PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demir Kartal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Banks
vs
Kartal

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jonathan 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, Demir Kartal!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Banks throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Banks swings for the body but Kartal moves out of range.
Kartal is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Banks lands with a straight right. Kartal didn't see that one coming.
Jonathan Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banks looks to score with a jab to the body but Kartal is just out of range.
Banks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Banks lands a jab.
Banks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kartal sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kartal changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kartal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Banks.
Banks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kartal moves away.
Banks jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kartal takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kartal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kartal drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Banks defends it well.
Banks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Banks loads up on a big right hand but Kartal slips the punch.
Kartal tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kartal displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Banks throws out the jab.
Banks jabs Kartal right on the nose. Kartal blinks but takes it well.
Kartal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice defenses there by Kartal.
Banks throws a shot from downtown. Kartal moves away and avoids it.
Kartal staying out of range there.
Kartal with the counter takedown but Banks avoids it easily.
Banks throws a looping overhand right but Kartal ducks down to avoid it.
Kartal thows a left - swing and a miss!
Banks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kartal.
Kartal doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Banks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Banks jabs Kartal right on the nose. Kartal blinks but takes it well.
Banks throws out a loose jab but Kartal uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kartal uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banks.
Banks throws a lazy right hand but Kartal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Banks lands a slapping body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banks lands with a straight right. Kartal didn't see that one coming.
Kartal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Banks.
Kartal changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Banks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kartal.
Banks throws a looping overhand right but Kartal ducks down to avoid it.
Kartal with the counter takedown but Banks avoids it easily.
Kartal slips under a jab.
Kartal changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kartal drops his hands momentarily and Banks takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Banks just misses with a punch to the body.
Kartal ducks under a wild hook from Banks.
Banks lands a glancing blow to the side of Kartal's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Banks. Kartal does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kartal uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banks.
Kartal wants to counter with a clinch but Banks pushes him away.
Banks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Banks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kartal sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kartal tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Banks takes a swing at Kartal's ribcage but misses.
Banks scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Jonathan Banks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kartal misses with a hook.
Banks appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Banks looks to land a left hand but Kartal moved out of range nicely.
Kartal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kartal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banks.

Kartal shoots in and gets a takedown into Banks's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banks looking for a sweep. Not yet Banks, not yet.
Kartal is looking to work some ground and pound but Banks has wrist control.
Kartal sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Banks's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kartal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kartal is trying to control. Banks wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Banks is trying to get back to full guard.
Banks is trying to maintain the position but Kartal is very close to passing his half guard.
Banks is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kartal is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kartal lands with a punch from half guard.
Kartal is thwarting Banks's attempts to control the position.
Kartal is nestled in close to Banks, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Banks is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Banks holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kartal is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kartal slips a nice elbow through Banks's hands, connecting with Banks's forehead.
Kartal working Banks over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Banks dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kartal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Banks.
Jonathan Banks is winning the standup battle so far.
Kartal throws a jab when Banks was well out of range.
Kartal ducks under a wild hook from Banks.
Banks cracks Kartal with a good jab.
Kartal looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A punch combination from Kartal misses.
Banks throws a shot from downtown. Kartal moves away and avoids it.
Banks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kartal slips under a jab from Banks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kartal avoids the body shot from Banks.
Banks moves out of range of the strikes.
Banks bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kartal's head backwards.
Banks lands a really nice looking cross but Kartal seems unphased.

Kartal is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kartal throws a shot from downtown. Banks moves away and avoids it.
Banks lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kartal is still on wobbly legs! Can Banks finish him?
Kartal moves away from the strike by Banks.
And Kartal tries to counter it with a takedown but Banks pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Banks drops Kartal with a big left hand! Kartal is injured, injured bad! Banks jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jonathan Banks!