PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Riley Glover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Banting (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Glover
vs
Banting

186 cm
20
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

185 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riley Glover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jon Banting!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Glover closes the distance and clinches.

Banting manages to pull guard.
Glover missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Banting wants to stand and escape but Glover is having none of it.
Banting is wriggling around but Glover manages to pass to half guard.
Glover throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Glover throwing shots but Banting is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banting is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Glover throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Glover decides to return to a standing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Glover throws a head kick but Banting moves out of range.
Banting pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Glover blocks a head kick by Banting.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Banting.
Nice uppercut lands for Glover. That snapped Banting's head back.
Jon Banting seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Glover attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Banting instigates a clinch.

Banting breaks the clinch.
Banting fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Banting drives through and clinches with Glover against the cage.

Banting pulls Glover into guard.
Glover throws a big elbow that misses.

Banting scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banting throws a head kick but Glover moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banting avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Glover pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Glover throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Glover throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Banting has managed to clinch.
Glover tries for a takedown but Banting manages to get underhooks.

Glover pulls guard effortlessly.
Glover wants to sweep here but Banting controlling him for the moment.
Glover is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Glover looking for a guillotine here but Banting defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Glover controls Banting momentarily but Banting frees himself.
Banting trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Glover manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Banting is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Glover presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Glover changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Banting fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Banting closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Glover is looking to control Banting's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Glover avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Glover actively working from the bottom here.
Glover is breathing heavily.
Glover holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Banting missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Glover has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Banting is working away from the top position though.
Banting wants to lay and pray for a moment but Glover keeps working.
Banting thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Glover desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Banting missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Banting dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Banting gets the takedown into side control.
Banting trying to control the position but Glover is working away.
Banting working away.
Banting connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Glover some visible discomfort.
Banting throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Glover struggling a bit here.
Glover is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Glover sneaks back into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banting missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Banting has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Glover trying to control but Banting postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Glover trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Poor strikes thrown by Banting there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Glover throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Banting looking to finish with strikes here!
Banting throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Glover tries to lock up and control but Banting gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Glover 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.
Glover slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Glover controlling the position well.

Glover has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Banting is on him like a limpet, forcing Glover back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Glover tries to pull guard but Banting forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Banting is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Glover is trying to pull guard but Banting has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riley Glover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Banting manages to break the clinch.
Banting cracks the inside of Glover's front leg.
Banting blocks a head kick by Glover.
Glover throws a jab when Banting was well out of range.

Banting shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Glover is trying to defend but Banting finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Glover is trying to control but can't.
Banting is stalling here. Glover is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Banting seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Glover has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Glover landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banting is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Glover has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Banting is looking for a sweep.
Banting taking punishment in the form of punches.
Glover is working Banting over with some ground and pound from side control.
Banting is trying to control Glover's posture but Glover avoids it.
Banting wants to get back to his feet but Glover is dominant here and he's now got Banting's back!
Banting wants to control his opponent's hands but Glover gets his hands free.
Jon Banting has got the better of the ground game so far.
Banting trying to get back to his feet but Glover is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banting is trying to remain composed but Glover is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

Banting defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Banting wants to get back to his feet.
Glover lands strikes to the head.
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 Riley Glover will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Banting lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Glover circles away quickly and effectively.
Jon Banting is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Glover checks a low kick from Banting.
A head kick from Banting lands but Glover takes it in his stride.

Banting shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Glover is looking to improve his position.
Glover is concentrating on defense, preventing Banting from advancing position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Glover manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Glover managing to control the position.
Glover is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Glover has his hands on Banting's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Banting accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Banting got a little sloppy there for a moment and Glover has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Banting has managed to get both his arms back between Glover's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Glover is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Banting is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Glover avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Glover pulls Banting in to control the position.
Glover looking to control.
Glover is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Banting throws a sloppy head kick and Glover moves out of range easily.
Banting misses with a jab, cross combination.
Glover is looking to clinch but Banting is avoiding it.

Banting clinches.

Glover turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Glover manages to end up in side control.

Glover tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Glover has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Glover prevents Banting from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Glover stands up.

Banting clinches.
Banting gets underhooks to prevent Glover's takedown attempt.

Banting breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Banting lands a head kick. Glover smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Banting throws a sloppy head kick and Glover moves out of range easily.
Banting misses with a wild combination.
Glover shoots for a double leg takedown but Banting sprawls well. He's pushed Glover's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Glover checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Banting rushes Glover and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Glover is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Banting pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riley Glover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banting lands a nice knee to the body.

Banting pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Glover, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Banting avoids the head kick by Glover.
Banting throws a sloppy head kick and Glover moves out of range easily.
Banting's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Banting duly obliges.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Banting pulls guard.
Glover is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Banting is trying to keep Glover in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Banting comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Banting 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Banting!