PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcos Bowers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Banks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bowers
vs
Banks

217 cm
18
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

225 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcos Bowers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Banks!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bowers has his takedown stuffed
enabling Banks to counter with a crisp jab.

Banks shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Banks lands with a punch from half guard.
Bowers tries to kick Banks off but Banks keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Banks is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bowers controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowers makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bowers.
Banks trying to control the position from guard on top but Bowers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thomas Banks has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Bowers drives through and clinches with Banks against the cage.
Bowers doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Banks breaks from the clinch.

Bowers throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Banks was covering up waiting for the punch and Bowers finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bowers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banks is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks is trying to control the position but Bowers postures up.
Banks is pulling down on Bowers's head. It's preventing any offense from Bowers, at least for the moment.
Banks keeping full guard, as Bowers tries to pass.
Bowers has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Banks wants to sweep but no luck.

Banks is looking for a triangle but Bowers pushes his legs off easily.

Banks looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
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.
Bowers wants to control from the top but Banks keeps moving.

Banks is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Banks trying to control the position here.

Banks working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bowers doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bowers manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Banks has Bowers pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowers postures up.
Banks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Banks working a defensive guard here.

Bowers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bowers is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Banks dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bowers throws a head kick that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Banks.
Banks looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bowers is fending him off so far but Banks persists. Nope, Bowers circles away and we're back to standing.
Bowers blocks a head kick by Banks.
Bowers displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Banks throws out the jab.
Bowers throws a head kick that misses.
Banks shoots in for a takedown but Bowers shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Marcos Bowers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Banks.

Bowers closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Banks quickly recovers to half guard.
Thomas Banks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bowers prevents Banks from standing back up.
Bowers is pressing down on Banks's thigh, looking to free his foot. Banks is holding on for now.
Banks is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks trying to control but Bowers postures up.
Bowers wants to stand up but Banks has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Bowers missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Banks is refusing to be controlled, as Bowers sits in half guard.
Banks trying to control from the bottom.
Banks won't allow Bowers to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bowers with a lazy takedown attempt

and Banks counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Banks seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bowers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bowers wants to control but Banks is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Banks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Banks stalling.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bowers wants to get back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Bowers is defending against the submission attempts here by Banks.
Banks trying to control the action but Bowers is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks wants to pass to mount but Bowers is defending the position.
Banks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bowers on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bowers tries to get out of the position.
Bowers works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bowers trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Banks trying to control but Bowers is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Banks throwing strikes from guard but Bowers blocks nicely.
Banks trying to control but Bowers is working from the bottom.
Bowers wants to get back to his feet but Banks passes into half guard.
Bowers is holding on to half guard well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Banks seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Bowers has recovered full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Thomas Banks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bowers takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Banks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bowers manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Banks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bowers shoots in and drives through. Banks sprawls well.

Bowers gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bowers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Banks looking to sit in guard and control but Bowers gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Banks pulls Bowers in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks keeping moving, preventing Bowers from controlling successfully.
Banks managing to control the position.
Let's hope that Banks 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.
Bowers really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thomas Banks.

Banks closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bowers to the mat! Bowers manages to get full guard.
Banks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowers trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Banks trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bowers's guard.
Bowers controls Banks momentarily but Banks frees himself.

Banks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bowers has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Banks has managed to get both his arms back between Bowers's legs - danger averted.
Bowers striking off his back but it's not causing Banks any problems.
Banks is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Banks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bowers is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Banks wants to get up but he can't break Bowers's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Banks trying to control but Bowers is working from the bottom.

Thomas Banks has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Bowers leaves Banks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bowers throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Banks.
Bowers lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bowers throws a lazy right hand but Banks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Banks gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bowers to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Banks looking to control.
Bowers throws a big right hand that misses.
Banks controls Bowers momentarily but Bowers frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bowers is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Banks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Banks winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Banks!