PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Sharper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banks has chosen White and Nerdy as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sharper
vs
Banks

184 cm
25
275 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

191 cm
25
255 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jon Sharper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michael Banks!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sharper has a takedown stuffed.
Sharper shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Banks moves into the clinch.
Sharper goes for a takedown in the clinch but Banks prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Sharper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banks is looking to control Sharper's arms but Sharper gets an underhook and turns him. Now Banks has his back to the cage.
Sharper wants a takedown.

Sharper has picked Banks up - he's going for a ride! Sharper dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Banks wants to get back to full guard.

Banks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sharper pulls his head out easily.
Sharper stalling.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banks makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Banks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banks is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sharper trying to control the position from guard on top but Banks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sharper with a nice head shot there.
Sharper throwing strikes from guard but Banks blocks nicely.
Sharper is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Banks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sharper trying to control the position from guard on top but Banks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sharper knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Banks on the ground.
Banks looking to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Jon Sharper wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Banks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Michael Banks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks lands a jab to Sharper's midsection.
Sharper has his takedown stuffed
and Banks counters with a left and a right that stings Sharper.
Sharper shoots in but Banks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
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!
Banks is looking to clinch.
Banks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sharper manages to avoid it.
Sharper walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sharper closes the distance and clinches up with Banks, looking for a takedown. Sharper pushes Banks against the cage but Banks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sharper fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sharper tries to score a power double leg takedown but Banks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sharper somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharper fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Banks scores with a jab. Sharper acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Jon Sharper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sharper on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sharper.
Banks misses with the combination.
Sharper doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Banks counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sharper misses with a takedown
letting Banks counter with a right hand.
Banks leaves Sharper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks doesn't manage to clinch there - Sharper circles away.
Banks scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horrible takedown by Sharper or perhaps it was just good defense by Banks which made him look bad.
Banks punishes Sharper's body with a nice straight punch.
Sharper takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Banks scores with a punch to the head.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sharper.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Banks lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Banks throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sharper on the side of the head.
Sharper shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Banks but Banks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sharper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Banks lands with an uppercut that bounces Sharper off the cage and back into range.
Banks scores with a nice right hand.
A punch combination from Banks misses.
Sharper tries to score a power double leg takedown but Banks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sharper somewhat.
Sharper with a poor takedown
and Banks counters with a nice uppercut.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Banks. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Banks jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sharper keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sharper shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Banks but Banks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Sharper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sharper looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A jab lands there for Banks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharper looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Banks is fending him off so far but Sharper persists. Nope, Banks circles away and we're back to standing.

Banks moves into the clinch successfully.
Banks lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sharper is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Banks pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Banks can't find room to land a body shot as Sharper controls the action.
Banks lands a shoulder strike.
Sharper looking for a takedown.
Sharper can't get the takedown.
Sharper blocks an uppercut.
Banks lands an uppercut.
Banks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sharper.
Banks prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks stops a takedown attempt from Sharper.
Banks pushes Sharper back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Banks lands a nice uppercut.
Sharper has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Banks after a bit of a struggle.
Banks throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sharpers head.
Sharper is working for takedown but Banks is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sharper has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Banks is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Banks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sharper drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Banks gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharper wants to take the fight to the mat but Banks manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Banks leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sharper has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Banks after a bit of a struggle.

Sharper has picked Banks up - he's going for a ride! Sharper dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Banks gets full guard.
Banks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sharper trying to control the position from guard on top but Banks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sharper looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banks is trying to keep Sharper in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharper missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Banks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Banks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Banks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sharper can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Banks looking for subs off his back but Sharper has passed one foot through into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Banks actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banks gets back to full guard.
Michael Banks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sharper showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Sharper misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sharper fails with the takedown

and Banks counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Banks.
Sharper tries for a takedown but Banks manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Sharper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sharper is working for takedown but Banks is calmly controlling the position for now.
Banks stalling in the clinch.
Sharper has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Banks after a bit of a struggle.
Banks just leaning against Sharper, taking a breather.
Banks has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A body shot lands from Banks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks is trying to stall.
Sharper is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Banks gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Banks taking a breather.
Sharper is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Banks scores with a nice hook to the head.
Banks avoiding damage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Michael Banks.
Banks leaves Sharper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jon Sharper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharper circles away from the clinch attempt.

Sharper closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Banks to the mat! Banks manages to get full guard.

Banks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sharper can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Banks has his foot on Sharper's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sharper works his way back into a safe position though.

Banks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sharper can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sharper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Banks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sharper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sharper 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.

Banks is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharper sitting in guard here, content to control.

Banks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sharper gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Banks looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Banks working for a triangle but Sharper defends it easily.
Sharper pushing down on Banks's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sharper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Banks does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Banks tries to roll over but Sharper keeps him under control.
Banks trying to hold on to Sharper's head to control him but Sharper postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharper not doing much here.
Banks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sharper is working away from the top position though.
Banks might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sharper kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Banks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Banks throws a right and a left that Sharper avoids nicely.
Michael Banks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sharper finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Banks lands a slapping body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sharper throws a right hand that misses
and Banks counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sharper thinking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sharper fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A low kick from Sharper is predictable there
and Banks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Banks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Banks has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Banks!
Michael Banks decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.