PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alek Herod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bogdan Baniak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Herod
vs
Baniak

190 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
186 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alek Herod!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bogdan Baniak!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Darius Henderson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baniak motions for Herod to come forward. Baniak throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Baniak is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Herod.

Herod darts in and clinches Baniak up against the cage.

Herod gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Herod not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Herod with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Baniak avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Herod.
Herod not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Herod postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Baniak to stand up.
Baniak throws a solid leg kick but Herod takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Baniak.
Baniak throws the kick towards the body but Herod avoids it.
Baniak throws a hook but Herod avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baniak uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Herod has time to react.
Herod tries to close the distance and clinch up but Baniak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Herod shoots for a takedown but Baniak saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Baniak tries to keep at a distance but Herod has taken the fight into the clinch.
Herod is looking for a takedown.
Baniak scores with a hook to the body.
Herod keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Baniak's efforts to push away.
Baniak prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alek Herod. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baniak wants to get back to striking at distance but Herod won't allow it.
Baniak lands with a left to the head.
Herod wants to take the fight to the mat but Baniak manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herod keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Baniak's efforts to push away.
Baniak pushes Herod back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Herod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Herod can't get the takedown.
Baniak is trying to break the clinch but Herod is controlling him.
Herod is trying to drag Baniak to the mat but Baniak just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Baniak has had enough of the clinch but Herod keeps him there for the moment.

Baniak breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baniak jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herod looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Baniak cracks Herod with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Baniak listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Herod tries to clinch up.
Baniak scores with the left hand. Herod knows he should have avoided that one.
Good standup being displayed there by Baniak as he connects with a hook.
We've been informed that Baniak has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Baniak scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Herod throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Herod looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Baniak goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Baniak listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baniak scores with a crisp jab that stopped Herod in his tracks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baniak lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Herod backs up against the cage.
A jab from Baniak finds it's way through Herod's defenses.
Bogdan Baniak is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baniak throws a right hand that Herod ducks under and follows up with a left that Herod also avoids with ease.
Baniak scores with a nice head shot.
Good shot there by Baniak.
Baniak lands a lovely overhand right.
Baniak stuffs the takedown attempt from Herod. Herod gets slowly back to his feet.
Baniak throws the left hand but Herod avoids the punch easily.
Baniak motions for Herod to come forward. Baniak throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bogdan Baniak dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Herod takes a jab right on the kisser.
Baniak lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Baniak misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baniak cracks Herod with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Herod checks a leg kick.
Baniak throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Herod shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Baniak defends it nicely.
Baniak connects with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baniak misses with a straight right.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Baniak.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baniak misses with a low kick.
Baniak throws a big shot that misses.
Baniak throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Herod wants to clinch.
Alek Herod is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baniak lands with a straight right. Herod didn't see that one coming.
Baniak throws a lazy right hand but Herod sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A swing and a miss from Baniak.
Herod shoots in for a double leg but Baniak sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Herod tries to clinch but Baniak is having none of it.
Bogdan Baniak seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Herod takes one on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baniak scores with a hook to the body. Herod takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Herod takes a jab right on the kisser.
Baniak scores with a hook.
Baniak fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baniak throws a front kick aimed at Herod's knee but Herod avoids it well.
Herod closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Baniak misses the jab.
Herod wants to clinch but Baniak slips to the side
and Baniak counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baniak cracks Herod with an open hand slap.
Herod tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Baniak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Baniak's corner calls for a 1-2. Baniak obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Herod avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herod scores with a one two! Baniak had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Herod drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Baniak cracks Herod with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Herod tries to clinch but Baniak moves out of range.
Baniak attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Baniak throws a leg kick but Herod checks it.
Herod defending well as Baniak loads up on a big left hand.
Baniak scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Herod moves out of range as Baniak strikes.
Baniak keeps the fight on the outside.
Baniak throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herod takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Herod changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Baniak tries to avoid it but Herod manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Baniak to the ground. Baniak escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alek Herod. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baniak lands with a nice body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baniak pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Baniak throws a leg kick but Herod sees it coming and moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Herod checks a leg kick.
Baniak stuffs the takedown.
Herod takes one on the button.
Baniak jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Baniak lands a slapping body shot.
Baniak misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bogdan Baniak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Herod checks a leg kick nicely.
Herod shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Baniak as he jumps to the side.
Baniak lands with a good body shot.
Bogdan Baniak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Herod walks into a stiff left hand from Baniak.
A clash of legs there as Herod blocks the low kick.
Herod ducks under a wild hook from Baniak.
Herod looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Baniak looks to land a body kick but Herod moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baniak loads up on a big right hand but Herod slips the punch.
Herod takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Baniak leaves Herod with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Herod fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alek Herod. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baniak lands a right hook to the body.
Herod defending well as Baniak loads up on a big left hand.
Herod avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Herod moves out of range of the leg kick from Baniak.
Baniak has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baniak stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Baniak wants it to stay on the feet.
Baniak connects with a single shot there.
Baniak scores with a jab to the jaw.
Baniak scores with the left hand. Herod knows he should have avoided that one.
Baniak throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baniak lands a slapping body shot.
Baniak throws a low kick but Herod moves out of range easily.
Baniak shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Herod closes the distance and clinches up with Baniak, looking for a takedown. Herod pushes Baniak against the cage but Baniak circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baniak tries to land a leg kick but Herod saw it coming and moves away.
Herod looks to clinch
and Baniak counters with a one-two to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Baniak lands a glancing blow to the side of Herod's head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Baniak.
Baniak jabs Herod to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Baniak scores with a body shot.
Herod slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herod on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Herod defending well as Baniak loads up on a big left hand.
No luck for Herod with that takedown attempt.
A jab from Baniak does it's job there.
Baniak circles away from the clinch attempt.
Baniak keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nice jab there from Baniak.
Baniak thuds a left hand into Herod's body.
Herod misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Baniak throws a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baniak defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Herod.
Baniak works over Herod's head and body with a nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baniak fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Herod on the side of the head.
Herod avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Baniak misses with a low kick.
Baniak jabs at Herod's body.
Baniak tries to land a leg kick but Herod saw it coming and moves away.
Baniak looks to land a combination but Herod avoids it well.
Herod fails with a takedown attempt.
Alek Herod has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baniak swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Herod.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bogdan Baniak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Baniak 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 25:28
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 25:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 25:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bogdan Baniak!
Bogdan Baniak seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.