PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Artur Banas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rajesh Koothrappali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koothrappali has chosen Punjab as his entrance music. Rajesh Koothrappali has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Artur Banas's chin.

Banas
vs
Koothrappali

176 cm
21
148 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

177 cm
25
148 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

CEC Nutrition Q160

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artur Banas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rajesh Koothrappali!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koothrappali ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Koothrappali throws a shot from downtown. Banas moves away and avoids it.

Koothrappali gets caught napping as Banas dives in and scores a takedown. Koothrappali manages to retain guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Banas scoring with some ground and pound.
Koothrappali looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Banas controlling from the top position.
Banas is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Banas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Koothrappali escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Banas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Banas working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Koothrappali's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Banas advances position into side control!
Banas moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Banas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Koothrappali some visible discomfort.
Koothrappali is looking for a sweep.
Koothrappali is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koothrappali is trying to improve his position.
Banas remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banas working away.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Banas scoring with punches from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koothrappali tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Banas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
A lull in the action here as Banas stalls from top position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Koothrappali tries to improve position but can't.
Koothrappali is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Banas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Koothrappali some visible discomfort.
Banas staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banas trying to control the action but Koothrappali is working from the bottom.
Banas controlling the position from side mount.

Artur Banas has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Banas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Koothrappali misses with a hook to the ribs.
Banas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Koothrappali tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Banas.
Koothrappali working aggressively here.
Koothrappali takes a shot to the head.
Banas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Koothrappalis head.

Koothrappali pulls guard successfully.
Banas working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Koothrappali's head.
Koothrappali is trying to keep Banas in close.
Banas preventing the sweep.
Koothrappali being controlled here, momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koothrappali is trying to keep Banas in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banas stays in close to Koothrappali's body and controls the position.
Banas working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Banas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Banas checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nice cross by Banas.
Banas connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Koothrappali momentarily.
Banas bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Koothrappali's head backwards.
Koothrappali misses with a low kick as Banas jumps back.
Koothrappali thows a leg kick but Banas checks it
letting Banas counter with a right hand.
Koothrappali with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Banas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Banas cracks Koothrappali with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Banas - that landed with a thud.
Koothrappali looking to slow down the pace here.
Koothrappali swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Koothrappali lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Banas or not.
Koothrappali swings wildly with an uppercut but Banas uses good head movement to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koothrappali swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Banas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koothrappali lands a right hand.
Banas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Koothrappali's elbow.
Banas scores with a shot to the side of Koothrappali's head.
Banas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Koothrappali backwards.
Banas is leaning against Koothrappali and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Koothrappali fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Banas scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banas.
Banas slows down the pace here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banas.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Koothrappali fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Banas displaying some good clinch control by pressing Koothrappali up against the cage.
Banas lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali misses with a punch to the body.
Koothrappali looking to slow down the pace here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banas displaying some good clinch control by pressing Koothrappali up against the cage.
Koothrappali fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Artur Banas has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Banas lands a body shot in the clinch.
Banas lands a nice uppercut.
Koothrappali misses with a short punch on the inside.
Banas using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Koothrappali is fighting off a takedown attempt but Banas is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Koothrappali to the mat. Koothrappali regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Koothrappali has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Banas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Banas pushes down on Koothrappali's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Banas in particular looking to stall.
Banas lands strikes from half guard.
Banas wants to free his trapped foot but Koothrappali is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Banas looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Koothrappali with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Koothrappali is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Banas is controlling the pace.
Banas passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Koothrappali!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banas putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Banas controlling the pace for now.
Banas lands a big elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koothrappali flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Banas controlling from mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Banas lands a nice shot to the head.
Banas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Banas dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Banas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Banas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Koothrappali can do to turn this around?
A looping hook to the body misses from Koothrappali. Banas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Koothrappali uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banas.
Koothrappali checks the leg kick.
Banas lands a jab to the head.
Koothrappali attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Banas closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Koothrappali quickly recovers to half guard.

Koothrappali looking for submissions off his back.
Koothrappali tries to get to full guard but Banas has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banas passes to side control.
Banas taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koothrappali striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Banas is trying to get an arm triangle but Koothrappali is defending well.
Banas taking a breather here.
Banas landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Koothrappali being controlled for a moment.
Banas's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Koothrappali manages to work his way to half guard, despite Banas's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali works his way to full guard. Good work.
Banas pushing down on Koothrappali's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Banas controlling the action here.
Banas prevents Koothrappali from improving his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banas frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Banas looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Banas tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Banas lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Banas tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Artur Banas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Koothrappali is trying desperately to improve position.
Banas content just to control the position here.
Banas is landing with some decent strikes but Koothrappali is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Banas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Koothrappali keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Banas landing punches.
Koothrappali tries to reverse the position but Banas maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banas landing strikes from the mount.
Banas controlling from mount.
Koothrappali is in a horrible position here. Banas smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rajesh Koothrappali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banas working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Banas controlling the pace for now.
Koothrappali flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banas landing strikes, looking to finish!
Artur Banas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Banas looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artur Banas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Banas 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artur Banas!
In his post fight interview, Artur Banas started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.