PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Rad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artur Banas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rad comes to the cage accompanied by Liberation Frequency. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rad
vs
Banas

165 cm
24
142 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

176 cm
23
140 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Fight Night Nutrition
LOD: Affordable Quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kyle Rad!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artur Banas!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rad throws a solid leg kick but Banas takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rad.
Artur Banas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rad misses with a straight left.
Banas lands a nice shot to the body.
Banas lands a jab.

Banas forces Rad back against the cage and clinches.
Banas lands a hook that snaps the head of Rad backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banas.
Banas lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Banas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rad blocking some punches.
Rad misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've been hearing reports that Rad has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Rad is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banas misses with a punch to the body.
Rad blocks an uppercut.
Rad jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Banas walks away with a smile on his face. Rad gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rad tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rad closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rad scores with the left hand. Banas knows he should have avoided that one.
Banas connects with a right hand. Rad shakes it off.
Banas misses with a body punch
and Rad counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Banas thinking.
Rad looks to land a left hand but Banas moved out of range nicely.
Rad moves out of range of the body kick.

Banas clinches up with Rad and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Banas.
Rad trying to stall but Banas improves his position.
Banas avoids a wild elbow strike from Rad.
Banas lands with a short head shot on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Banas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rad lands with a right to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Banas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rad.
A head punch on the inside from Banas fails to land.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rad takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Rad throws a punch but it's blocked by Banas.
Banas lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Banas swings wildly with an uppercut but Rad uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rad stalling in the clinch.
Banas works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Banas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Banas scores with a shoulder strike.
Banas misses with a punch on the inside.
Banas scores with a hook to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Banas fails to land.
Banas lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Banas lands a hook that snaps the head of Rad backwards.
Rad blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Banas.
Banas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Banas as Rad tries to tie him up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banas.
Banas avoids the elbow strike from Rad, against the cage.
Banas controlling the action here for a moment.
Rad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Banas misses with a knee strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Banas breaks the clinch.
Banas scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rad doesn't seem bothered though.
Banas lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
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.

A head kick misses from Rad.
Banas tries to clinch up but Rad circles away and keeps his distance.
Rad rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Banas counters by moving into the clinch.
Rad throws an elbow but it misses.
Banas scores with a shot to the side of Rad's head.
Rad tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rad throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rad tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Banas avoids it.
Rad throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Banas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rad backwards.
Rad throws an elbow that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rad can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Banas stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A short right from Banas.
Rad tries to pull guard but Banas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A short right from Banas on the inside.
Rad pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rad tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rad just misses with a elbow thrown towards Banas's brow.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rad misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Banas.
Rad creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Banas avoids a wild elbow strike from Rad.
Rad swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rad tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Banas avoids it.
Banas lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rad looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A bit of stalling here from Rad.
Banas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rad is trying to stall.
Banas lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rad backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Banas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rad using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Banas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Banas lands with a left to the head.
Rad misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rad makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Banas digs a right hand underneath Rad's ribcage. Rad let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Banas throws a punch but it's blocked by Rad.
Banas keeps control of Rad as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rad creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Banas cracks Rad with a nice body shot.
Rad can't break the clinch.
Rad misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banas.
Banas working aggressively here.
Banas slowing the pace effectively.
The referee calls for Rad to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banas lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rad wants to control but Banas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Banas in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rad defending well though.
Banas controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Banas has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Artur Banas wasn't active enough on the ground.
Banas connects with a looping right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Banas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rad takes one to the side of the head.
Rad misses with an uppercut.
Banas checks a leg kick nicely.
Banas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Banas forces Rad back against the cage and clinches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Banas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Banas's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Banas manages to break the clinch.
Banas connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Banas lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rad's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banas throws a good cross that connects.

Rad is rocked!
Rad stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rad wants it to stay on the feet.
Rad takes a jab right on the kisser.
Oh Rad is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Banas thows a body kick. Rad tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rad moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rad moves out of range as Banas throws a body kick.
Rad throws a head kick that misses

and Banas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rad preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Banas works over Rad with some ground and pound from guard.
Banas 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.
Banas with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rad can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Banas controls the pace.
Banas with a nice head shot there.
Banas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rad seems to have got his legs back now.
Banas throws a big elbow that misses.
Banas tries to free his leg and advance position but Rad is retaining full guard.
Banas is stalling in the full guard.
Rad is looking to sweep but instead, Banas has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rad has hold of Banas's hands but Banas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Banas is nestled in close to Rad, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Banas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Banas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Banas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Banas is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Banas's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banas trying to pass the guard but Rad defending well.
Banas controlling the action here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Artur Banas was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Banas throws the kick towards the body but Rad avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rad moves forwards but Banas connects with a nice, crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Banas really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rad throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Artur Banas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A low kick from Rad misses

and Banas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Banas tries to work over Rad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rad is trying to pull guard but Banas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rad works on Banas's body with a couple of short punches.
A right handed body shot lands from Banas.
Rad pushes off an throws an elbow but Banas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nice body punch from Banas.
Rad misses with a short punch on the inside.

Banas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Banas lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Banas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rad takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Banas clinches up against the cage.
Banas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rad misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rad has Banas pushed against the cage.
Banas has Rad pushed against the cage.
Rad creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A bit of stalling here from Rad.
Rad stalling in the clinch but Banas improves position.
Rad misses with some punches.
Banas blocks an uppercut.
Artur Banas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Banas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Banas lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rad softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Banas.
Rad throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rad throws an elbow but misses.
Banas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rad backwards.
Banas cracks Rad with a nice body shot.
Rad throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rad.
Banas blocking some punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rad tries to land knees in the clinch but Banas avoids the damage to the body.
Rad misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Banas misses with some punches.
Banas lands a nice shot to the body.
Rad doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Banas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banas digs a right hand underneath Rad's ribcage. Rad let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Banas tries to work over Rad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Banas lands a right hand.
Rad lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Banas backwards.
Banas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Banas lands a hook to the side of the head.
Banas struggles to land a body shot inside as Rad controls his hands.
Rad prevents a body shot from Banas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Banas.
Rad's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rad lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Artur Banas has been cut.
Banas scores with a shoulder strike.
Rad jumps guard but Banas stands there with Rad around his waist. Rad gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rad wants to stall.
Banas lands a hook to the side of the head.
Banas misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banas swings wildly with an uppercut but Rad uses good head movement to avoid it.
A body shot lands from Banas.
Banas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Banas dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Artur Banas's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A lazy left from Banas finds it's target.
Banas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Banas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rad lands with a right hand.
Rad lands a nice leg kick that just misses Banas's sensitive parts.
Banas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Banas takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Banas lands a leg kick that knocks Rad off balance momentarily.
Rad misses with a looping right.
A lazy left from Banas finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rad.
Banas lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rad tries a low kick but Banas avoids it.
Rad tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Banas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Banas checks a leg kick.
Rad blocks a head kick by Banas.
Rad moves out of range of the leg kick from Banas.
Rad is looking to chop away at Banas's legs.
Banas feints and then cracks Rad's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rad down.
Kyle Rad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rad throws a leg kick

so Banas counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Banas not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rad trying to keep a closed guard but Banas is proving a slippery customer.
Banas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Banas thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Banas wants to pass the guard but Rad is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rad trying to keep a closed guard but Banas is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rad wants to sweep here but Banas controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Banas scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rad throws a low kick but it's checked well by Banas.

Banas moves into the clinch successfully.
Banas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rad is looking to control Banas's arms but Banas gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rad has his back to the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rad just leaning against Banas, taking a breather.
Banas lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Banas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Banas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Banas blocking some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banas lands an uppercut.
Rad tries to stall but Banas uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rad swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Artur Banas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rad throws a punch but it's blocked by Banas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artur Banas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Banas 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 44:50
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 45:50
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artur Banas!
Artur Banas is the new bantamweight champion!
An out of breath Artur Banas thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.