PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luther Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robin Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope comes to the cage accompanied by No Sunshine. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Pope
vs
Banks

172 cm
29
157 lbs
24 - 12 - 2

150 cm
27
159 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 24 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Luther Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Robin Banks!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A combination from Pope does no damage.
Banks looks to score with a jab to the body but Pope is just out of range.
Pope cracks Banks with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Banks fails with a takedown attempt.
Pope rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Banks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pope lands with an overhand left.
Pope lands with an overhand left.
Banks lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pope backs up against the cage.
Pope misses the jab.
Banks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pope.
Pope misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope misses with a low kick as Banks jumps back.
Pope looks to score with a jab to the body but Banks is just out of range.
Pope jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pope is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Banks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Banks takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Pope lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Pope throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Banks throws a series of punches but Pope moves out of range.
Banks moves forwards but Pope connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Pope lunges at Banks with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Banks's hand.
Pope throws a nice looking combination but Banks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Banks throws a poor cross that misses
and Pope counters with a left to the body.
Pope keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Pope does it's job there.
Good leg kick by Pope there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banks just misses with a punch to the body.
Banks throws a series of punches but Pope moves out of range.
Pope fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Banks.
Banks throws a right hand that Pope ducks under and follows up with a left that Pope also avoids with ease.
Pope misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Banks misses its intended target.
Banks takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Banks scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Pope swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pope is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A combination from Pope does no damage.
Banks works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Banks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pope was well out of range. Poor timing from Banks.
Pope connects with a single shot there.
Horrible takedown by Banks or perhaps it was just good defense by Pope which made him look bad.
Pope dodges the punch combination from Banks.
A big right from Banks misses.
Banks throws an off balance right hand
and Pope connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pope is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A lazy left from Pope finds it's target.
Banks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pope circles away.
Luther Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robin Banks.
Pope bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Banks's head.
Banks lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope throws out a loose jab but Banks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pope lands with a shot to the body.
Luther Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pope wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope moves out of range of the strikes.
Banks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pope swings for the body but Banks moves out of range.
Banks looks to land a combination but Pope avoids it well.
Pope throws a jab when Banks was well out of range.
Pope lands a body shot.
Banks throws a series of punches but Pope avoids them all with ease.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope misses with a hook.
Pope tries to land a front kick but Banks steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Pope connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Pope dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pope connects with a right hand. Banks shakes it off.
Banks with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pope to score with a decent uppercut.
Banks uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pope.
Pope lands with a nice body punch.
Banks throws a push kick but Pope slaps the foot to one side.
Banks lands a jab to Pope's midsection.
Banks takes one to the side of the head.
Banks lands a nice hook to Pope's body. Pope takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Banks stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Pope.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pope.
Banks avoids a kick to the body.
Pope misses with a straight right.
Banks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pope circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks wants to slow Pope down by chopping away at his legs.
Pope's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Pope duly obliges.
Pope throws a leg kick but Banks sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Pope smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Banks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Banks lands with a nice body punch.
Robin Banks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pope connects with the punch.
Pope takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Pope ducks under a wild hook from Banks.
Pope misses with a looping left.
Banks avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pope moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope misses with a body shot.
Pope misses with a wild body shot.
Pope slips a jab and a cross from Banks.
Robin Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banks avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pope steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Banks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope lands with a good body shot.
Pope throws a sloppy head kick and Banks moves out of range easily.
Banks has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Banks misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pope throws a nice inside leg kick.
Pope connects with a solid leg kick.
A combination from Banks does no damage.
Pope lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope lands with a cross.
Pope lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Banks backs up against the cage.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pope.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pope scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Banks doesn't seem bothered though.
Pope lands an overhand right.
Pope connects with a leg kick. Banks looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Banks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pope circles away quickly and effectively.
Pope slips a jab and a cross from Banks.
Pope looks to land a combination. Banks sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Pope swings and misses with a shot to the body

so Banks counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pope wants to get back to his feet but Banks is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
Banks throwing strikes but missing.

Pope manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Banks slips a straight right by Pope.
Pope smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope stuffs the takedown attempt from Banks. Banks gets slowly back to his feet.
Banks keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pope.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Pope 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!

Banks on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Banks just misses with a punch to the body.
Pope uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Banks.
Pope misses with a head kick.
Pope tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Banks is able to avoid easily.
Banks uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pope.
Pope throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Banks closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pope did well to prevent Banks getting side control.
Banks trying to control the action but Pope is working from the bottom.
Banks works his foot free and advances to mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Banks there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks throwing strikes but Pope recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Banks is looking to take a break and control but Pope is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pope is looking for a sweep. Banks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Well, if Banks is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Pope avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Banks.
Luther Pope is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope looks like he's trying to stand up.
Pope won't allow Banks to pass to mount.
Robin Banks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Banks is stalling here. Pope is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Banks seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Pope has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Pope tries to stand but Banks controls the position and pulls Pope into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pope is looking to stand up but Banks won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Robin Banks wasn't active enough on the ground.
Pope on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Banks throws a looping overhand right but Pope ducks down to avoid it.
Banks looks to land a left hand but Pope moved out of range nicely.
Pope misses with a left hand
and Banks counters with a stiff right hand.
Banks scores with a sloppy right hand. Pope should have avoided that one.
Banks drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Banks moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Pope scores with a jab to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope lands with an overhand left.
Banks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Banks keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pope.
Banks throws the kick towards the body but Pope avoids it.
Pope lands with a thumping leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pope cracks Banks with an open hand slap.
Pope throws a hook but Banks avoids it easily.
A good leg kick by Pope.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pope throws a jab but it's blocked by Banks.
A punch combination from Banks misses.
A punch combination from Banks misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robin Banks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pope 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luther Pope!
Luther Pope opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.