PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mario Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Dela Cruz will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Banks
vs
Dela Cruz

187 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mario Banks!
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, Juan Dela Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Banks instigates a clinch.
Banks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Banks lands a shoulder strike.

Dela Cruz pulls guard effortlessly.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dela Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Banks is looking to work some ground and pound but Dela Cruz has wrist control.
Banks with a nice head shot there.
Banks stands up over Dela Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Banks stands up from Dela Cruz's guard - Banks perhaps looking for a knockout.

Dela Cruz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dela Cruz working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Banks's thigh. Banks counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Banks working for a triangle but Dela Cruz defends it easily.
Banks 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks has control of Dela Cruz's left arm, preventing Dela Cruz from doing any damage.
Banks keeping moving, preventing Dela Cruz from controlling successfully.
Banks is trying to keep Dela Cruz in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dela Cruz is looking to stand up but Banks won't let him.
Dela Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Banks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dela Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Dela Cruz, not yet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Banks throws a big elbow that misses.

Dela Cruz is working an open guard so Banks takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Dela Cruz misses with a low kick.

Dela Cruz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Banks's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz drops back, looking for a kneebar! Banks looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Banks looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Banks!
Banks throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Banks lands some shots froms side control.

Banks decides to stand back up.
Banks tries to clinch there but Dela Cruz circles away.

Dela Cruz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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 pushes Dela Cruz off looking to stand but Dela Cruz dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Banks's head.
Dela Cruz stalling away here and it's allowed Banks to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Banks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Banks wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Banks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mario Banks will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Banks darts in and clinches Dela Cruz up against the cage.
Banks slowing the pace effectively.
Banks has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Banks breaks the clinch.

Dela Cruz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Banks's half guard.
Dela Cruz wants to pass to mount but Banks is defending the position.

Banks manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Dela Cruz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Banks did well to prevent Dela Cruz getting side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banks manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Dela Cruz keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Banks working aggressively here.

Dela Cruz decides to pull guard.
Banks postures up and lands a big shot to Dela Cruz's brow.
Banks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Banks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Banks with a nice head shot there.

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

Banks decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dela Cruz, up you get!
Dela Cruz is breathing heavily.
Dela Cruz is looking to clinch but Banks is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Banks napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dela Cruz wants to control but Banks is keeping him busy.
Banks struggling a bit here.
Dela Cruz sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Banks is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Banks wants to control but Dela Cruz postures up.
Dela Cruz wants to control but Banks is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I wouldn't like to be where Banks is right now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Dela Cruz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Banks did well to prevent Dela Cruz getting side control.
Banks is refusing to be controlled, as Dela Cruz sits in half guard.
Banks punching from the bottom.

Dela Cruz stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Banks to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Banks is doing well to control the position and prevent Dela Cruz from advancing to side control.
Dela Cruz trying to control from Banks's half guard. Banks has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Dela Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Banks is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dela Cruz defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Dela Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Dela Cruz gets a double leg takedown into Banks's guard.
Juan Dela Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dela Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Banks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dela Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Banks blocks nicely.
Dela Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dela Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Banks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz working a defensive guard here.
Banks connects with a couple of short punches.

Banks stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Dela Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.
Dela Cruz blocks an uppercut.
Banks looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks lands a hook that snaps the head of Dela Cruz backwards.
Dela Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Banks won't allow it.
Banks is trying to pull guard but Dela Cruz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Banks is trying to maintain a safe position but Dela Cruz gets an underhook and turns Banks into the cage.

Dela Cruz gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Banks regains guard.
Dela Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Banks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banks has his hands on Dela Cruz's head, controlling the position.
Dela Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz wants to get up but he can't break Banks's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dela Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Banks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dela Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dela Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Some wild striking there from Dela Cruz.
Banks doesn't manage to clinch there - Dela Cruz circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz drives through and clinches with Banks against the cage.
A short left from Banks.
Dela Cruz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Dela Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Banks is controlling him.

Banks successfully pulls guard.

Dela Cruz gets to his feet - Banks follows without any prompting.

Dela Cruz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dela Cruz throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banks holding on.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Dela Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dela Cruz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Dela Cruz!