PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Artur Banas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jai McCracken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jai McCracken will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Banas
vs
McCracken

176 cm
21
148 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

171 cm
22
153 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Zentrope Fighting Universe
Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

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 10 - 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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jai McCracken!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCracken lands a jab to the head.
No joy there for McCracken, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McCracken throws a low kick but Banas avoids it.
McCracken misses with a looping left.
A bone on bone clash there as Banas blocks the leg kick.
McCracken feints and then cracks Banas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Banas down.
McCracken misses with a right hand

and Banas counters with a takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
McCracken is looking to regain half guard here but Banas keeps moving and retains side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCracken is trying to control Banas's posture but Banas avoids it.
McCracken avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Banas.
McCracken is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Banas's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCracken gets back to full guard.
Banas throws a strike but McCracken rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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

Banas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCracken throwing strikes from guard but Banas blocks nicely.
McCracken trying to control but Banas is working from the bottom.

Banas working for a triangle but McCracken defends it easily.
Banas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McCracken trying to move into half guard but instead Banas has managed to sweep!
McCracken pulls Banas in close to prevent any damage.

Banas drops back, looking for a kneebar! McCracken looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McCracken looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McCracken!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCracken scores with a couple of short elbows.
Banas regains half guard.
McCracken thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McCracken working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Banas's thigh. Banas counters though and makes it back to full guard.
McCracken looking to pass the guard.
McCracken looking to sit in guard and control but Banas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Banas looking to sit in guard and control but McCracken gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Banas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McCracken trying to control but Banas is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Banas working for a triangle but McCracken defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Banas has his foot on McCracken's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McCracken works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jai McCracken will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Banas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McCracken shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Banas but Banas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Banas tries to bum rush McCracken with a series of wild strikes but McCracken uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A low kick from McCracken is predictable there

and Banas moves into the clinch.
Banas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McCracken misses with a short punch on the inside.
McCracken with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McCracken stops a takedown attempt from Banas.
McCracken misses with some punches.

McCracken breaks from the clinch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Banas lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and McCracken has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from McCracken and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
McCracken misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banas.
McCracken tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Banas is able to avoid easily.
McCracken lands a leg kick that knocks Banas off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banas tries to clinch up but McCracken circles away and keeps his distance.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Banas.
Banas connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McCracken momentarily.

Banas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in McCracken's guard.
Banas passes into half guard.

Banas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McCracken sees it coming and defends easily.

Banas is working for a submission of some sort.
McCracken wants to control but Banas is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Banas lands a nice short elbow.
Banas tries to pass the half guard into mount. McCracken knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Banas prevents McCracken from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCracken has a hand on Banas's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Banas takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Banas misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Banas unloads with some shots from mount but McCracken bucks and avoids them well.
McCracken is looking to improve his position but Banas isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCracken wants to hold on but Banas pushes him away.
Banas lands with some strikes.
McCracken is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
McCracken tries to hold on but Banas pushes him away.
Banas landing strikes from the mount and McCracken is in trouble!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCracken wants to hold on but Banas pushes him away.
McCracken is looking to improve his position but Banas isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Banas dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

McCracken throws a body kick that misses.
Banas slips under a jab.
McCracken moves forwards but Banas connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Banas throws a leg kick but McCracken checks it.
McCracken scores with a head kick.

It looks like Artur Banas has been cut.
McCracken chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Banas can pounce on him.
McCracken misses with a low kick.
McCracken fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Banas blocks a leg kick.
McCracken throws a chopping leg kick but Banas manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Banas misses with a few strikes there.
McCracken throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A telegraphed right hand from McCracken misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banas lands an overhand right.
A big right from Banas misses.
Banas blocks a low kick nicely.
McCracken scores with a head kick. Banas tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Jai McCracken seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Banas checks a leg kick nicely.
McCracken connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Banas throws an overhand right that lands on McCracken's shoulder, as McCracken tries to avoid the shot.
Banas checks a leg kick nicely.
Banas scores with a crisp jab that stopped McCracken in his tracks.
Banas throws the left hand but McCracken avoids the punch easily.
Banas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McCracken shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Banas counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Banas works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Banas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McCracken is just riding it out for now. Banas eventually gives up the hold.

McCracken is defending against the submission attempts here by Banas.
McCracken avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Banas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McCracken is just riding it out for now. Banas eventually gives up the hold.
Banas is thwarting McCracken's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Banas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Banas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McCracken's head.
McCracken is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Banas scores with a couple of nice shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCracken moves into full guard.

Banas drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McCracken dives on top into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Artur Banas.
I think Banas 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jai McCracken!
After winning the bout, Jai McCracken thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.