PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rey Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Bankks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cody Bankks will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Larson
vs
Bankks

184 cm
23
194 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rey Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cody Bankks!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bankks looking to score a takedown here. Larson is defending well but Bankks drives through and ends up in Larson's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bankks postures up in Larson's guard and throws a big left but Larson blocks it.
Bankks looking to pass the guard.
Larson trying to keep a closed guard but Bankks is proving a slippery customer.

Larson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bankks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bankks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bankks wants to pass the guard but Larson is keeping the position.
Bankks throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bankks wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.

Larson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bankks defends well.
Bankks slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bankks trying to control the position from guard on top but Larson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Larson pulls Bankks in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Cody Bankks was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bankks is looking to clinch.
Bankks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Larson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Bankks scores with a takedown into Larson's guard.
Larson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bankks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Larson is trying to control the position but Bankks postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bankks preventing the sweep.
Bankks wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.

Cody Bankks has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Bankks throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Larson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bankks is in Larson's guard.
Larson seems keen to control Bankks's posture.
Bankks trying to control but Larson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Larson wants to stand and escape but Bankks is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bankks is looking to stand up but Larson won't let him.
Bankks wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Cody Bankks was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Bankks closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bankks wants to take a breather but Larson is having none of it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Larson tries to kick Bankks off but Bankks keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Bankks 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.

Larson shoots in and bounces Bankks off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bankks is trying to keep Larson in close.
Larson stays in close to Bankks's body and controls the position.
Larson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bankks for as long as he can get away with.
Larson trying to control but Bankks is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rey Larson wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Larson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Larson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bankks pulls Larson in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bankks wants to sweep here but Larson controlling him for the moment.
Larson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Larson controlling from the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Larson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bankks is controlling Larson's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bankks feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Larson keeping moving, preventing Bankks from controlling successfully.

Bankks gets to his feet. Larson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bankks closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bankks lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bankks throws a strike but Larson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Larson stays in close to Bankks's body and controls the position.
Bankks working a defensive guard here.
Larson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bankks is looking to stand up but Larson isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

We're going to have a standup here because Rey Larson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bankks.
Bankks is breathing heavily.
Larson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bankks wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Larson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bankks's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Larson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Larson.
Bankks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson is looking to stand up but Bankks isn't so interested in that idea.
Bankks trying to control the position from guard on top but Larson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bankks's corner is telling him to maintain position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cody Bankks has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Bankks feints and as Larson raises his hands in defense, Bankks changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cody Bankks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Larson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Larson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bankks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Larson wants to stand up but Bankks is controlling him.
Bankks trying to control but Larson is working from the bottom.
Larson pulls Bankks in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bankks trying to control but Larson is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cody Bankks.
Larson is looking to chop away at Bankks's legs.

Bankks closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Larson's guard.
Bankks trying to control but Larson is working from the bottom.
Larson is controlling Bankks's posture.
Bankks is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rey Larson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Bankks shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Larson is trying to defend but Bankks finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Larson tries to roll over but Bankks keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson is working hard here to advance position.

Bankks decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Bankks misses with a low kick as Larson jumps back.
Cody Bankks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bankks scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Rey Larson has been cut.

Bankks closes the distance and clinches.

Bankks breaks the clinch.
Larson shoots in looking for a takedown. Bankks tries to sprawl out of it but Larson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bankks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bankks looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Larson!
Bankks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bankks is looking to take a break and control but Larson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bankks stands up and beckons Larson to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Larson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cody Bankks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bankks 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Bankks!