PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rex Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Sotiropoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banner's entrance music is Can't be touched. A fine choice. Rex Banner has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Banner
vs
Sotiropoulos

180 cm
21
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rex Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chris Sotiropoulos!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sotiropoulos fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sotiropoulos moves into the clinch successfully.
Sotiropoulos looking to stall.

Banner turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Banner manages to end up in side control.

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

Banner is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sotiropoulos has escaped the position, nice work there.

Banner tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Banner working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner controlling from side mount.

Banner is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sotiropoulos has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sotiropoulos tries to escape but Banner is in control.
Banner trying to control the position but Sotiropoulos is working away.
Sotiropoulos is looking to regain half guard here but Banner keeps moving and retains side control.
Banner trying to control the position but Sotiropoulos is working away.
Sotiropoulos really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Banner. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sotiropoulos is looking for a sweep.
Sotiropoulos looks gassed!
Banner taking a breather here.

Banner tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sotiropoulos is looking for a sweep.
Banner is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Banner prevents Sotiropoulos from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sotiropoulos keeps working.

Banner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sotiropoulos, who protects the arm well.
Sotiropoulos is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Banner's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sotiropoulos wants to improve his position but Banner is controlling well.
Banner is trying to control the action in half guard but Sotiropoulos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Banner is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Sotiropoulos has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sotiropoulos wants to get back to his feet.
Banner is looking to advance position but Sotiropoulos won't allow it.
Sotiropoulos is looking to escape.
Sotiropoulos trying to hold on to Banner's head to control him but Banner postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Banner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Banner dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sotiropoulos defending well as Banner loads up on a big left hand.
Banner closes the distance and clinches up with Sotiropoulos, looking for a takedown. Banner pushes Sotiropoulos against the cage but Sotiropoulos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Banner shoots in for a double leg but Sotiropoulos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sotiropoulos tries to close the distance and clinch but Banner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sotiropoulos has Banner up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner tries for a takedown but Sotiropoulos manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Banner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banner has Sotiropoulos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sotiropoulos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sotiropoulos tries to land a knee to the head but Banner blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sotiropoulos lands a good knee to the midsection. Banner won't want to take too many of those.
Sotiropoulos is trying to stall.
Sotiropoulos trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nice elbow from Sotiropoulos.
Sotiropoulos is pressed up against the cage. Banner has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sotiropoulos down to the mat. Sotiropoulos avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Banner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Sotiropoulos has Banner up against the cage in a clinch.
Sotiropoulos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Banner's face.
Banner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sotiropoulos walks away with a smile on his face. Banner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sotiropoulos fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sotiropoulos has closed the distance and engaged Banner in a clinch.
Sotiropoulos looking to throw knees to the head but Banner is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner wants a takedown.
Sotiropoulos landing knees to the head.
Sotiropoulos connects with a knee to the head.
Banner tries for a takedown. No joy.
Banner can't get the takedown.
Banner wants a takedown but no success here.
Sotiropoulos unloads a knee to the mid-section. Banner lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Banner goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sotiropoulos prevents it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sotiropoulos.
Sotiropoulos tries to land knees in the clinch but Banner avoids the damage to the body.
Sotiropoulos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Banner avoids it.
Banner is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sotiropoulos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

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

Banner is trying to get an arm triangle but Sotiropoulos is defending well.
Banner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sotiropoulos keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos is trying to control Banner's posture but Banner avoids it.
Sotiropoulos 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.
Banner controlling the position from side mount.
Sotiropoulos wants to get back to his feet but Banner drags him back down.

Banner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sotiropoulos, who protects the arm well.
Sotiropoulos pushes Banner away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Banner gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Banner is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sotiropoulos knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sotiropoulos is pushing Banner's head away, looking to escape. Banner manages to hold on to the position though.
Banner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sotiropoulos keeps working.
Banner tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sotiropoulos's legs.
Sotiropoulos is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Sotiropoulos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sotiropoulos drives through and clinches with Banner against the cage.

Banner has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sotiropoulos uses from the top position.

Banner pushes Sotiropoulos off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Banner shoots in and drives through. Sotiropoulos sprawls well.
Banner shoots in for a takedown but Sotiropoulos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Banner keeps the fight on the outside.
Sotiropoulos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sotiropoulos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sotiropoulos circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Banner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banner fails with a takedown attempt.
Sotiropoulos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sotiropoulos tries to clinch up.
Banner shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sotiropoulos but Sotiropoulos pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sotiropoulos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

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.
Sotiropoulos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Banner's face.
Sotiropoulos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sotiropoulos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Banner avoids it.
Sotiropoulos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Banner is working for takedown but Sotiropoulos is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sotiropoulos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sotiropoulos trying to land knees to the body.
Sotiropoulos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Banner wants a takedown but no success here.
Sotiropoulos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sotiropoulos tries to land a knee to the head but Banner blocks with his arms.
Sotiropoulos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sotiropoulos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Banner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sotiropoulos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sotiropoulos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sotiropoulos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sotiropoulos tries a knee to the head but Banner blocks it.
Sotiropoulos landing knees to the body.
Sotiropoulos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Banner blocks it with crossed arms.
Sotiropoulos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banner.
Sotiropoulos slows down the pace here.
Sotiropoulos with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sotiropoulos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Banner has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sotiropoulos uses from the top position.
Banner wants to get back to his feet but Sotiropoulos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Banner is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banner 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.

Banner thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Banner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Banner trying to control but Sotiropoulos is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Banner wants to pass the guard but Sotiropoulos is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chris Sotiropoulos.
I think Sotiropoulos has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Sotiropoulos!