PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Bane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roy Bane will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Stephens
vs
Bane

191 cm
22
242 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

225 cm
28
285 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Stephens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roy Bane!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bane lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nice takedown defense from Bane. No joy for Stephens on that attempt.
Bane scores with a nice strike.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bane as he jumps to the side.
We've been hearing reports that Stephens has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stephens.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Stephens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bane rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stephens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stephens shoots in but no luck this time.
Bane digs a good body shot into Stephens's ribs.
Bane scores with a decent looking hook.
Stephens fails with a takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Stephens is breathing heavily.
Stephens shoots in but no luck this time.
Bane takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bane scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bane scores with a one two! Stephens had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Mark Stephens has been cut.
Danga de danga de dang - Bane scores with a four punch combination!
Bane feints a jab promting Stephens to slip. Bane then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Stephens slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Stephens is rocked!
Bane digs a good body shot into Stephens's ribs.
Oh Stephens is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stephens takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bane punishes Stephens's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bane lands a left and a right that sends Stephens crashing to the canvas! Bane dives into mount looking to finish!

Bane is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Stephens can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bane wants to take his opponent's back but Stephens doesn't allow it.
Bane is looking to stand but Bane has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Stephens seems to have got his legs back now.

Bane looking to secure an arm triangle but Stephens defends it well.
Bane is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bane wants to control the pace but Stephens is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bane jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Stephens manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Bane wants to stand but Stephens has his arm trapped.
Bane works to advance to full mount. Stephens defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Stephens on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stephens tries to get out of the position.

Bane working for a guillotine from mount but Stephens is in no mood to give up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bane wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bane swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Stephens is now in Bane's guard. A big mistake from Bane there, giving up the dominant position!
Stephens postures up in Bane's guard and throws a big left but Bane blocks it.
Bane trying to control the position.
Stephens scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Stephens has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stephens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens chips away with some ground and pound.
Bane looking to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Roy Bane hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Stephens takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bane fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bane lands a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Bane dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Stephens's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bane lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bane throws a shot to the body.
Bane scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Stephens doesn't seem bothered though.
Bane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stephens takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bane lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bane throws a series of punches but Stephens avoids them all with ease.
Roy Bane seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bane connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bane lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Stephens bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stephens wants to control for a moment but Bane uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Stephens with the ground and pound but Bane uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stephens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens throwing strikes from guard but Bane blocks nicely.
Bane working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Roy Bane hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bane ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Stephens is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bane.
Stephens shoots for a takedown but Bane saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bane catches Stephens with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A decent looking cross lands there for Bane.
Bane lands a glancing blow to the side of Stephens's head.

Stephens gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bane can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Stephens are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Stephens working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sloppy strikes there by Stephens.
Bane is trying to control Stephens's posture but Stephens avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bane is avoiding damage well.
Stephens misses with the ground and pound.
Stephens working away.
Stephens working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stephens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bane keeps working.
Stephens misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Bane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Stephens's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bane lands a jab-cross combination.
Bane shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Stephens eats them both and turns towards Bane to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Stephens shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bane defends it nicely.
Stephens ducks right into an uppercut from Bane.
Bane scores with a one two! Stephens had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bane cracks a nice hook into Stephens's ribs.
Bane lands the left hand.
Bane throws a body punch but Stephens moves out of range.
Bane scores with the left hand. Stephens knows he should have avoided that one.
Bane is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Bane changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bane scores with a body shot.
Stephens looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bane keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice body punch from Bane.
Bane ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bane lands a slapping body shot.
Stephens walks into a straight right hand from Bane.
Bane lands a body shot.
Bane has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt - Bane sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Stephens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stephens takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Stephens is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bane.
Stephens takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bane smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bane is working the combinations to good effect here.
Bane dips to his left and cracks Stephens with an uppercut!
Bane is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Stephens rather than just go for the knockout.
Bane smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bane lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bane connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Stephens's hands.
Stephens takes one to the side of the head.
Bane lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bane cracks a nice hook into Stephens's ribs.
Bane dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Roy Bane is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bane lands with a nice combination. Stephens backs away looking to recover.
A jab from Bane finds it's way through Stephens's defenses.
Bane changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Stephens 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Good standup being displayed there by Bane as he connects with a hook.
Bane lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bane scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Stephens doesn't seem bothered though.
Stephens dodges the punch combination from Bane.
Bane looks to land a combination. Stephens sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Stephens takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bane fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Stephens scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Stephens is trying to ground and pound but Bane uses the momentary lack of control by Stephens to regain half guard.
Stephens with the ground and pound but Bane uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bane works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bane trying to control the position here.
Stephens throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stephens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bane trying to keep a closed guard but Stephens is proving a slippery customer.
Stephens throws a strike but Bane rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bane preventing the sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bane is looking to stand up but Stephens won't let him.
Bane stays in close to Stephens's body and controls the position.
Mark Stephens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roy Bane is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Bane 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!
Roy Bane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bane 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roy Bane!