PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Noel James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxim Banajev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James comes to the cage accompanied by Whats New pussy Cat by Tom Jones. Banajev has chosen Arcana - Autumnal as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

James
vs
Banajev

195 cm
26
211 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

180 cm
23
218 lbs
8 - 4 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Powerful

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Noel James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Banajev!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James cracks a nice hook into Banajev's ribs.
Maxim Banajev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Banajev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
James regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Banajev.
James pulls Banajev in close to his closed guard and prevents Banajev from doing any damage or advancing position.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banajev trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

Maxim Banajev has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Banajev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and James counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Banajev shoots and misses
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James lands with a straight right. Banajev didn't see that one coming.
Banajev avoids the body shot from James.
James throws an overhand right that lands on Banajev's shoulder, as Banajev tries to avoid the shot.
James rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Banajev counters with a takedown into side control.
James sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to maintain the position but Banajev is very close to passing his half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Banajev is trying to control. James wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
James wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
James is looking to control Banajev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can James avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Noel James.
Banajev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Noel James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Banajev.
Banajev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
James just misses with a punch to the body.
Banajev throws a combination that misses
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James scores with a jab.

Banajev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as James holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Banajev!
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
James tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James wants to control the pace but Banajev is squirming around nicely.
Banajev is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Noel James will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

James scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
James is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Banajev shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Banajev with a poor takedown
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James just misses with a punch to the body.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Banajev misses with a takedown attempt
and James counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Noel James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Banajev.
James connects with a looping right hand.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banajev was well out of range. Poor timing from James.
James fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Banajev fails with the takedown
and James counters with a lovely shot to the body.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Banajev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
James throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Banajev is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banajev takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Banajev fails with the takedown
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Banajev takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Banajev needs to keep his hands up - James had a free shot at his head there.
Good standup being displayed there by James as he connects with a hook.
James scores with a hook to the body. Banajev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Maxim Banajev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big left from James misses.
Good exchange - James coming out on top.
Banajev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Noel James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James misses with the combination.
James connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James lands a jab to Banajev's midsection.
Banajev moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
James is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
James sizes up Banajev with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts James, as that shot connected.
Banajev takes a shot right to the bread basket.
James uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
James shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Banajev eats them both and turns towards James to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
James darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Banajev takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A cross from James lands.
James wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Noel James is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
James misses with a two punch combination.
James clobbers Banajev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A punch lands to the side of Banajev 's head but he takes it in his stride.
James lands a head shot.
James misses with an uppercut. Banajev saw that one coming.
James misses with a hook. Banajev ducked under it nicely.
Banajev moves out of range of the strikes.
James scores with a nice head shot.
Banajev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Banajev there as he acknowledges the shot.
Banajev with a poor takedown
and James counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Banajev takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Banajev 's head but he takes it in his stride.
James's corner calls for a 1-2. James obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James punishes Banajev's body with a nice straight punch.
James lands with a nice body punch.
Banajev takes one to the side of the head.
James connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
James connects with a single shot there.
James digs a good body shot into Banajev's ribs.
Banajev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling James to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James throws a right hand that Banajev ducks under and follows up with a left that Banajev also avoids with ease.
Banajev has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noel James dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

James scores with a hook.
James throws a hook to the side of Banajev's head but Banajev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Banajev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says James as he avoids it easily.
James lands a nice hook to Banajev's body. Banajev takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
James moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
James keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
James lands a nice looking body shot.
Banajev takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Banajev takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
James works over Banajev's head and body with a nice combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Banajev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James works Banajev's body with a nice hook.
James scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Banajev misses with a takedown
letting James counter with a right hand.
Banajev drops his hands momentarily and James takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Banajev shoots and misses
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Noel James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Banajev.
James fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
James works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
James loads up on a big right hand but Banajev slips the punch.
Banajev moves to clinch but James breaks away
and Banajev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
James scores with the left hand. Banajev knows he should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by James.
James cracks Banajev with an open hand slap.
James lands a nice shot to the body.
James lands an overhand right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James scores with a jab to the body.
Banajev has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nice uppercut lands for James. That snapped Banajev's head back.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice cross by James.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Banajev can do to turn this around?
James loads up on a big right hand but Banajev slips the punch.
A left lands for James.
Banajev moves away from the strike by James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banajev misses with a takedown
and James counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
James lands a nice shot that snaps Banajev's head back.
James connects with a single shot there.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts James, as that shot connected.
Banajev walks into a stiff left hand from James.

Banajev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming James to the mat! James manages to get full guard.
James manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Banajev manages to get himself to full guard.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Banajev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst James is controlling him.
Maxim Banajev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Banajev is retaining full guard.
James advances position into side control!
Sloppy strikes there by James.
James moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Banajev wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
James taking a breather here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banajev wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Noel James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Banajev trying to remain calm as James controls from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noel James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for James, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:25
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:25
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noel James!