PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escobar comes to the cage accompanied by Dr. Kitch. Banks has chosen Kanye West-So Appalled as his entrance music. Pablo Escobar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Escobar
vs
Banks

175 cm
21
163 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

179 cm
28
159 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

>>>Blitzkrieg Formula 5000

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pablo Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andre Banks!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Escobar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Banks.
Banks throws a head kick that misses.
Banks cracks Escobar with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Banks tries to clinch up but Escobar circles away and keeps his distance.
Escobar tries to clinch up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Banks.
A big right from Banks misses.
A good leg kick by Escobar.
Banks throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Banks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Banks connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Escobar's hands.
Banks misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters circle momentarily. Banks darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Escobar pushes Banks up against the cage in a clinch.
Banks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Escobar just stands there and leans against the cage.
Escobar's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Escobar misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks prevents Escobar from breaking the clinch.
Banks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Escobar smiles and moves away.
Banks shoots in looking for a takedown. Escobar tries to sprawl out of it but Banks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Escobar manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pablo Escobar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Banks.

Escobar drives through and clinches with Banks against the cage.
Escobar manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Banks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Banks keeps control of Escobar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stalling in the clinch from Escobar.
Banks stalling against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A short right from Escobar.

Escobar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Banks tries for a takedown but Escobar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Escobar wants to clinch.
Escobar swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Banks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pablo Escobar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Banks scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Escobar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banks.

Escobar closes the distance and pushes Banks back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

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

Banks scores a takedown into full mount!

Banks looking to secure an arm triangle but Escobar defends it well.

Banks is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Escobar has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Escobar is squirming around, avoiding Banks's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is desperately trying to improve his position but Banks has a good base and remains in mount.
Escobar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Escobar is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Banks scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Escobar?
Escobar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Banks throwing strikes here but Escobar is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Banks dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Banks clinches up with Escobar and pushes him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Escobar.
Still in the clinch, Escobar scores with a nice short uppercut.
Banks changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Escobar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Banks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Escobar defends it nicely.
Banks defending well as Escobar loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar ducks under a wild hook from Banks.
Banks lands with a kick to the temple. Escobar shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Pablo Escobar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Banks works the jab nicely.
Escobar fails with an attempt to clinch.

Banks shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Escobar is trying to defend but Banks finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banks is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Escobar is just riding it out for now. Banks eventually gives up the hold.
Escobar is refusing to be controlled, as Banks sits in half guard.
Escobar works his way to full guard. Good work.
Banks passes Escobar's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Banks is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escobar defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Banks.
Escobar is desperately trying to improve his position but Banks has a good base and remains in mount.

Banks is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Escobar is surviving well by controlling Banks's body position as best he can.

Banks has hold of Escobar's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Escobar manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Escobar has given up his back here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banks looking to break Escobar's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Escobar remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Banks will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escobar tries to break free.

Banks is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Escobar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Banks on the ground.
Banks is breathing heavily.
Escobar tries to escape but Banks has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Will Banks go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Escobar manages to reverse the position and now he's in Banks's guard. Nice work there by Escobar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Escobar is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escobar stays in close to Banks's body and controls the position.
Banks keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Banks shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Banks defending well as Escobar loads up on a big left hand.
Banks shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice shot by Banks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Banks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Escobar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Banks.
Pablo Escobar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Banks.
Banks misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar throws a body punch but Banks moves out of range.
Banks bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Escobar's head backwards.
Banks staying out of range there.
Escobar tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Banks paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Andre Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escobar explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Escobar clinches up with Banks and pushes him back against the cage.
Banks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Banks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Escobar pushes Banks back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Escobar manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Banks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Escobar smiles and moves away.
Escobar with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Escobar throws a leg kick but Banks checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks misses with a head kick.
Banks tries a head kick but it misses.
Banks lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Banks fails with the takedown.
Banks avoids the body shot from Escobar.
Escobar cracks a nice hook into Banks's ribs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Banks.
Escobar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Banks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Escobar misses with a straight left.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Banks manages to avoid it.
Banks throws a sloppy head kick and Escobar moves out of range easily.
Escobar tries to score with a low kick but Banks moves his leg out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Banks.
Escobar takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Escobar misses with a shot to the body

and Banks counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Banks is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Banks is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Banks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Escobar is trying to maintain the position but Banks is very close to passing his half guard.
Escobar makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Escobar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Escobar holds on and takes a little breather.
Andre Banks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Banks from controlling successfully.
Escobar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Escobar is trying to hold Banks in close to prevent damage but Banks has managed to pass into half guard.
Pablo Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Banks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Escobar defending well though.
Banks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Escobar keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andre Banks.
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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

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