throws an elbow that misses. Bishop uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Monteiro's guard. Nice move by Bishop!

Monteiro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Monteiro wants to sweep here but Bishop controlling him for the moment.
Bishop 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.
Bishop stopping the sweep attempt from Monteiro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monteiro is pulling down on Bishop's head to control his posture.
Monteiro manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bishop is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Monteiro throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Monteiro looking to finish with strikes here!
Monteiro misses with a head shot.
Bishop can't escape the position.
Monteiro controlling from the full mount.
Monteiro throws some wild stikes that Bishop manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monteiro lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bishop hang on?
Bishop avoids a series of strikes thrown by Monteiro.
Monteiro raining down hammerfists from mount.
Monteiro thowing shots but they're missing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Monteiro working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Monteiro throwing strikes here but Bishop is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Monteiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bishop blocks a low kick nicely.

Monteiro drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bishop is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Monteiro is controlling him.

Monteiro gets to his feet. Bishop looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Monteiro has managed to clinch.
Monteiro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bishop misses with an elbow over the top.

Monteiro tightens his grip and picks Bishop up, before dumping him to the ground. Bishop manages to land in guard.
Monteiro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bishop keeping moving, preventing Monteiro from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Monteiro gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bishop tries to sprawl but Monteiro drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Monteiro escapes and gets back to his feet.

Monteiro gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Monteiro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bishop has him pressed against the cage.

Monteiro manages to pull guard.
Monteiro has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Bishop wants to stand and escape but instead Monteiro has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Monteiro gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Monteiro lands a head shot.
Jab from Monteiro.

Monteiro moves into range and clinches up with Bishop.
Monteiro is trying to break the clinch but Bishop is controlling him.

Monteiro has clasped his hands together around Bishop's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Monteiro decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bishop to his feet.
Monteiro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Monteiro looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monteiro content to stall in guard here.
Bishop keeping moving, preventing Monteiro from controlling successfully.
Bishop is looking to stand up but Monteiro isn't so interested in that idea.

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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Monteiro throws a big right hand that misses.
Bishop preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Monteiro stands and steps away. Bishop gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Monteiro dives in and scores a takedown into Bishop's guard.

Monteiro stands up from Bishop's guard - Monteiro perhaps looking for a knockout.

Monteiro shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Monteiro showed some decent athleticism there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Monteiro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Monteiro 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 26:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Monteiro!