PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luisito Banaag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banaag's entrance music is Soulfly - Pain. A fine choice. Swanson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by all nightmare long by metallica. Karl Swanson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Banaag
vs
Swanson

190 cm
22
220 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
26
222 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luisito Banaag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karl Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swanson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Banaag blocks a jab.
No luck for Swanson with that takedown attempt.
Swanson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Swanson swats away the attempt to clinch by Banaag.
Banaag throws a leg kick but Swanson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Swanson 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.
Banaag misses with a hook

and Swanson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Banaag looking for a sweep. Not yet Banaag, not yet.
Swanson stands up over Banaag, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Swanson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banaag pulls Swanson in to control the position.
Swanson scoring with some ground and pound.
Banaag being controlled here, momentarily.
Banaag is trying to keep Swanson in close.
Banaag keeping full guard, as Swanson tries to pass.
Swanson won't allow Banaag to sweep him here.
Swanson lands a couple of digs.
Swanson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson won't allow Banaag to sweep him here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Swanson is stalling in the full guard.
Swanson trying to control but Banaag is working from the bottom.
Swanson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Karl Swanson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Banaag displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Swanson.
Swanson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Banaag counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Banaag feints and then cracks Swanson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Swanson down.
Swanson missing with a left hand there. Banaag was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Banaag throws a push kick but Swanson slaps the foot to one side.
Banaag avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Swanson throws a lazy right hand but Banaag sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Swanson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Banaag!
Swanson lands a big shot there that rocks Banaag but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Banaag avoids a series of strikes thrown by Swanson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Banaag is looking to escape.
Swanson with the ground and pound from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Swanson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Banaag is surviving well by controlling Swanson's body position as best he can.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Swanson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banaag is wriggling around trying to escape.
Swanson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Banaag in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Swanson dominated that 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.

Swanson slips under a jab.
Banaag tries to work over Swanson's front leg with a kick but Swanson checks it.
Banaag throws a head kick that half lands.
A solid leg kick lands there for Banaag.
Horrible takedown by Swanson or perhaps it was just good defense by Banaag which made him look bad.
Luisito Banaag seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banaag lands with a slapping head kick.
Banaag cracks the inside of Swanson's front leg.
Banaag is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Banaag tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banaag throws a head kick that misses.
Banaag fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Swanson.
Banaag throws a quick inside leg kick.
Banaag throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Swanson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Banaag throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Banaag tries to close the distance and clinch up but Swanson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Banaag walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Banaag pivots, looking for a leg kick but Swanson is out of range and Banaag settles back down.
Swanson looks to land a right hand but Banaag moved out of range.
Luisito Banaag is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banaag is looking to score with low kicks.

Swanson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Banaag did well to prevent Swanson getting side control.
Swanson looks to land a strike but Banaag avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Banaag wants to stand up but Swanson is controlling him.
Swanson looking to pass the guard.
Swanson throwing strikes from guard but Banaag blocks nicely.
Banaag keeping moving, preventing Swanson from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson stands and throws Banaag's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Swanson trying to control the position but Banaag is working away.
Banaag prevents Swanson from improving position.
Banaag is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Swanson asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Banaag takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swanson decides to stand back up. Swanson steps back and let's Banaag get back to his feet.
Banaag throws a chopping leg kick but Swanson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Swanson lands a jab to Banaag's midsection.
Swanson has a takedown stuffed.
Banaag lands with a cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Swanson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banaag.
Swanson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Karl Swanson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Swanson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Banaag swivels and escapes.
A punch combination from Swanson misses.
Banaag looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Banaag fails with an attempt to clinch.
Swanson misses with a straight right.
Banaag tries to land a leg kick but Swanson saw it coming and moves away.
Swanson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Banaag uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Swanson.
Swanson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Banaag jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Banaag there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Banaag throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Banaag dodges the punch combination from Swanson.
Swanson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Banaag as he jumps to the side.
Swanson checks a low kick from Banaag.
Banaag slips a straight right by Swanson.
Banaag bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banaag thumps Swanson with a low kick.
Swanson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Banaag fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Swanson.
Banaag throws out a leg kick but Swanson moves out of range and Banaag only half commits.
Swanson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Swanson misses with a body shot.
Swanson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Banaag looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Luisito Banaag is winning the standup battle so far.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Banaag.
Swanson takes a swing at Banaag's ribcage but misses.
Banaag lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banaag throws a push kick but Swanson slaps the foot to one side.
A slow jab from Swanson misses its intended target.
A big right from Swanson misses.
Swanson moves out of range as Banaag throws a body kick.
Swanson throws a right hand that Banaag ducks under and follows up with a left that Banaag also avoids with ease.

Banaag rushes Swanson and presses him up against the ropes.
Banaag tries to stall but Swanson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Banaag using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Swanson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Swanson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Banaag gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Luisito Banaag has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karl Swanson.
Banaag is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Banaag working Swanson over with knees to the body.
Banaag using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Swanson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Banaag escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Banaag clinches up against the ropes.
Swanson wants to take the fight to the mat but Banaag manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Swanson is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Banaag can't fight it off and eventually Swanson manages to take the fight to the floor. Banaag looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swanson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luisito Banaag showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Swanson 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Karl Swanson!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Karl Swanson!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Karl Swanson!

Karl Swanson wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Karl Swanson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.