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Stepping Stone 88 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Los Angeles, with a TWGC record of 12 wins and 6 losses; Thom Thumb! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Sydney, with a TWGC record of 16 wins and 2 losses; Roddy Banner!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Lou da Vinci and Eddie Farnsworth.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Thumb tries to sprawl but Banner drives through with a takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Thumb (0) vs (2) Banner
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thumb wants to get back to full guard.
Banner is trying to control. Thumb wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Banner wants to free his trapped foot but Thumb is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Thumb slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Banner wants to control from the top but Thumb keeps moving.
Thumb looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thumb looking for a guillotine here but Banner defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thumb can't keep his opponent in guard - Banner advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Thumb tries to get to full guard but Banner has control of the leg.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Thumb tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Banner has advanced to mount. Uh oh. Score +3 for passing guard: Thumb (0) vs (5) Banner
Thumb is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Thumb is working hard here to advance position.
Thumb wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back. Score +3 for taking back: Thumb (0) vs (8) Banner
Banner trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Banner is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Thumb is really stuck here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Thumb has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Banner goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Thumb escapes and is now in half guard on top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Thumb (2) vs (8) Banner
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banner wants to get back to full guard.
Banner is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Thumb jumps into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Thumb (5) vs (8) Banner
Thumb wants to control but Banner is keeping him busy.
Banner wants to control but Thumb postures up.
Thumb is looking to take a break and control but Banner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Banner is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner is looking to improve his position.
Banner won't allow Thumb to pass to mount.
Banner wants to control but Thumb is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thumb is stalling here. Banner is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Thumb seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Banner has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Thumb (5) vs (12) Banner
Banner is trying to get an arm triangle but Thumb is defending well.
Thumb is looking to reverse the position.
Banner wants to control but Thumb is keeping him busy.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner swings around for an armbar but Thumb sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Banner's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Thumb (7) vs (12) Banner
Thumb trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Banner is trying to keep Thumb in close.
Banner wants to sweep here but Thumb controlling him for the moment.
Thumb passes into half guard.
Banner is pressing down on Thumb's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Thumb pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banner is keeping the position for now.
Thumb pushes down on Banner's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Banner trying to hold on to Thumb's head to control him but Thumb postures up.
Banner regains full guard. Nicely done.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Banner looking for a guillotine here but Thumb defends easily.
Banner working for a triangle but Thumb defends it easily.
Thumb passes Banner's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Thumb trying to control from half guard but Banner is working away.
Banner tries to roll over but Thumb keeps him under control.
Thumb is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Banner gets back to full guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Thumb slips nicely into half guard.
Banner trying to control from the bottom.
Banner works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thumb is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Thumb stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Banner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thumb trying to control but Banner is working from the bottom.
Banner controls Thumb momentarily but Thumb frees himself.
Banner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thumb manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Thumb (7) vs (14) Banner
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Banner passes into half guard.
Thumb moves into full guard.
Thumb throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Banner escapes and throws Thumb's legs to the side, diving into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Thumb (7) vs (17) Banner
Thumb manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Thumb manages to get to full guard.
Thumb looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thumb looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Banner wants to pass the guard but Thumb is keeping the position.
Banner trying to control but Thumb is working from the bottom.
Banner tries to free his leg and advance position but Thumb is retaining full guard.
Banner is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thumb is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Thumb (9) vs (17) Banner
Thumb is pressing down on Banner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Banner is holding on for now.
Banner tries to roll over but Thumb keeps him under control.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Banner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Banner trying to control here.
Thumb trying to pass the guard but Banner defending well.
We've been informed that Banner has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Banner is looking for a sweep. Thumb is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Thumb moves into full mount! Banner won't be happy about that! Score +3 for passing guard: Thumb (12) vs (17) Banner
Thumb looking to control but Banner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thumb looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Banner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thumb fails to advance to Banner's back.
Banner holds of for dear life.
Banner sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Banner tries to get to full guard but Thumb has control of the leg.
Thumb is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Banner has managed to free his arm - good work.
Banner wants to get back to full guard.
Thumb trying to pass the guard but Banner defending well.
Thumb 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. Thumb eventually gives up the hold.
Banner tries to roll over but Thumb keeps him under control.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Banner actively working from the bottom here.
Thumb is working for a submission of some sort.
Thumb wants to free his trapped foot but Banner is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Banner is trying to control Thumb's posture. Thumb takes advantage of the lull and advances to side control. He also appears to have an arm triangle here! Uh oh, big trouble for Banner! Thumb is rotating here... this could be the end... Banner is out! Thumb has ended this one emphatically! Great submission!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 12:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Thom Thumb!
After winning the bout, Thom Thumb thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Roddy Banner spoke after the fight, saying 'Watch your back! I am coming for you..'. |
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