PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fleegle bananasplits (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Lindberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). bananasplits's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, tra la la by the banana splits. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

bananasplits
vs
Lindberg

188 cm
24
212 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

184 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

Lightning Fight Gear
Lightning Fight Gear

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fleegle bananasplits!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Lindberg!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lindberg misses with an uppercut.
bananasplits misses with a series of wild punches.
bananasplits lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
bananasplits throws a nice looking combination but Lindberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lindberg fails in his attempt to clinch.
bananasplits rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lindberg moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lindberg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
bananasplits getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Fleegle bananasplits seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A lazy left from Lindberg finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindberg throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
bananasplits throws a push kick but Lindberg slaps the foot to one side.
bananasplits's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and bananasplits duly obliges.
No luck with that takedown attempt from bananasplits.

bananasplits is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lindberg's half guard.
bananasplits is keen to just control but Lindberg is a slippery customer.
bananasplits is stalling here. Lindberg is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! bananasplits seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Lindberg has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
bananasplits is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
bananasplits is trying to control Lindberg's posture but Lindberg avoids it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
bananasplits takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
bananasplits is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lindberg sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fleegle bananasplits. That's going to take a lot out of him.
bananasplits stalks Lindberg and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lindberg's face. Lindberg staggers backwards, shaken.
bananasplits swats away the attempt to clinch by Lindberg.
Matt Lindberg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lindberg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lindberg tries to bum rush bananasplits with a series of wild strikes but bananasplits uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindberg is looking to clinch.
bananasplits looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lindberg is looking to clinch.
Lindberg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
bananasplits misses with a few strikes there.
bananasplits shoots in for a double leg but Lindberg sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
bananasplits tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lindberg slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
bananasplits avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
bananasplits circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lindberg thuds his right hand into bananasplits's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
bananasplits avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
bananasplits throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Lindberg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but bananasplits paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lindberg tries to close the distance and clinch but bananasplits swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lindberg wants to clinch.
bananasplits catches Lindberg with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Lindberg wants to clinch up but bananasplits keeps it at a distance.
bananasplits misses with a hook. Lindberg ducked under it nicely.
Lindberg showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from bananasplits.
bananasplits shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lindberg as he avoids it easily.
bananasplits lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
bananasplits throws a left and a right that both miss

and Lindberg counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lindberg misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from bananasplits.
Lindberg tried to land a shot to the body but connects with bananasplits's elbow.
Lindberg trying to land knees to the body.
Lindberg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
bananasplits avoiding damage as Lindberg throws knees to the body.
bananasplits being controlled against the ropes.
Lindberg trying to land knees to the body.
Lindberg tries to land a knee to the head but bananasplits blocks with his arms.
bananasplits drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lindberg gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lindberg misses with a knee to the head.
Lindberg misses with a knee to the head.
Lindberg trying to land knees to the body.

That's eight 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.
bananasplits avoiding damage as Lindberg throws knees to the body.
Lindberg is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Lindberg seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Lindberg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lindberg connects with a nasty looking knee right to bananasplits's face.

It looks like Fleegle bananasplits has been cut.
bananasplits wants a takedown but no success here.
Lindberg looking to throw knees to the head but bananasplits is blocking nicely.
Lindberg taking a breather.
A frustrated look appears on bananasplits's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lindberg lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Lindberg looking to slow down the pace here.
Lindberg misses with a knee strike.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lindberg just leaning against bananasplits, taking a breather.
Lindberg goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
bananasplits tries for a takedown but Lindberg manages to get underhooks.
Lindberg lands a body shot.
Lindberg missing with knees to the body.
bananasplits managing to block the knees to the body from Lindberg.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Stalling in the clinch from Lindberg.
Lindberg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lindberg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lindberg misses with a knee strike.
Lindberg throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A left hand lands to the body for Lindberg.
Lindberg is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lindberg scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Lindberg will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fleegle bananasplits's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

bananasplits shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lindberg pinned against the cage. Lindberg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lindberg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but bananasplits paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lindberg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lindberg tries to clinch but bananasplits is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
bananasplits throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lindberg.
Fleegle bananasplits is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lindberg moves in looking to clinch but bananasplits pushes him off.
bananasplits throws a combination that misses
and Lindberg counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
bananasplits circles away from the clinch attempt.
bananasplits throws a head kick that misses.
Lindberg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lindberg misses the shot to the body.
Lindberg swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and bananasplits counters with a series of strikes. Lindberg will be more careful next time no doubt.
bananasplits pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
bananasplits scores with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
bananasplits shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lindberg but Lindberg pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fleegle bananasplits. That's going to take a lot out of him.
bananasplits fails to land the takedown.
bananasplits circles away from the clinch attempt

and bananasplits counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lindberg lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for bananasplits!
Lindberg controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
bananasplits tries to reverse the position but Lindberg maintains control.
bananasplits sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lindberg takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
bananasplits is pressing down on Lindberg's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

bananasplits has his foot on Lindberg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lindberg works his way back into a safe position though.
Lindberg preventing the sweep.

bananasplits has his foot on Lindberg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lindberg works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lindberg is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lindberg stopping the sweep attempt from bananasplits.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
bananasplits is trying to control the position but Lindberg postures up.
Lindberg controls from within his opponent's guard.
bananasplits wants to sweep here but Lindberg controlling him for the moment.

That's six 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.
bananasplits bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lindberg's guard.
Lindberg keeping moving, preventing bananasplits from controlling successfully.
Lindberg keeping full guard, as bananasplits tries to pass.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lindberg is trying to keep bananasplits in close.
bananasplits trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lindberg is wriggling around but bananasplits manages to pass to half guard.
bananasplits wants to control but Lindberg is keeping him busy.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
bananasplits is looking to advance position but Lindberg won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lindberg avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick by bananasplits misses

and Lindberg counters by clinching up.
bananasplits looking for a takedown.
Lindberg unloads a knee to the mid-section. bananasplits lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A short body shot lands from Lindberg as the two fighters clinch.
Lindberg is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but bananasplits is keeping busy.
Lindberg with a knee to the head.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lindberg tries a knee to the head but bananasplits blocks it.
Lindberg trying to land knees to the body.
Lindberg scores with a knee to the head.
bananasplits avoiding damage as Lindberg throws knees to the body.
Lindberg trying to control the position but instead, bananasplits has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lindberg into the ropes.
Lindberg digs a right hand into bananasplits's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on bananasplits's gas tank.
Lindberg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
bananasplits working hard to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lindberg trying to land knees to the body.
Lindberg looking to throw knees to the head but bananasplits is blocking nicely.
Lindberg lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Lindberg using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matt Lindberg will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Fleegle bananasplits's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lindberg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but bananasplits paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lindberg throws out a loose jab but bananasplits uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lindberg tries to clinch but bananasplits moves away
and bananasplits counters with a series of strikes. Lindberg will be more careful next time no doubt.
bananasplits shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lindberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
bananasplits throws a right hand that Lindberg ducks under and follows up with a left that Lindberg also avoids with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lindberg closes the distance and clinches.
Lindberg tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and bananasplits avoids it.
Lindberg tries a knee to the head but bananasplits blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindberg has bananasplits pressed against the ropes, preventing bananasplits from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Lindberg putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has bananasplits in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lindberg looking to throw knees to the head but bananasplits is blocking nicely.

bananasplits jumps guard and drags Lindberg to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Lindberg got a little sloppy there for a moment and bananasplits has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lindberg has managed to get both his arms back between bananasplits's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lindberg postures up.
Lindberg must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

bananasplits looking for a guillotine here but Lindberg defends easily.
bananasplits is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lindberg passes bananasplits's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

bananasplits looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
bananasplits is looking for a sweep. Lindberg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four 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.
bananasplits is trying to control but Lindberg passes into side control!
Lindberg gets to mount! bananasplits was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Lindberg wants to control the pace but bananasplits is squirming around nicely.
bananasplits sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
bananasplits is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
bananasplits manages to get to full guard.
Lindberg preventing the sweep.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

bananasplits is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lindberg content to stall in guard here.

bananasplits is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lindberg defends well.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lindberg passes into half guard.
Fleegle bananasplits has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

bananasplits actively working from the bottom here.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lindberg tries to stand but his hand is stuck under bananasplits.
bananasplits tries to get to full guard but Lindberg has control of the leg.
Lindberg seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Lindberg is taking a breather. bananasplits 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.
Matt Lindberg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
bananasplits tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
bananasplits tries to get to full guard but Lindberg has control of the leg.
bananasplits wants to control but Lindberg is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lindberg doesn't manage to clinch there - bananasplits circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matt Lindberg.
I've got Lindberg 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Lindberg!