PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex van der Val (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerome Le Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). van der Val comes to the cage accompanied by Finntroll--Födosagan. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

van der Val
vs
Le Banner

197 cm
21
260 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
19
260 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex van der Val!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jerome Le Banner!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
van der Val throws a big shot that misses.
van der Val throws a combination. Le Banner tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Jerome Le Banner has been cut.
van der Val throws an overhand right that lands on Le Banner's shoulder, as Le Banner tries to avoid the shot.
van der Val tries to close the distance and clinch up but Le Banner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
van der Val throws a nice looking combination but Le Banner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Le Banner avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Alex van der Val seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
van der Val shoots in looking for a takedown. Le Banner tries to sprawl out of it but van der Val keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Le Banner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
van der Val tries to clinch up but Le Banner circles away and keeps his distance.

van der Val clinches up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Le Banner.

Le Banner works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
van der Val wants to get back to his feet but Le Banner passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
van der Val makes his way to full guard. A much better position for van der Val.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

van der Val looking for a guillotine here but Le Banner defends easily.
Le Banner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Le Banner wants to control from the top but van der Val keeps moving.
Le Banner stopping the sweep attempt from van der Val.
Le Banner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. van der Val swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Le Banner avoids a punch combination nicely.
van der Val misses with a double jab.
van der Val shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Le Banner as he jumps to the side.
Le Banner slips a jab from van der Val.
van der Val throws a nice looking combination but Le Banner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
van der Val fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
van der Val misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Le Banner drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
van der Val is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Le Banner advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van der Val wants to improve his position but Le Banner is controlling well.
van der Val is breathing heavily.
Le Banner tries to pass the half guard into mount. van der Val knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Le Banner is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. van der Val doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Le Banner.
van der Val wants to get back to full guard.
van der Val is working hard here to advance position.
Le Banner content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Le Banner moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Le Banner thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
van der Val tries to improve position but can't.

Le Banner tries for a kimura but van der Val is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Le Banner wants to control but van der Val is keeping him busy.
Le Banner has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for van der Val!
van der Val keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Le Banner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
van der Val working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jerome Le Banner will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jerome Le Banner's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

van der Val tries for a takedown but Le Banner circles away easily

so Le Banner counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
van der Val can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Le Banner controls the pace.
van der Val lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Le Banner!
Le Banner is desperately trying to improve his position but van der Val has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, van der Val cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

van der Val jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Le Banner manages to avoid the submission attempt.
van der Val in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Le Banner prevents van der Val from moving into mount.
Le Banner struggling a bit here.
van der Val throws a strike aimed at the side of Le Banner's head but Le Banner avoids it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

van der Val is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Le Banner is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

van der Val thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
van der Val working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Le Banner shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Le Banner was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Le Banner wants to control the pace but van der Val is squirming around nicely.

Le Banner looking for a guillotine from mount but van der Val is having none of it.
van der Val is trying desperately to improve position.
van der Val tries to buck Le Banner off but he can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le Banner lands with some vicious ground and pound - can van der Val hang on?

Le Banner is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but van der Val is surviving well by controlling Le Banner's body position as best he can.

Le Banner jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but van der Val manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Le Banner tries to advance to mount but van der Val denies him.
van der Val is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Le Banner off and has taken his back!
van der Val throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Jerome Le Banner has got the better of the ground game so far.

van der Val 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, Le Banner has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

van der Val is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Le Banner is defending well though. van der Val let's go of the attempt for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Le Banner fending off the submission attempt from van der Val.
Le Banner rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

van der Val is looking for a kimura here.
van der Val is keen to just control but Le Banner is a slippery customer.
van der Val is really struggling to control Le Banner but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Le Banner actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

van der Val is working for a submission of some sort.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Le Banner looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for van der Val!

Le Banner goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now van der Val is on top in guard.

van der Val drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and van der Val jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
van der Val missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
van der Val wants to control from the top but Le Banner keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Le Banner shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Le Banner was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Le Banner avoids the attempt from van der Val to control.
van der Val is trying to escape the mount.
van der Val squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Le Banner controlling from the full mount.
van der Val can't escape the position.

Le Banner looking for a guillotine from mount but van der Val is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
van der Val is desperately trying to improve his position but Le Banner has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le Banner controlling from the full mount.
van der Val keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Le Banner is going olschool here, as he tries to force van der Val to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so van der Val shrugs it off.
van der Val is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Le Banner is going olschool here, as he tries to force van der Val to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so van der Val shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
van der Val really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Le Banner avoids the attempt from van der Val to control.
Le Banner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
van der Val wants to hold on but Le Banner pushes him away.
Le Banner tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Le Banner is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
van der Val thows a leg kick but Le Banner checks it

and Le Banner counters with a single leg into guard. van der Val didn't expect that.
van der Val wants to stand up but Le Banner is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van der Val wants to sweep but no luck.

van der Val looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Le Banner looking to pass the guard.
van der Val wants to stand and escape but Le Banner is having none of it.
Le Banner trying to control but van der Val is working from the bottom.

van der Val looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

van der Val throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Le Banner misses with a double jab.
Jerome Le Banner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
van der Val falls off balance throwing a combination

and Le Banner counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Le Banner.
Alex van der Val has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Le Banner looking to pass the guard.
Le Banner controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
van der Val is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Le Banner's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Le Banner trying to control but van der Val is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerome Le Banner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Le 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:30

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