PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Greg Graffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Graffin kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is American Jesus by Bad Religion. Banner has chosen xavier rudd - energy song as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Graffin
vs
Banner

192 cm
22
194 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

180 cm
23
192 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Win Nutritional - proof of quality
Star & Star .Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Greg Graffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bruce Banner!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graffin misses the shot to the body.

Graffin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Graffin keeping moving, preventing Banner from controlling successfully.
Banner with a nice head shot there.
Banner distracts Graffin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Banner with a nice head shot there.
Banner working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Banner controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Graffin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Banner.
Banner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Banner is in close to Graffin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Banner trying to control but Graffin is working from the bottom.
Banner is working Graffin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graffin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Banner content to stall in guard here.
Banner wants to pass the guard but Graffin is keeping the position.
Graffin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Graffin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graffin throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Banner swings for the body but Graffin moves out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Graffin!
A jab from Banner misses.
Greg Graffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graffin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graffin just misses with a punch to the body.
Some wild striking there from Graffin.
Graffin misses with a wild body shot.
Graffin misses with a head kick.
Graffin throws a head kick but Banner moves out of range.
Graffin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Graffin is breathing heavily.
Banner jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Banner forces Graffin back against the cage and clinches.
Graffin looking to throw knees to the head but Banner is blocking nicely.
The referee calls for Banner to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner wants to break the clinch but can't.

Banner has picked Graffin up - he's going for a ride! Banner dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Banner is looking for a kimura here.
Banner drops an elbow to the side of Graffin's head.
Banner winds up and cracks Graffin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Graffin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Banner.
Graffin is not content to let Banner control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Banner is pressing down on Graffin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Graffin is holding on for now.
Graffin is trying to stand up here but Banner is controlling him well.
Banner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Graffin is trying to get back to full guard.
Banner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Graffin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Banner takes a swing at Graffin's ribcage but misses.
Graffin throws a series of punches but Banner avoids them all with ease.
Graffin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Graffin tries to clinch up

and Banner counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Graffin's guard now.
Banner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Graffin has momentary wrist control but Banner slips an elbow through the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banner passes Graffin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Banner dominated that round.
That's time! Graffin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Graffin ducks under a wild hook from Banner.
Banner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Banner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Graffin.
Banner takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Graffin staying out of range there.
Graffin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Graffin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banner was well out of range. Poor timing from Graffin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graffin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Banner bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Banner cracks Graffin with a big right hand but Graffin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Graffin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Graffin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Banner tries to advance to mount but can't.
Banner creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Banner scoring with punches and elbows.
Graffin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Banner trying to control the action but Graffin is working from the bottom.
Banner scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graffin takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Banner cracks Graffin with a big right hand but Graffin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Graffin is working to avoid the ground and pound but Banner connects with a decent elbow.
Banner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Graffin keeps working.
Banner cracks Graffin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Banner working the head and body with strikes.
Banner scores with punches from side control.
Banner working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banner trying to control the position but Graffin is working away.
Banner is chipping away with strikes.
Banner in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banner is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Graffin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Banner is working Graffin over with some ground and pound from side control.
Graffin taking punishment in the form of punches.
Banner scores with punches from side control.
Graffin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Banner wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Graffin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Banner landing a few strikes.

Banner decides to stand up, so the ref orders Graffin to his feet.
Graffin slips under a jab from Banner.

Banner moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graffin connects with a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Banner has Graffin pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Banner pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Graffin tumbling to the mat - Banner dives into Graffin's guard.
Banner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Graffin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Graffin has momentary wrist control but Banner slips an elbow through the middle.
Banner scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banner lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Banner pushes down on Graffin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Graffin is staying active underneath Banner, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Banner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Banner looks for the body kick but Graffin saw that one coming.
Graffin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Banner is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Graffin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banner moves away.
Banner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graffin.
A punch combination from Graffin misses.
Nice takedown defense from Graffin. No joy for Banner on that attempt.
Graffin wants to clinch but Banner slips to the side

and Banner counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Graffin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Banner scores with a couple of nice shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Banner working Graffin over with strikes.
Nice strikes from Banner there.
Banner seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Banner looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bruce Banner has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner is trying to control. Graffin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Banner looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Graffin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Banner lands a nice short elbow.
Banner seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Graffin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Banner scores with a couple of nice shots.
Banner lands with a punch from half guard.
Graffin is trying to stand up here but Banner is controlling him well.
Graffin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Banner connects with a nice short shot to Graffin's temple.
Graffin flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Banner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Graffin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Graffin trying to hold on to Banner's head to control him but Banner postures up.
Banner sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Banner trying to control the action but Graffin is working from the bottom.
Banner lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Banner with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Banner is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Graffin sees it coming and defends easily.
Graffin is looking to control Banner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Graffin avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner passes the guard and advances to mount!
Banner scoring with strikes but Graffin is staying in there.
Banner in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Banner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Banner in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Banner landing punches.
Banner prevents Graffin from getting the reversal.
Banner lands with some strikes.
Banner fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Banner fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Graffin wants to get back to his feet.
Greg Graffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner controlling the pace for now.
Banner punishing his opponent with strikes.
Banner working the ground and pound effectively.
Graffin throwing hammer fists to the chest of Banner. What's that going to do exactly?
Banner can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Graffin is looking to escape.
Banner fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Bruce Banner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Banner pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Banner working the ground and pound effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Banner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Banner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 26:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Banner!