PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Piotr Rogozinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rogozinski kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Czterej pancerni i pies. Piotr Rogozinski could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Eric Banks's chin.

Rogozinski
vs
Banks

188 cm
23
270 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

191 cm
23
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Resistance

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Piotr Rogozinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eric Banks!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogozinski thuds his shin into the meat of Banks's side.
Banks shoots in but Rogozinski avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Banks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Banks landing with the ground and pound.
Banks lands a couple of digs.
Banks passes Rogozinski's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rogozinski regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Banks.
Banks trying to control but Rogozinski is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rogozinski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Banks pushing down on Rogozinski's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rogozinski wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks with the ground and pound but Rogozinski uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Banks postures up in Rogozinski's guard and throws a big left but Rogozinski blocks it.
Rogozinski is looking to stand up but Banks isn't so interested in that idea.
Banks works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Banks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Banks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Banks connects with a nice short shot to Rogozinski's temple.
Banks takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Banks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rogozinski is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Banks scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rogozinski trying to control from the bottom.
Banks working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogozinski looks like he's trying to stand up.
Banks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rogozinski on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rogozinski tries to get out of the position.
Banks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rogozinski defending well though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Banks connects with a nice short shot to Rogozinski's temple.
Rogozinski won't allow Banks to pass to mount.
Banks thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rogozinski to regain full guard.
Banks keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rogozinski's head.
Banks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Banks wants to control from the top but Rogozinski keeps moving.
Rogozinski working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rogozinski trying to control the position.
Banks landing some decent shots from guard.
Banks won't allow Rogozinski to get back to his feet.
Rogozinski looking for a sweep. Not yet Rogozinski, not yet.
Banks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Banks wants to control from the top but Rogozinski keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Banks tries to free his leg and advance position but Rogozinski is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogozinski wants to stand but Banks is controlling the position.
Banks distracts Rogozinski with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Banks is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Banks looking to sit in guard and control but Rogozinski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Banks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rogozinski manages to get himself to full guard.
Banks is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Banks dominated that round.
That's time! Rogozinski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rogozinski tries to close the distance and clinch but Banks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Banks takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Banks throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rogozinski was covering up waiting for the punch and Banks finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rogozinski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rogozinski keeping moving, preventing Banks from controlling successfully.
Banks lands a couple of digs.
Rogozinski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Banks trying to control the position from guard on top but Rogozinski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Banks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Banks works over Rogozinski with some ground and pound from guard.
Banks content to stall in guard here.
Banks with a nice head shot there.
Rogozinski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Banks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rogozinski preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two 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.
Rogozinski wants to get back to his feet but Banks is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Banks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Banks trying to control but Rogozinski is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Banks shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Banks showed some decent athleticism there.
Rogozinski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Banks on the ground.
Banks is breathing heavily.
Banks is looking to take a break and control but Rogozinski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rogozinski is trying to get back to full guard.
Banks passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rogozinski!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries to control but Rogozinski wriggling away.
Banks with good strikes from the mount here!
Banks scoring with strikes but Rogozinski is staying in there.
Banks raining down shots from the mount!
Banks landing strikes from the mount and Rogozinski is in trouble!
Banks lands with some strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rogozinski can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rogozinski hang on?
Rogozinski flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Banks lands a heavy elbow.
Banks raining down shots from the mount!
Banks controlling from the full mount.
A nice elbow there by Banks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banks has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rogozinski's face.
Banks landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Banks lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Banks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rogozinski pinned against the cage. Rogozinski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice takedown defense from Rogozinski. No joy for Banks on that attempt.
Rogozinski rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Banks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rogozinski moves in looking to clinch but Banks pushes him off.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Banks.
Banks working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rogozinski parries the strikes from Banks easily there. Banks is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rogozinski to escape.
Banks cracks Rogozinski with a big elbow.
Rogozinski taking a bit of punishment here - Banks scoring with strikes.
Rogozinski is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Banks works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks working the ground and pound.
Rogozinski is trying to buck Banks off.
Rogozinski takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Rogozinski is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Banks scores with a couple of short elbows.
Banks connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rogozinski some visible discomfort.
Rogozinski wants to get back to his feet.
Banks wants to control but Rogozinski is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks working the ground and pound.
Banks lands a decent elbow from side control.
Banks working the head and body with strikes.
Piotr Rogozinski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Banks working the body and head with strikes.
Banks working the head with strikes.
Banks cracks Rogozinski with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Banks looks up at the clock and then as Rogozinski takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Banks smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rogozinski is not content to let Banks control the position.
Banks is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogozinski taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rogozinski struggling a bit here.
Banks scoring with punches and elbows.
Banks content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Rogozinski gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Banks lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks avoids the attempt from Rogozinski to control.
Banks landing strikes from the mount.
Eric Banks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Banks landing strikes from the mount.
Banks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Banks cracks Rogozinski with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rogozinski is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Banks is landing with some decent strikes but Rogozinski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banks is landing with some decent strikes but Rogozinski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Banks trying to control but Rogozinski is having none of it.
Rogozinski in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Banks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Banks 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 26:30

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