PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Russell Powell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banks has chosen Onward To Victory as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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!

Powell
vs
Banks

180 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
26
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Russell Powell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Banks!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Dean Styles and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powell scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Vladimir Banks has been cut.
Powell shoots in for a takedown but Banks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Banks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Powell circles away quickly and effectively.
Powell shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Banks as he jumps to the side.
Powell closes the distance and clinches up with Banks, looking for a takedown. Powell pushes Banks against the cage but Banks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Powell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Powell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Banks pinned against the cage. Banks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Powell takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Banks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Powell.

Powell closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Banks to the mat! Banks manages to get full guard.
Powell looking to pass the guard.
Banks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Powell is controlling him.

Banks wriggles free and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks throws a combination. Powell tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Russell Powell has been cut.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Banks.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Powell.
Banks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Powell.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Banks gets underhooks to prevent Powell's takedown attempt.

Banks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Powell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Banks has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Powell off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch but Powell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Banks lands a head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice takedown defense from Banks. No joy for Powell on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell falls off balance throwing a combination

and Banks counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Powell is breathing heavily.
Banks passes Powell's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Powell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Banks trying to control the action but Powell is working from the bottom.
Banks controlling the action here.
Banks takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Banks takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Powell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks working the head and body with strikes.
Powell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Banks on the ground.
Banks sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Banks wants to take a breather but Powell is having none of it.
Powell is looking to improve his position.
Still in half guard, Banks seems content to control.
Banks passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks wants to control the pace but Powell is squirming around nicely.

Despite being in the dominant position, Vladimir Banks just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Powell misses with a takedown
enabling Banks to counter with a crisp jab.
Powell shoots and misses
and Powell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Powell moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Banks drives through with a takedown into guard.
Banks trying to control the position from guard on top but Powell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banks pushes down on Powell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Banks passes to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Banks dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Powell closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Powell is keen to just control but Banks is a slippery customer.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Banks actively working from the bottom here.
Powell wants to take a breather but Banks is having none of it.

Powell is working for a kimura but Banks is defending it quite comfortably.
Powell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Banks keeps working.
Banks is trying to stand.
Banks trying to hold on to Powell's head to control him but Powell postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Banks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell with a poor takedown
and Banks counters with a series of strikes. Powell will be more careful next time no doubt.

Powell shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Powell was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Powell tries to control but Banks wriggling away.

Powell jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Banks is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Banks and Powell has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Banks is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Powell asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Banks throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Banks stalks Powell and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Powell's face. Powell staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell misses with a takedown attempt
and Banks counters with a left to the body.
Powell misses with a takedown attempt
and Banks counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Powell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Powell takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Banks scores with a takedown into Powell's guard.

Banks stands and steps away. Powell gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Banks scores with a punch to the head.
Vladimir Banks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Banks moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Banks lands an overhand right.
Banks is looking to clinch but Powell is avoiding it.
Powell ducks right into an uppercut from Banks.
Banks throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell misses with a takedown attempt
and Banks counters with a leg kick.
Powell has his takedown stuffed

and Banks counters by moving into the clinch.

Banks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Banks takes the fight into the clinch.

Banks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Powell with a poor takedown
and Banks counters with an inside leg kick.
Powell has his takedown stuffed
and Banks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Banks lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Banks.
Banks scores with a decent looking hook.
Powell shoots and misses
and Banks counters with a three punch combo that has Powell backing up. Powell nods at Banks to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Banks takes the fight into the clinch.
Banks stalling against the cage.
Powell drops down looking for an ankle pick but Banks pulls his leg out and moves away.
Powell misses with a takedown
enabling Banks to counter with a crisp jab.
Banks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Powell moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Banks instigates a clinch.
Powell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Powell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Banks avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Banks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banks throws a right hand that Powell ducks under and follows up with a left that Powell also avoids with ease.
Russell Powell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Banks forces Powell back against the cage and clinches.

Banks breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Powell misses with a takedown attempt

and Banks counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banks.
Banks connects with a couple of short punches.
Powell can't keep his opponent in guard - Banks advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Banks is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Powell!
Powell is working to get back to half guard.
Powell is squirming around, avoiding Banks's attempts to control the action.
Banks is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Powell keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Powell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Powell tries to get out of the position.
A nice elbow there by Banks.
Powell is trying desperately to improve position.
Banks looking to control but Powell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Powell working to try and regain half guard.
Powell is working hard here to advance position.
Powell is squirming around, avoiding Banks's attempts to control the action.
Banks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Banks dominating with strikes here.
Russell Powell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell can't escape the position.
Powell wants to hold on but Banks pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Banks cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Powell tries to lock up and control but Banks gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Banks can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Powell is looking to escape.
Banks controlling the pace for now.
Banks lands a big shot there that rocks Powell but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Powell tries to lock up and control but Banks gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell throwing hammer fists to the chest of Banks. What's that going to do exactly?
Vladimir Banks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Powell tries to hold on but Banks pushes him away.

Powell defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Banks.
Banks lands a big elbow.
A nice elbow there by Banks.
Powell is bucking up trying to escape but Banks cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Powell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Banks landing strikes from the mount and Powell is in trouble!
Banks avoids the attempt from Powell to control.
Powell is squirming around, avoiding Banks's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell tries to hold on but Banks pushes him away.
Banks breaks from Powell's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Powell tries to reverse the position but Banks maintains control.
Banks wants to control the pace but Powell is squirming around nicely.
Banks pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Banks cracks Powell with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Powell throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Banks controlling his opponent.
Powell swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Banks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Banks has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 26:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Banks!