PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Cuevas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Banner
vs
Cuevas

199 cm
25
262 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

195 cm
23
250 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Crazy Monkey Nutrition

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 5 - 4 - 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Cuevas!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Franklyn Lucas and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Banner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A swing and a miss from Banner.
Cuevas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Banner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Banner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cuevas.
Banner throws a right hand that Cuevas ducks under and follows up with a left that Cuevas also avoids with ease.
Cuevas doesn't manage to clinch there - Banner circles away.
Cuevas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Banner.

It looks like Tony Cuevas has been cut.
A big left from Banner misses.
Banner fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Banner does no damage.

Banner closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cuevas did well to prevent Banner getting side control.
Banner is taking a breather. Cuevas says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cuevas trying to hold on to Banner's head to control him but Banner postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cuevas scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Banner manages to mount him!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cuevas wants to hold on but Banner pushes him away.
Cuevas tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuevas tries to lock up and control but Banner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Banner scoring with strikes but Cuevas is staying in there.

Banner looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Cuevas wants to control but Banner is having none of it.
Cuevas is desperately trying to improve his position but Banner has a good base and remains in mount.

Banner is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Cuevas has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Banner is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Cuevas can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Banner misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cuevas keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cuevas is squirming around, avoiding Banner's attempts to control the action.
Cuevas is desperately trying to improve his position but Banner has a good base and remains in mount.
Cuevas avoids a series of strikes thrown by Banner.
Banner has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cuevas is trying to escape the mount.
Cuevas sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cuevas tries to get to full guard but Banner has control of the leg.
Banner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cuevas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuevas is looking to control Banner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cuevas avoid being mounted?
Cuevas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Banner.
Banner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Banner is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cuevas wants to improve his position but Banner is controlling well.
Cuevas regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Banner.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cuevas has closed the distance and engaged Banner in a clinch.
Banner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Banner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cuevas looks to land a right hand but Banner moved out of range.
Tony Cuevas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

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.
Cuevas is looking to clinch but Banner is avoiding it.
Banner keeps the fight on the outside.
Cuevas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Banner.
Banner swats away the attempt to clinch by Cuevas.
Banner throws an overhand right that lands on Cuevas's shoulder, as Cuevas tries to avoid the shot.
Banner wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Banner throws a push kick but Cuevas slaps the foot to one side.
Cuevas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Banner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cuevas gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Banner.
Cuevas leaves Banner with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cuevas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Banner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Banner looks to land a combination but Cuevas avoids it well.

Cuevas closes the distance and pushes Banner back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Banner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tony Cuevas's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cuevas throws a body punch but Banner moves out of range.
Cuevas moves away from the strike by Banner.
A left and a right from Banner both land. Nice combination.
Banner misses with a wild combination.
Bruce Banner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cuevas tries to clinch up but Banner circles away and keeps his distance.
Cuevas punishes Banner's body with a nice straight punch.
Banner swats away the attempt to clinch by Cuevas.
Cuevas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Banner misses with a few strikes there.
Banner misses with a two punch combination.
Banner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Banner keeps the fight on the outside.
Cuevas slips a jab from Banner.
Banner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cuevas tries to close the distance and clinch but Banner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuevas is looking to clinch.
Cuevas dodges the punch combination from Banner.
A nice combination there by Banner.
Banner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cuevas.
Banner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cuevas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cuevas misses the jab.
Banner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cuevas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Banner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cuevas was well out of range. Poor timing from Banner.
Banner keeps the fight on the outside.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Banner doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Banner.
Banner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cuevas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Banner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cuevas works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Banner misses with a body punch.
Cuevas lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Banner is looking to control Cuevas's arms but Cuevas gets an underhook and turns him. Now Banner has his back to the cage.
A short left from Cuevas.
Cuevas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cuevas lands a hook to the side of the head.
Banner taking a breather.
Cuevas tries to throw a body punch but Banner avoids it by throwing Cuevas back against the cage.
Cuevas blocking some punches.
Cuevas scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cuevas lands a body shot.
Banner is trying to break the clinch but Cuevas has him pressed against the cage.
Banner tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cuevas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Banner breaks the clinch.
Banner throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cuevas counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cuevas avoids the body shot from Banner.

Cuevas has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuevas presses Banner against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Banner misses with a punch on the inside.
Cuevas missing with knees to the body.
Cuevas tries to throw a body punch but Banner avoids it by throwing Cuevas back against the cage.
Cuevas cracks Banner with a nice body shot.
Cuevas tries a body shot but Banner blocks it.
Banner is trying to break free.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Banner lands with a right to the head.
Banner working aggressively here.
A nice left hand lands by Cuevas.
Cuevas is leaning against Banner and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Banner is trying to break the clinch but Cuevas has him pressed against the cage.
Cuevas throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Cuevas is stalling here.
Cuevas cracks Banner with a nice body shot.
Cuevas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cuevas lands a body punch.
Cuevas has Banner pushed against the cage.
Cuevas digs a right hand underneath Banner's ribcage. Banner let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuevas presses Banner against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cuevas lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cuevas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A right handed body shot lands from Cuevas.
Cuevas is stalling here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cuevas as Banner tries to tie him up.
Banner's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cuevas lands with a right to the head.
Cuevas lands a body shot.
Banner wants to get back to striking at distance but Cuevas won't allow it.
Cuevas is pushing Banner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cuevas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Banner backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cuevas.
Banner drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Banner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cuevas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Cuevas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tony Cuevas's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cuevas drives through and clinches with Banner against the cage.
Banner throws a head punch that misses.
Cuevas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Good body shot from Cuevas.
Cuevas misses with a body punch.
Cuevas stalling the fight.
Nice body punch from Cuevas - that landed with a thud.
Tony Cuevas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cuevas scores with a hook to the body.
Cuevas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Cuevas.
A shot in the inside from Cuevas.
Banner is trying to break the clinch but Cuevas is controlling him.
Banner prevents a body shot from Cuevas.
Cuevas presses Banner against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cuevas pushes Banner back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cuevas leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cuevas is working Banner over against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cuevas lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cuevas works on Banner's body with a couple of short punches.
Cuevas is leaning against Banner and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuevas stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Cuevas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cuevas pressing his opponent against the cage.
Cuevas receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Banner gets through Cuevas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cuevas lands with a short shot to the head.

It looks like Bruce Banner has been cut.
Cuevas lands a nice shot to the body.
Good body shot from Cuevas.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cuevas - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cuevas lands a shot to the body.
Cuevas gets through Banner's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Cuevas fails to land.
Banner wants to stall.
Cuevas is working Banner over against the cage.
Cuevas lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cuevas digs a right hand underneath Banner's ribcage. Banner let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cuevas lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Cuevas as the two fighters clinch.
Cuevas digs a right hand into Banner's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Banner's gas tank.
Cuevas lands a shot to the body.
Cuevas is pushing Banner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short uppercut from Cuevas.
Cuevas will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Banner up against the cage.
Cuevas pushes Banner back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Banner.
Cuevas lands with a left to the head.
Nice body punch from Cuevas.
Cuevas lands a body punch.
Cuevas is leaning against Banner and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cuevas stalls.
Banner has Cuevas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cuevas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner throws a head punch that misses.
Cuevas lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cuevas presses Banner against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cuevas lands with a short shot to the head.
Cuevas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cuevas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cuevas just leaning against Banner, taking a breather.
A right handed body shot lands from Cuevas.
Banner stalling in the clinch but Cuevas improves position.
Cuevas works on Banner's body with a couple of short punches.
Cuevas lands with a light punch inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cuevas.
Banner's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cuevas blocks a body shot from Banner.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Banner misses with a punch on the inside.
Cuevas digs a right hand into Banner's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Banner's gas tank.
Cuevas works on Banner's body with a couple of short punches.
Cuevas cracks Banner with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Cuevas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cuevas scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Cuevas.
Nice body punch from Cuevas - that landed with a thud.
Banner tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cuevas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cuevas is struggling to control the position.
Banner is trying to force a seperation but Cuevas has the dominant position.
Cuevas will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Banner up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Banner.
Nice body punch from Cuevas.
Cuevas is struggling to control the position.
Banner misses with the head strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A short right from Cuevas on the inside.
Cuevas lands a body punch.
Cuevas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cuevas throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Cuevas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cuevas 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Cuevas!