PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kent Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Banners (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Russell might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Dysfunctional-Tech N9ne. Banners has chosen Rage Against The Machine - Bombtrack as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Russell
vs
Banners

185 cm
23
282 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

194 cm
23
275 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kent Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ken Banners!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Bruno Hogan and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell is looking to clinch but Banners is avoiding it.
Banners connects with an inside leg kick.
Russell throws the left hand but Banners avoids the punch easily.
Banners misses with a shot to the body
and Russell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Banners swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Banners clinches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Banners tries to work over Russell's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Russell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Banners walks away with a smile on his face. Russell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Banners throws a looping overhand right but Russell ducks down to avoid it.
Russell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Banners keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Banners gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Banners breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Banners moves into the clinch successfully.
Russell scores with a shoulder strike.
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!
Russell trying to control the position but instead, Banners has worked for underhooks and has pushed Russell into the cage.
Banners looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Banners looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Banners struggles to land a body shot inside as Russell controls his hands.
Banners prevents a body shot from Russell.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Russell.

It looks like Ken Banners has been cut.
Banners content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Russell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Russell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Russell slowing the pace effectively.
A nice right hand lands inside from Russell.

Banners's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Russell checks a leg kick nicely.

Banners clinches with his opponent.
Russell is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Banners is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Russell throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Russell softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Russell just misses with a elbow thrown towards Banners's brow.
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!
Banners lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Banners.
Banners looking to stall.
Russell lands a hook to the side of the head.
Russell missing with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Banners.
Russell missing with knees to the body.
Russell blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banners.
Banners throws a head punch that misses.
Russell struggles to land a body shot inside as Banners controls his hands.
Russell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banners is leaning against Russell and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Russell trying to land knees to the body.
Russell is breathing heavily.
Banners lands with a right to the head.
Banners tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Russell avoids it.
Russell throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Russell is trying to maintain a safe position but Banners gets an underhook and turns Russell into the cage.
Banners slowing the pace effectively.
Banners tries a body shot but Russell blocks it.
Russell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banners.
Russell swings wildly with an uppercut but Banners uses good head movement to avoid it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Banners's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A combination from Banners does no damage.
Nice straight punches there by Banners. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Banners.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Banners.
Banners looks to land a body kick but Russell moved away.
Russell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banners was well out of range. Poor timing from Russell.
Russell displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Banners throws out the jab.
Russell stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ken Banners seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russell tries to clinch but Banners is having none of it.
Banners uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Russell.
Russell looks to land a combination but Banners avoids it well.
Banners lands a two punch combo.
Russell throws a jab but it's blocked by Banners.

Banners darts in and clinches Russell up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Banners throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Russells head.
Banners lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Banners pushes Russell back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Russell works on Banners's body with a couple of short punches.
Russell tries to land knees in the clinch but Banners avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Banners dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ken Banners's cut.
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.

Russell is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ken Banners seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Banners takes one on the button.
Good work by Russell as he checks the leg kick.
Banners ducks under a wild hook from Russell.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Russell checks a leg kick.
Banners throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Russell takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Russell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banners.
Russell lands a nice hook to Banners's body. Banners takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Russell with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Russell closes the distance and clinches.
Russell avoiding damage as Banners throws knees to the body.

Banners's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russell lands with a right hand.
Banners misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banners feints a jab promting Russell to slip. Banners then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Russell slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
No joy there for Banners, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Russell thows a body shot but no joy.
Banners looks to land a combination but Russell avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Russell. Banners does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big left from Banners misses.
Banners jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Russell misses with a wild body shot.
Banners defending well as Russell loads up on a big left hand.
Banners cracks Russell with a right hand to the side of the head.
Banners misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Russell.
Banners throws a hook but Russell blocks it.
Russell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banners was well out of range. Poor timing from Russell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Banners.
Banners misses with a straight right.
Banners looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banners pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Banners keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Russell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Russell is looking to clinch but Banners is avoiding it.
Banners throws a series of punches but Russell avoids them all with ease.
Banners misses with a straight left.
Russell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banners was well out of range. Poor timing from Russell.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Russell checks a leg kick.
Banners wants to slow Russell down by chopping away at his legs.
Russell ducks under a wild hook from Banners.
Banners throws a leg kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banners moves into range and clinches up with Russell.
Russell digs a right hand into Banners's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Banners's gas tank.
Banners is breathing heavily.
Banners looking to slow down the pace here.
Russell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Banners avoids it.
Russell prevents a body shot from Banners.
Russell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Banners avoids it.
Russell displaying some good clinch control by pressing Banners up against the cage.
Russell blocks a body shot from Banners.
Banners is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Russell lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Banners breaks from the clinch.
Russell scores with a jab to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banners missing with a left hand there. Russell was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A left and a right from Russell both land. Nice combination.
Banners moves away from the strike by Russell.
Banners misses with a hook to the body
and Russell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Russell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Banners fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Russell checks it well.
Banners tries to work over Russell's front leg with a kick but Russell checks it.
Banners moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Russell moves out of range of the leg kick from Banners.
Banners throws a body punch but Russell moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Banners needs to keep his hands up - Russell had a free shot at his head there.
Russell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Banners throws a looping overhand right but Russell ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ken Banners will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ken Banners's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Banners clinches up against the cage.
Russell misses with a short punch on the inside.
Banners is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Russell.
Russell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Russell tries a body shot but Banners blocks it.
Banners dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Banners looking to stall.
Russell throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Russell is trying to push Banners away but Banners has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Banners blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Banners lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banners content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Russell digs a right hand underneath Banners's ribcage. Banners let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Banners breaks the clinch.
Banners gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Russell counters with a nice uppercut.
Banners waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Russell.
Russell avoids the body shot from Banners.
A shot to the liver by Russell. Beautiful body shot.
Banners takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Russell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banners.
Banners takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Banners thows a left - swing and a miss!
Russell cracks Banners with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Russell doesn't manage to clinch there - Banners circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banners throws a jab but it's blocked by Russell.
Banners misses with a low kick.
Banners swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banners tries to land a leg kick but Russell saw it coming and moves away.
Russell wants to clinch.
Russell is looking to wear down Banners with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Russell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Banners throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Russell gets tackled into the cage by Banners. Banners maintains the clinch.
Banners misses with the head strike.
A short right from Banners on the inside.
Russell tries to work over Banners's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Russell trying to stall but Banners improves his position.
Banners is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Banners stalling the fight.
Ken Banners is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banners lands a right hand.
Ken Banners seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Russell lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banners.
Russell misses with the head strike.
Russell taking a breather.
Banners takes a shot to the head.
Russell misses with some punches.
Russell misses with an elbow over the top.
Russell trying to land knees to the body.
A short left from Banners.
Russell lands a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Banners blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell struggles to land a body shot inside as Banners controls his hands.
Banners blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kent Russell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Banners avoiding damage as Russell throws knees to the body.
Russell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banners.
Russell tries to land knees in the clinch but Banners avoids the damage to the body.
Banners lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Russell misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Banners managing to block the knees to the body from Russell.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Russell lands a body shot.
Banners cracks Russell with a nice body shot.
Russell trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kent Russell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Banners has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ken Banners!