PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Le Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalle Natsisiwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Le Banner
vs
Natsisiwa

190 cm
29
217 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

188 cm
31
208 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Meet the Future

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jerome Le Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalle Natsisiwa!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Banner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Banner takes one on the button.
Natsisiwa looks to land a left hand but Banner moved out of range nicely.
Banner shoots in looking for a takedown but Natsisiwa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Banner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Natsisiwa misses with a wild body shot.
Natsisiwa cracks a nice hook into Banner's ribs.
Banner fails to land the takedown.
Banner throws a body punch but Natsisiwa moves out of range.
Natsisiwa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Banner.
Banner definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Natsisiwa cracks Banner with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Natsisiwa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Banner manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Natsisiwa on his heels. He'll look to pass Natsisiwa's guard now, I'm sure.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Banner throwing strikes from guard but Natsisiwa blocks nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banner postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Natsisiwa looking for a sweep. Not yet Natsisiwa, not yet.
Banner throwing strikes from guard but Natsisiwa blocks nicely.
Banner has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Banner wants to control from the top but Natsisiwa keeps moving.
Banner tries to free his leg and advance position but Natsisiwa is retaining full guard.
Banner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Banner is looking to work some ground and pound but Natsisiwa has wrist control.
Natsisiwa looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Banner tries to free his leg and advance position but Natsisiwa is retaining full guard.
Banner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Banner throws a big right hand that misses.
Banner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Natsisiwa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Banner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Natsisiwa told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Banner distracts Natsisiwa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Natsisiwa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner is looking to work some ground and pound but Natsisiwa has wrist control.
Banner trying to control the position from guard on top but Natsisiwa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banner throwing strikes but missing.
Natsisiwa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Banner.
Banner throwing strikes but missing.
Banner throws a strike but Natsisiwa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner looking for a sweep. Not yet Banner, not yet.
Banner looking to control.
Banner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Natsisiwa is one step ahead there.
Natsisiwa controlling from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banner is trying to control the position but Natsisiwa postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Le Banner dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Banner thows a body shot but no joy.
Natsisiwa clobbers Banner with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Banner misses with an uppercut.
Banner goes for a double leg but Natsisiwa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Natsisiwa continues to drive forward.
Natsisiwa misses with the head strike.
Banner lands an uppercut.
Banner takes a shot to the head.
Banner lands a left hand.
Natsisiwa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Banner is keeping busy.
Banner throws a head punch that misses.
Banner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Natsisiwa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Banner misses with the head strike.
Banner blocking some punches.
Banner gets through Natsisiwa's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Natsisiwa misses with some punches.
Natsisiwa pushes Banner back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Jerome Le Banner has been cut.
Natsisiwa wants to stall.
Natsisiwa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Natsisiwa blocks an uppercut.
Natsisiwa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Banner has a couple of punches blocked by Natsisiwa.
Banner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banner misses with a hook from the clinch.
Banner lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Banner scores with a shot to the side of Natsisiwa's head.
Natsisiwa gets through Banner's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Banner misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Banner.
Banner throws a punch but it's blocked by Natsisiwa.
Natsisiwa throws a punch but it's blocked by Banner.
Natsisiwa blocks an uppercut.
Banner lands an uppercut.
Banner misses with a punch on the inside.
Natsisiwa tries a body shot but Banner blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banner prevents a body shot from Natsisiwa.
Banner misses with some punches.
Natsisiwa misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Natsisiwa tries to stall but Banner uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Natsisiwa tries to throw a body punch but Banner avoids it by throwing Natsisiwa back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Natsisiwa.
Banner throws a punch but it's blocked by Natsisiwa.
Banner misses with a hook from the clinch.
Natsisiwa misses with the head strike.
Banner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Natsisiwa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Natsisiwa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jerome Le Banner has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Natsisiwa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Natsisiwa misses with a punch on the inside.
Natsisiwa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Natsisiwa is pushing Banner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Banner misses with the head strike.
Banner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Natsisiwa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Natsisiwa misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Natsisiwa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Banner lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Natsisiwa scores with a shot to the side of Banner's head.
Banner blocking some punches.
Natsisiwa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Banner blocks an uppercut.
Natsisiwa swings wildly with an uppercut but Banner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Natsisiwa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Natsisiwa blocks an uppercut.
Natsisiwa misses with a punch to the body.
Natsisiwa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Banner blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Banner scores with a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Natsisiwa scores with a nice short uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Banner.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Natsisiwa tries to work over Banner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Natsisiwa misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner swings wildly with an uppercut but Natsisiwa uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Natsisiwa.
Banner blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Banner misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Banner.
Banner misses with a short punch on the inside.
Natsisiwa tries to throw a body punch but Banner avoids it by throwing Natsisiwa back against the cage.
Natsisiwa blocks an uppercut.
Banner misses with the head strike.
Banner working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Banner throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Natsisiwas head.
Banner throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Natsisiwas head.
Natsisiwa scores with a shot to the side of Banner's head.
Natsisiwa lands a left hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Banner has a couple of punches blocked by Natsisiwa.
A left hand lands to the body for Natsisiwa.
Natsisiwa swings wildly with an uppercut but Banner uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Natsisiwa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jerome Le Banner will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jerome Le Banner's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Banner looks for a takedown but Natsisiwa sprawls well.
Natsisiwa throws a good cross that connects.
Banner shoots in for a takedown but Natsisiwa shows good takedown defense.
A cross from Natsisiwa lands.
Banner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Le Banner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banner takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Banner swings for the body but Natsisiwa moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Natsisiwa scores with a four punch combination!
Natsisiwa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Natsisiwa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Natsisiwa connects with a crisp jab.
Banner tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Natsisiwa defends well and Banner ends up having to push Natsisiwa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Banner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Banner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Banner misses with some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banner misses with the head strike.
Banner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Natsisiwa working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Natsisiwa working aggressively here.
Natsisiwa blocks an uppercut.
Natsisiwa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Natsisiwa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Banner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Natsisiwa lands a body punch.
Natsisiwa misses with a punch to the body.
Banner misses with the head strike.
Banner prevents a body shot from Natsisiwa.
Banner throws a punch but it's blocked by Natsisiwa.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Natsisiwa.
Banner misses with a punch on the inside.
Natsisiwa tries to throw a body punch but Banner avoids it by throwing Natsisiwa back against the cage.
Natsisiwa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Natsisiwa blocks an uppercut.
Natsisiwa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Banner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Banner misses with some punches.
Natsisiwa misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banner blocks an uppercut.
Natsisiwa blocking some punches.
Natsisiwa blocking some punches.
Natsisiwa tries to work over Banner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Banner misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Banner.
Natsisiwa blocking some punches.
Natsisiwa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Banner's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Natsisiwa blocks an uppercut.
Banner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Banner scores with a shoulder strike.
Natsisiwa pushes Banner back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Banner is rocked!
Banner misses with some punches.
Oh Banner is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Banner misses with a punch on the inside.
Natsisiwa misses with some punches.
Natsisiwa stalling against the cage.
Banner seems to have got his legs back now.
Natsisiwa blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Natsisiwa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Banner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Banner prevents a body shot from Natsisiwa.
Stalling in the clinch from Natsisiwa.
Banner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Banner misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Banner fails to land.
A short right from Natsisiwa.
Kalle Natsisiwa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Banner swings wildly with an uppercut but Natsisiwa uses good head movement to avoid it.
A body shot lands from Natsisiwa.
A head punch on the inside from Natsisiwa fails to land.
Natsisiwa tries to throw a body punch but Banner avoids it by throwing Natsisiwa back against the cage.
Natsisiwa misses with a body punch.
Natsisiwa blocking some punches.
Natsisiwa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Natsisiwa misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner misses with the head strike.
Natsisiwa blocking some punches.
Natsisiwa blocks an uppercut.
Natsisiwa misses with a punch to the body.
Natsisiwa blocking some punches.
Banner lands a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Natsisiwa lands with a short shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Natsisiwa - that landed with a thud.
Banner lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Natsisiwa backwards.
Natsisiwa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Natsisiwa throws a head punch that misses.
Natsisiwa misses with a punch to the body.
Banner misses with a hook from the clinch.
Natsisiwa digs a right hand into Banner's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Banner's gas tank.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A right hand to the body from Natsisiwa.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Banner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Banner lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Natsisiwa backwards.
Jerome Le Banner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A right hook to the body lands for Natsisiwa.
Natsisiwa can't find room to land a body shot as Banner controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalle Natsisiwa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Banner 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!