PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Bannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryo Kuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuma is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Zetsubou Billy. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Bannon
vs
Kuma

160 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

166 cm
22
136 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jeremy Bannon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryo Kuma!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shirou Masuda and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kuma tries to sprawl but Bannon drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kuma looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kuma tries to kick Bannon off but Bannon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bannon content to control rather than advance.
Bannon wants to pass to mount but Kuma is defending the position.
Kuma wants to get back to his feet.
Bannon seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bannon throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bannon trying to pass the guard but Kuma defending well.
Bannon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bannon keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bannon is looking to advance position but Kuma won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannon is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bannon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bannon with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bannon seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kuma for as long as he can get away with.

Jeremy Bannon has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kuma tries to sprawl but Bannon drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bannon controlling the action here.
Kuma is in trouble now - Bannon has advanced to mount!
Bannon looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuma really wants to buck Bannon off and get back to his feet.
Bannon looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bannon with good strikes from the mount here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bannon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bannon cracks Kuma with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Bannon connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Bannon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuma trying desperately to get to his feet.

Bannon looking for a guillotine from mount but Kuma is having none of it.
Bannon controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bannon has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Bannon cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bannon controlling from mount.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Bannon 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.

Bannon closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bannon lands in his opponent's guard.
Bannon wants to pass the guard but Kuma is keeping the position.
Bannon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bannon stops Kuma from standing up.
Bannon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bannon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kuma is breathing heavily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Jeremy Bannon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kuma.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bannon clinches up against the cage.
The referee calls for Bannon to work.
Kuma is trying to force a seperation but Bannon has the dominant position.

Bannon lands a takedown into guard.
Bannon controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Jeremy Bannon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kuma showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bannon.

Bannon feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
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!
Kuma keeping full guard, as Bannon tries to pass.
Bannon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuma can do to turn this around?
Bannon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bannon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuma is keeping the position for now.
Bannon lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bannon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bannon wants to pass the guard but Kuma is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuma can't keep his opponent in guard - Bannon advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bannon in particular looking to stall.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bannon tries to pass to full mount but Kuma defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Bannon seems content to control.
Bannon working the head and body with strikes.
Bannon is pressing down on Kuma's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kuma is holding on for now.
Bannon seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bannon lands with a punch from half guard.
Bannon uses his free foot to push down on Kuma's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kuma.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuma's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Bannon controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Bannon dominated that second round.
That's time! Bannon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bannon throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bannon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kuma defends it nicely.
Kuma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bannon moves away from the strike by Kuma.
A bone on bone clash there as Kuma blocks the leg kick.

Bannon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bannon is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bannon is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kuma gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kuma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bannon turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Bannon manages to end up in side control.
Kuma being controlled for a moment.
Kuma takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannon takes a little break here. Kuma wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Bannon tries to advance to mount but Kuma denies him.
Bannon moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jeremy Bannon just wasn't active enough.
Kuma goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kuma moves out of range of the leg kick from Bannon.

Bannon closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kuma quickly recovers to half guard.
Kuma taking some punishment here, with Bannon in his half guard.

Bannon seems to be working for a kimura but Kuma defends the submission attempt.
Still in half guard, Bannon seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bannon is looking for a kimura but Kuma is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bannon to get the leverage.
Bannon drops an elbow to the side of Kuma's head.
Bannon tries to pass to full mount but Kuma defends it.
Bannon perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jeremy Bannon has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Bannon clinches with his opponent.
Bannon is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kuma pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Bannon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kuma is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bannon is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kuma to the mat. Kuma regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Ryo Kuma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bannon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bannon wants to pass the guard but Kuma is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bannon looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremy Bannon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bannon 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeremy Bannon!