PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lamont Banner (ranked 381 p4p, 409 weight class) and Jay Simon (ranked 47 p4p, 56 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.

Banner
vs
Simon

171 cm
34
160
29 - 18 - 0

179 cm
30
165
23 - 6 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 29 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lamont Banner !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jay Simon!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simon takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Jay Simon has been cut.
Banner connects with the punch.

Simon is rocked!
Banner misses with the combination.
Simon is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Banner lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Simon has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Simon and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Banner has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Randall's Top Team in the buildup to the fight.
Banner throws a lazy uppercut
and Simon counters with a stiff right hand.
Simon scores with a punch to the head.
A slow jab from Simon misses its intended target.
Simon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banner .
Simon avoids the head kick by Banner .
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banner misses with a lunging right hand
letting Simon counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banner gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Simon struggles to land a body shot inside as Banner controls his hands.
Simon misses with a hook to the ribs.
Banner working hard to break the clinch.

Banner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Banner throws out a loose jab but Simon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Banner cracks a nice hook into Simon's ribs.
Banner lands a jab to the head.
Banner lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Banner throws an off balance right hand
and Simon counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Banner misses with a head kick.
Banner throws the left hand but Simon avoids the punch easily.
Banner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Simon throws out the jab.
Nice body punch from Simon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banner throws a push kick but Simon slaps the foot to one side.

Simon looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Banner is staying active underneath Simon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Banner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Simon pulls his head out easily.
Simon moves nicely into side control.

Simon working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Simon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Banner knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Simon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner tries to improve position but can't.

Simon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Simon tries to move to mount but Banner blocks the move with his legs.
Banner tries to buck Simon off but Simon is having none of it.
Simon passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Banner !
Simon controlling from the full mount.
Banner regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner controlling the position well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banner has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Simon is working away from the top position though.
Simon trying to control the action but Banner is working from the bottom.

Simon is looking for a kimura here.
Banner is concentrating on defense, preventing Simon from advancing position.

Simon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Banner is just riding it out for now. Simon eventually gives up the hold.
Banner is refusing to be controlled, as Simon sits in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jay Simon will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jay Simon's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Banner scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Banner misses with a left hand
and Simon counters with a nice uppercut.
Simon has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Banner slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Simon blocks a low kick nicely.
Simon takes one on the button.
Banner throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Banner connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Simon momentarily.
Simon is still on wobbly legs! Can Banner finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banner throws a big shot that misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Simon! But no joy.

Banner moves into range and clinches up with Simon.
Simon seems to have recovered his senses.
Simon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Banner 's elbow.
Banner is working Simon over against the cage.

Banner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Simon staying out of range there.
A nice side step and Simon releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner connects with a jab.

Banner moves into the clinch successfully.
Banner throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Simons head.
Banner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Banner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Simon can do to turn this around?
Simon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Banner 's elbow.
Simon lands with a short shot to the head.
Banner lands a right hand.
Banner misses with a hook from the clinch.
Simon struggles to land a body shot inside as Banner controls his hands.
Banner lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Simon lands a right hand that snaps the head of Banner backwards.
Banner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Simon throws a head punch that misses.
Simon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Banner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Banner manages to pull guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Simon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Banner has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Simon has managed to get both his arms back between Banner 's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner is trying to keep Simon in close.

Banner throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Banner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Simon trying to control the position from guard on top but Banner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon controls from within his opponent's guard.
Simon sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Banner 's guard.
Simon seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Banner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Simon looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Banner is trying to maintain the position but Simon is very close to passing his half guard.
Banner is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Banner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Banner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Simon pulls his head out easily.

Simon is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Banner has managed to free his arm - good work.
Simon passes to side control.
Banner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Jay Simon has got the better of the ground game so far.

Simon tries for a kimura but Banner is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lamont Banner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jay Simon's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Banner forces Simon back against the cage and clinches.

Banner breaks from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Simon.
Banner misses with a hook.
Simon doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Simon scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Banner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Simon.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, jab by Banner - just one landing.
Simon takes one to the side of the head.
Lamont Banner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banner lands with a nice combination. Simon backs away looking to recover.
Banner on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon takes one on the button.
A thudding body kick lands there by Banner !

Simon clinches up against the cage.
Simon tries a body shot but Banner blocks it.
A short right from Banner on the inside.
Banner blocks an uppercut.
Simon misses with a short punch on the inside.
Banner is trying to force a seperation but Simon has the dominant position.
Banner throws a punch but it's blocked by Simon.
Simon cracks Banner with a nice body shot.
Banner misses with a punch on the inside.
Banner prevents a body shot from Simon.

Simon gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Banner working for a triangle but Simon defends it easily.
Simon wants to control from the top but Banner keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Simon looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Banner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Simon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Simon postures up.

Banner has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Simon can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Simon 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon wants to control from the top but Banner keeps moving.

Banner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Simon is aware though and is defending well.
Banner keeping moving, preventing Simon from controlling successfully.
Simon passes Banner 's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Banner is staying active underneath Simon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Simon wants to pass to mount but Banner is defending the position.
Simon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Banner keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Banner actively working from the bottom here.

Banner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Banner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Simon is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Simon seems to be looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simon moves nicely into side control.
Banner struggling a bit here.

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 Lamont Banner .
I think Banner 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!