PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Lazik (ranked 25351 p4p, 24815 weight class) and Bingo Banjo (ranked 183 p4p, 188 weight class). Bingo Banjo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Lazik
vs
Banjo

189 cm
18
260
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
20
210
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Lazik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bingo Banjo!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lazik moves into the clinch successfully.
Lazik cracks Banjo with a nice body shot.
Lazik throws an elbow but it misses.
Lazik could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Banjo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lazik smiles and moves away.
Lazik keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lazik drops down looking for a counter takedown but Banjo sprawls and moves away.

Lazik pushes Banjo up against the cage in a clinch.
Lazik misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lazik lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banjo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lazik has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lazik.
Lazik has a couple of punches blocked by Banjo.
Banjo misses with a punch to the body.
Lazik tries to work over Banjo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Banjo.
Banjo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lazik just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mark Lazik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bingo Banjo.
Lazik is trying to pull guard but Banjo has him pressed against the cage.
Lazik misses with an elbow over the top.
Lazik working aggressively here.
Banjo is pressed up against the cage. Lazik has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Banjo down to the mat. Banjo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Lazik rushes Banjo and presses him up against the cage.
Banjo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Lazik lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lazik tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lazik misses with a short punch on the inside.
Banjo blocking some punches.
Lazik tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lazik swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazik looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lazik misses with a hook to the ribs.
Banjo blocks an uppercut.
Lazik presses Banjo against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Banjo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Lazik pushes Banjo up against the cage in a clinch.
Banjo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lazik cracks Banjo with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lazik tries for a takedown. No joy.
Banjo blocks a body shot from Lazik.
Lazik misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Banjo connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Mark Lazik has been cut.
Banjo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lazik just leaning against Banjo, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazik goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Lazik fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lazik.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lazik.
Banjo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Lazik throws a punch but it's blocked by Banjo.
Lazik tries a knee to the head but Banjo blocks it.
Banjo blocks the elbow strike.
Banjo blocks a body shot from Lazik.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banjo.
Banjo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lazik tries to work over Banjo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazik lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Banjo backwards.
Lazik tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lazik misses with the head strike.
Lazik throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Banjos head.
Lazik swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banjo just leaning against Lazik, taking a breather.
We've been informed that Banjo has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Lazik lands a shoulder strike.
Lazik lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lazik misses with the head strike.
Lazik swings wildly with an uppercut but Banjo uses good head movement to avoid it.
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!
The referee calls for Banjo to work.
Lazik misses with a punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Banjo lands a nice shot to the body.
Banjo staying out of range there.

Lazik rushes Banjo and presses him up against the cage.
Lazik swings wildly with an uppercut but Banjo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Banjo avoids the elbow strike from Lazik, against the cage.
Banjo blocks the elbow strike.
Lazik misses with a punch on the inside.
Lazik lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Banjo backwards.
Lazik can't break the clinch.
Banjo blocks an elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Lazik fails to land.
Banjo tries to pull guard but Lazik holds him up against the cage and eventually Banjo drops back down to his feet.
Mark Lazik has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lazik tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Banjo's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazik swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lazik working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lazik misses with some punches.
Banjo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lazik's efforts to push away.
Lazik tries to throw a body punch but Banjo avoids it by throwing Lazik back against the cage.
Banjo blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lazik.
Banjo trying to control the position but instead, Lazik has worked for underhooks and has pushed Banjo into the cage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Lazik lands with a short shot to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lazik.
Lazik tries a knee to the head but Banjo blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Banjo.
Lazik tries a knee to the head but Banjo blocks it.
Banjo blocks an elbow strike.
Lazik lands with a right to the head.
Banjo misses with an elbow over the top.
Lazik swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lazik misses with a punch on the inside.
Lazik cracks Banjo with a nice body shot.
Lazik lands with a right to the head.
Lazik throws a head punch that misses.
Banjo blocks the elbow strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lazik swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lazik struggles to land a body shot inside as Banjo controls his hands.
Lazik is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Banjo can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazik fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Banjo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lazik prevents it.
Banjo blocks an elbow strike.
Banjo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lazik misses with a punch on the inside.
Lazik throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banjo.
Lazik wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lazik pushes off an throws an elbow but Banjo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Banjo leaning against his opponent.
Lazik lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Banjo backwards.
Banjo stalling against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banjo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lazik misses with an elbow over the top.
Lazik tries to land a knee to the head but Banjo blocks with his arms.

Banjo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Lazik closes the distance and clinches.
Lazik tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lazik misses with some punches.
Lazik has a couple of punches blocked by Banjo.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lazik goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lazik effectively controlling the action here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Lazik dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mark Lazik's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Banjo avoids the body shot from Lazik.

Lazik rushes Banjo and presses him up against the cage.
Lazik fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lazik misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lazik misses with a punch on the inside.
Lazik tries to score a body lock takedown but Banjo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lazik is leaning against Banjo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Lazik misses with a punch on the inside.

Banjo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lazik missing with a left hand there. Banjo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mark Lazik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lazik has managed to clinch.
Lazik working aggressively here.
Lazik tries to work over Banjo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lazik lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lazik cracks Banjo with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banjo just leaning against Lazik, taking a breather.
Banjo stalling against the cage.
Good body shot from Lazik.
Lazik misses with the head strike.
Lazik works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Banjo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banjo.
Lazik misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Lazik.
Lazik swings wildly with an uppercut but Banjo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lazik misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lazik lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lazik has hold of one of Banjo's legs. Banjo is fighting the takedown attempt but Lazik gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banjo keeping moving, preventing Lazik from controlling successfully.
Lazik 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.
Banjo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lazik is one step ahead there.
Banjo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banjo is trying to control the position but Lazik postures up.
Lazik throws a strike but Banjo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazik keeping moving, preventing Banjo from controlling successfully.
Lazik trying to keep a closed guard but Banjo is proving a slippery customer.
Lazik might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Banjo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Banjo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lazik is keeping the position for now.
Banjo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lazik looking to hit a scissor sweep but Banjo is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lazik is pulling down on Banjo's head. It's preventing any offense from Banjo, at least for the moment.
Banjo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Lazik is holding Banjo down, trying to stall.
Banjo working away.
Bingo Banjo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Banjo taking a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Lazik showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lazik, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Lazik!
A relieved looking Mark Lazik thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.