PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Qura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Qura has chosen Alexisonfire - Young Cardinals as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Banner
vs
Qura

183 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

181 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Black Skull Clothing

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bruce Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Qura!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Reed Andrews and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Qura pushes Banner up against the cage in a clinch.
Banner is trying to break the clinch but Qura is controlling him.
Qura keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Banner's efforts to push away.
Banner wants to break free but Qura has control.
Qura avoids the elbow strike from Banner, against the cage.
Banner tries a knee to the head but Qura blocks it.
Banner tries to break the clinch but Qura is controlling the position.
Qura has Banner pressed against the cage, preventing Banner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Qura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Banner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Banner throws a sloppy head kick and Qura moves out of range easily.
Banner misses with a head kick.
Banner tries a head kick but it misses.

Qura closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Qura lands in his opponent's guard.

Qura drops back looking for a leg! Banner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Banner manages to kick Qura off! Qura jumps back into Banner's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Qura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Qura drops back looking for a leg! Banner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Banner manages to kick Qura off! Qura jumps back into Banner's guard.

Qura decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Banner leaves Qura with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Banner.
Bruce Banner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banner jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Qura shoots in for a takedown but Banner shows good takedown defense.
Qura avoids the head kick by Banner.
Banner throws a head kick that misses.

Banner gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Banner can't keep his opponent in guard - Qura advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Qura sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Banner defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qura sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Qura is stalling here. Banner is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Qura 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.
Qura is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Banner's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Qura gets full guard.

Banner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Qura has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Banner has managed to get both his arms back between Qura's legs - danger averted.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Banner is looking to stand up but Qura won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Qura dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Banner tries a head kick but it misses.
Qura avoids the head kick by Banner.
Qura fails to land with a series of punches.

Qura closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Banner did well to prevent Qura getting side control.
Qura is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Banner!

Qura jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Banner is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Banner and Qura has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Banner struggling a bit here.

Qura is trying to get an arm triangle but Banner is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qura cracks Banner with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Qura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Qura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Qura trying to control the action but Banner is working from the bottom.

That's two 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 trying to buck Qura off.
Banner trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qura has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Qura in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Banner avoids a series of strikes thrown by Qura.

Qura moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Banner has worked his arm free - good work by Banner!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner is trying to control Qura's posture but Qura avoids it.

Qura wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Banner, who protects the arm well.
Qura scoring with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Qura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Banner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Banner misses with a body kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Qura.
Qura throws a strike aimed at the side of Banner's head but Banner avoids it well.
Banner wants to control but Qura postures up.
Qura trying to control the position but Banner is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Qura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Qura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Banner stops Qura from passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Qura looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Qura tries for a kimura but Banner is defending well.
Qura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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.
Qura misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Qura connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Banner some visible discomfort.

Qura has hold of Banner's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Banner tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Qura cranks the arm and Banner screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Banner, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). George Qura!