PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cody Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John scapula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Cody Banks has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Banks
vs
scapula

165 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

220 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cody Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John scapula!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks wants to clinch up but scapula keeps it at a distance.
scapula avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Banks buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Banks doesn't manage to clinch there - scapula circles away.
scapula dives in and grabs Banks's left leg, looking for a takedown. Banks pushes down on scapula's head and hops out.

Banks forces scapula back against the cage and clinches.
Banks tries a knee to the head but scapula blocks it.
Banks tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Banks with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
scapula is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
scapula goes for a takedown attempt but Banks pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
scapula tries for a takedown but Banks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cody Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John scapula.
Banks is looking to clinch but scapula is avoiding it.
scapula shoots in for a takedown but Banks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Banks swings for the body but scapula moves out of range.

Banks moves into the clinch.
Banks pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Banks prevents the takedown attempt.
Banks creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Banks tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Banks tries a knee to the head but scapula blocks it.
scapula looking for a takedown.
Banks could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
scapula looks gassed!
Banks throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but scapula blocks it with crossed arms.
scapula is working for takedown but Banks is calmly controlling the position for now.
Banks using the Thai plumb to throw knees but scapula has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Banks tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Banks tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
scapula tries for a takedown but Banks manages to get underhooks.
Banks tries to land a knee to the head but scapula blocks with his arms.
scapula goes for a takedown in the clinch but Banks prevents it.
Banks looking to throw knees to the head but scapula is blocking nicely.
Banks tries to land a knee to the head but scapula blocks with his arms.

scapula has Banks pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. scapula pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Banks tumbling to the mat - scapula dives into Banks's guard.
scapula is looking to work some ground and pound but Banks has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as scapula accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
scapula connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks trying to keep a closed guard but scapula is proving a slippery customer.
scapula stops Banks from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banks thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
scapula working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as scapula accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Banks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

scapula looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
scapula is looking to advance position but Banks won't allow it.
scapula looks to land a strike but Banks avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Banks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for scapula on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks keeping moving, preventing scapula from controlling successfully.
scapula lands a couple of elbows.
scapula working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Banks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

scapula thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as scapula accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Banks slaps away a takedown attempt from scapula, before circling back to the center of the mat.

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.
scapula swats away the attempt to clinch by Banks.
Nice sprawl there from Banks as scapula shoots in.
scapula tries for a takedown but Banks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
scapula shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Banks as he avoids it easily.

Banks has taken the fight to the clinch.
scapula is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Banks pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Banks using the Thai plumb to throw knees but scapula has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Banks misses with a knee to the head.

scapula is trying to trip Banks. He has hold of a leg but Banks is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. scapula persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
scapula wants to control from the top but Banks keeps moving.
scapula postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as scapula accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John scapula will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Banks wants to clinch up but scapula keeps it at a distance.
Banks is looking to clinch but scapula is avoiding it.
Banks tries to clinch but scapula is having none of it.
Cody Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

scapula drives through with a takedown into guard.
scapula is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Banks keeping moving, preventing scapula from controlling successfully.

scapula postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Banks is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of scapula, into his guard.
Banks is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Banks takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now scapula is on top in guard.
scapula throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Banks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
scapula makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
scapula postures up.
scapula landing some decent shots from guard.
scapula working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Banks's head.
Banks managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
scapula postures up in Banks's guard and throws a big left but Banks blocks it.
scapula loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
scapula works over Banks with some ground and pound from guard.
Banks has momentary wrist control but scapula slips an elbow through the middle.
scapula with a nice head shot there.
scapula loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
scapula scoring with some ground and pound.
Banks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
scapula throws a big right hand that misses.
scapula wants to control from the top but Banks keeps moving.
Banks controlling scapula's posture.
Banks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from scapula.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Banks doesn't manage to clinch there - scapula circles away.
Banks throws a hook but scapula blocks it.
scapula misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
scapula fails with the takedown.

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.
Banks tries to clinch there but scapula circles away.
Banks tries a head kick but it misses.
scapula fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banks avoids it really well and circles away.
Cody Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John scapula.
Banks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Banks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Banks gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows scapula to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Banks seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Banks wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John scapula showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Banks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from scapula.
scapula shoots in for a double leg but Banks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Banks is looking to clinch but scapula is avoiding it.
scapula avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Banks has closed the distance and engaged scapula in a clinch.
Banks throws a knee to the head but misses.
Banks with an attempt at a knee that misses.

scapula gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
scapula throwing strikes but missing.
scapula trying to control the position from guard on top but Banks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
scapula throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Banks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
scapula throws a strike but Banks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
scapula tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Banks looking to sit in guard and control but scapula gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Banks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from scapula.
Banks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Banks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
scapula with a nice head shot there.

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.
Banks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Banks keeping moving, preventing scapula from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Banks misses with a head kick.
scapula fails with a takedown attempt.
Cody Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John scapula.
Banks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
scapula with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Banks to score with a decent uppercut.
No luck for scapula with that takedown attempt.
scapula dives in and grabs Banks's left leg, looking for a takedown. Banks pushes down on scapula's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but scapula paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Banks closes the distance and pushes scapula back into the cage.
Banks throws a knee to the head but misses.
scapula has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Banks avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
scapula is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Banks tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
scapula goes for a takedown attempt but Banks pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
scapula throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Banks's waist but Banks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing scapula off to one side.
Banks tries to clinch up but scapula circles away and keeps his distance.
Banks stuffs the takedown.
scapula shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Banks pinned against the cage. Banks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Banks clinches up against the cage.
Banks misses with a knee to the head.
Banks tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

scapula pulls guard.

scapula looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

scapula working for a triangle but Banks defends it easily.

scapula looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Banks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. scapula is keeping the position for now.
Cody Banks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John scapula is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
John scapula has got the better of the ground game so far.
scapula bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Banks's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John scapula.
I've got scapula 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John scapula!