PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Bane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryo Kanzaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bane's entrance music is Ego Draconis. A fine choice. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bane
vs
Kanzaki

180 cm
20
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
150 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xavier Bane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryo Kanzaki!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jonathan Paton and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bane connects with a single shot there.
Kanzaki dodges the punch combination from Bane.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bane, as that shot connected.
Bane leaves Kanzaki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bane fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bane's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Bane duly obliges.
Kanzaki doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Bane decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kanzaki's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bane trying to move into half guard but instead Kanzaki has managed to sweep!
Bane bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kanzaki's guard.
Bane trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bane wants to pass the guard but Kanzaki is keeping the position.
Bane throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bane missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kanzaki trying to control the position.
Bane has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bane keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kanzaki's head.
Bane looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bane wants to pass the guard but Kanzaki is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bane is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bane trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bane throwing strikes from guard but Kanzaki blocks nicely.
Bane tries to free his leg and advance position but Kanzaki is retaining full guard.
Bane missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bane postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bane wants to control from the top but Kanzaki keeps moving.
Kanzaki can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bane controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bane trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kanzaki trying to keep a closed guard but Bane is proving a slippery customer.
Bane makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bane's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bane trying to control but Kanzaki is working from the bottom.
Bane wants to pass the guard but Kanzaki is keeping the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kanzaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanzaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bane leaves Kanzaki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Xavier Bane has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Kanzaki.
Kanzaki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kanzaki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Bane feints and as Kanzaki raises his hands in defense, Bane changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bane controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kanzaki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bane.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bane trying to control but Kanzaki is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Bane dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kanzaki looks for a takedown but Bane sprawls well.
Kanzaki misses with a takedown attempt
and Bane counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bane ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bane tests Kanzaki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bane throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kanzaki on the side of the head.
Kanzaki with a poor takedown
and Bane counters with a nice body shot.
Xavier Bane has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Kanzaki.
Kanzaki walks into a straight right hand from Bane.
Bane scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bane looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kanzaki is breathing heavily.
Bane working over Kanzaki with some ground and pound. Kanzaki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Bane is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kanzaki can do to turn this around?
Bane is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bane is trying to control the action in half guard but Kanzaki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bane controlling the pace.
Bane trying to pass the guard but Kanzaki defending well.
Bane seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kanzaki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bane.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bane scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
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!
Bane missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bane working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bane looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bane looks to land a strike but Kanzaki avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bane accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kanzaki keeping moving, preventing Bane from controlling successfully.
Kanzaki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bane.
Bane showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kanzaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bane slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bane lands a couple of elbows.
Bane chips away with some ground and pound.
Bane trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanzaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bane makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bane throwing strikes but missing.
Kanzaki is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bane tries to free his leg and advance position but Kanzaki is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bane accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bane's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bane with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bane's corner is telling him to maintain position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bane trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bane controlling from the top position.
Bane chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Bane dominated that second round.
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!

Bane throws a shot to the body.
Bane changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jab by Bane.
Xavier Bane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bane getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bane scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kanzaki doesn't seem bothered though.
Bane jabs Kanzaki to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bane lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bane throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kanzaki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kanzaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bane scores with a three punch combo!
Bane lands a nice hook to Kanzaki's body. Kanzaki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanzaki needs to keep his hands up - Bane had a free shot at his head there.
Kanzaki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bane counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kanzaki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kanzaki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bane lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kanzaki is trying desperately to land a takedown but Bane is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Kanzaki.

Kanzaki tries to sprawl but Bane drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bane seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bane wants to take a breather but Kanzaki is having none of it.
Bane content to control rather than advance.
Bane's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bane not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bane is trying to control. Kanzaki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

We're going to have a standup here because Xavier Bane wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Bane lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kanzaki at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bane scores with a jab to the jaw.
Bane's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kanzaki under the eye.
Kanzaki walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kanzaki walks into a jab.
Horrible takedown by Kanzaki or perhaps it was just good defense by Bane which made him look bad.
Xavier Bane has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Kanzaki.
Kanzaki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bane counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bane lands a nice hook to Kanzaki's body. Kanzaki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Bane fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kanzaki to the ground. Bane is now in Kanzaki's guard.
Ryo Kanzaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xavier Bane overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kanzaki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bane working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bane landing with the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bane accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bane working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bane throws a strike but Kanzaki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bane controlling the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bane is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Bane showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bane has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:25
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:25
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Bane!