PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brian Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reza Karimi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brian Banks has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Banks
vs
Karimi

200 cm
25
192 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

176 cm
21
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brian Banks!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Reza Karimi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karimi scores with a takedown into Banks's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Karimi stands up and waves to Banks to follow him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Banks enables Karimi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Banks manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Karimi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Karimi stops Banks from standing up.
Karimi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Karimi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Banks is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Banks has escaped and now he's on top!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Karimi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Banks defends it easily.
Banks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Karimi on the ground.

Banks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Karimi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Banks has managed to get both his arms back between Karimi's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks postures up.
Banks trying to control the position from guard on top but Karimi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Karimi looking for a guillotine here but Banks defends easily.
Banks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Karimi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Karimi throws his legs up looking for a submission but Banks uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karimi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Karimi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Banks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Banks tries to stand but can't do so whilst Karimi controls his leg.
Karimi regains full guard. Nicely done.

Banks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Karimi looking for a triangle here. Banks is fighting it but it looks tight! Karimi pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Banks is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Reza Karimi!
Reza Karimi is the new middleweight champion!