PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Smelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smelly has chosen Billy Idol - Rebel Yell as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Brad Smelly was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Banks
vs
Smelly

191 cm
24
265 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
287 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eric Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brad Smelly!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smelly sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Banks somewhat.
Smelly throws a sloppy head kick and Banks moves out of range easily.
No luck for Banks with that takedown attempt.

Banks closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Banks lands in his opponent's guard.
Banks postures up in Smelly's guard and throws a big left but Smelly blocks it.
Smelly avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Banks scoring with punches to the head and body.
Banks chips away with some ground and pound.
Banks throwing strikes but missing.
Smelly avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smelly preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks wants to control from the top but Smelly keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smelly has Banks pulled in close to control his posture.

Smelly is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Banks is stalling in the full guard.
Banks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smelly controls Banks momentarily but Banks frees himself.
Banks thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Banks trying to control but Smelly is working from the bottom.
Smelly trying to keep a closed guard but Banks is proving a slippery customer.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smelly steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Banks.

Banks drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Banks trying to control but Smelly is working from the bottom.
Smelly is trying to control the position but Banks postures up.
Smelly working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Banks.

Smelly looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smelly is controlling Banks's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Banks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smelly is trying to keep Banks in close.
Banks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Banks throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Banks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Banks wants to control from the top but Smelly keeps moving.
Banks landing with the ground and pound.
Banks trying to control but Smelly is working from the bottom.
Banks with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smelly keeping full guard, as Banks tries to pass.
Smelly trying to keep a closed guard but Banks is proving a slippery customer.
Banks scoring with some ground and pound.
Banks postures up in Smelly's guard and throws a big left but Smelly blocks it.
Banks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Banks trying to control the position from guard on top but Smelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smelly is trying to keep Banks in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Banks dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smelly throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Eric Banks has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Smelly. Those never looked like landing.
Smelly defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Banks.

Banks shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Banks not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smelly controlling the position for now.
Banks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smelly is trying to get back to full guard.
Banks throwing shots but Smelly is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Smelly reverses the position - he's now on top in Banks's guard.
Banks is trying to keep Smelly in close.
Banks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smelly is one step ahead there.
Smelly looking to pass the guard.
Banks is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smelly trying to control but Banks is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Smelly wants to stand but Banks has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Brad Smelly.
Smelly chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Banks shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smelly napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Banks lands a decent elbow from side control.
Smelly can't do much from the bottom here.
Banks lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Smelly's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Banks landing strikes.
Smelly struggling a bit here.
Banks misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Eric Banks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Banks controls the position.
Banks postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sloppy strikes there by Banks.
Banks looks up at the clock and then as Smelly takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Banks smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Smelly tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Banks in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks working the ground and pound.
Banks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smelly keeps working.
Smelly can't do much from the bottom here.
Banks lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Smelly down.
Banks works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The strikes coming from Banks are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Smelly struggling a bit here.
Banks tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Banks dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eric Banks'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Banks shoots in looking for a takedown. Smelly tries to sprawl out of it but Banks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smelly manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Banks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A jab from Smelly finds it's way through Banks's defenses.
Smelly goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Banks shoots for a takedown but Smelly saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banks changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smelly tries to avoid it but Banks manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smelly to the ground. Smelly escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smelly throws a lazy right hand but Banks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smelly tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Banks chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smelly can pounce on him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Banks shoots in looking for a takedown but Smelly manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Banks's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smelly thumps Banks with a low kick.

Smelly closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Smelly pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smelly listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Brad Smelly seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smelly is looking to slow Banks down with leg kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Banks 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Smelly lands with a cross.

Smelly clinches with his opponent.

Smelly's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smelly throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown by Banks or perhaps it was just good defense by Smelly which made him look bad.
Smelly moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banks takes a kick to the side of the head.

Banks is rocked!
Smelly tries to clinch up.
Banks looks to land a combination but Smelly avoids it well.
Smelly feints and then cracks Banks's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Banks down.
Brad Smelly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smelly throws a head kick that Banks semi-blocks.
Banks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smelly's waist but Smelly gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Banks off to one side.
Smelly lands a two punch combo.
Smelly tries to move into range but Banks moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smelly scores with a head kick. Banks tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Banks closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Banks working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banks postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Banks throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
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Banks connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Smelly some visible discomfort.
Smelly takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Smelly wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Smelly takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks working the body and head with strikes.
Smelly wants to control but Banks postures up.
Banks scores with a couple of short elbows.
Banks in side control, throwing shots but Smelly defends.
Banks is putting a hurting on Smelly here, landing some big shots from side control.
Banks fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Smelly wants to control but Banks postures up.
Smelly is not content to let Banks control the position.
Smelly is trying to control Banks's posture but Banks avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks throws an elbow but Smelly slips to the side and avoids it well.
Brad Smelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eric Banks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Banks is looking to take a break and control but Smelly is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Banks postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Smelly parries the strikes from Banks easily there. Banks is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Smelly to escape.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smelly is trying to improve his position.
Banks creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Smelly sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Smelly comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Banks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

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