PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jess Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Butler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jess Banks has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Banks
vs
Butler

212 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jess Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Butler!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks scores with a one two! Butler had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Banks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Butler throws a sloppy body shot
and Butler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Butler throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Banks counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Butler swings for the body but Banks moves out of range.
Banks tries to clinch but Butler is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butler looks to score with a jab to the body but Banks is just out of range.
Butler looks to throw the jab but Banks is out of range.
Banks closes the distance looking to clinch

and Butler counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks is trying to stand.
Butler seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banks trying to hold on to Butler's head to control him but Butler postures up.
Butler is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Banks is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Butler's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Butler's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler wants to escape the position.
Banks is not going to allow Butler to sit and survive in this position.
I really don't envy Butler right now.
Butler looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Banks is looking for a rear naked choke here but Butler reverses the position brilliantly into Banks's guard!
Banks wants to get back to his feet but Butler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Butler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler wants to stand and escape but instead Banks has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Banks is looking to stand up but Butler won't let him.
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.
Butler looking for a sweep. Not yet Butler, not yet.

Butler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Butler looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Banks passes into half guard.

Banks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Butler doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Banks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butler is trying to maintain the position but Banks is very close to passing his half guard.
Butler gets full guard.

Banks drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Butler manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Banks has Butler in his guard.

Butler's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Butler will probably get the nod.
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.

Butler misses with a right hand
and Banks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Banks listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
James Butler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Butler throws out the jab.
Butler fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Butler misses with a hook
and Banks counters with a stiff right hand.
Butler throws a hook to the side of Banks's head but Banks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Butler misses.
Butler throws the left hand but Banks avoids the punch easily.
Banks is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Butler throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Banks swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler misses with a lunging right hand
and Banks counters with a left and a right that stings Butler.
Butler throws a right hand that misses
and Banks counters with a three punch combo that has Butler backing up. Butler nods at Banks to acknowledge the strikes.
Butler stuffs the takedown.
A shot to the body from Butler misses
and Banks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Butler is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Butler throws a predictable looking body shot
and Banks counters with a series of strikes. Butler will be more careful next time no doubt.
Banks blocks a jab.
Banks tries to clinch up.
Butler tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Butler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banks moves away.
Banks swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler misses with a left hand
and Banks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Butler tries for a takedown but Banks circles away easily
letting Banks counter with a right hand.
Butler throws a looping overhand right but Banks ducks down to avoid it.
Banks misses with a body shot.
Butler misses with a body shot.
Butler misses with a takedown attempt - Banks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Banks swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Jess Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Butler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banks.

Butler shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Banks is trying to defend but Butler finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Banks tries to get to full guard but Butler has control of the leg.
Butler trying to pass the guard but Banks defending well.
Butler takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Banks moves into full guard.
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.
Banks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Butler sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Banks controls Butler momentarily but Butler frees himself.
Butler would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Butler stops Banks from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Butler's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Banks connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Butler scrambles back to his feet.
Butler misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Butler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jess Banks dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Banks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Butler misses with a jab to the body
enabling Banks to counter with a crisp jab.
Butler swings widly with a right hand
and Banks counters with a left and a right that stings Butler.
Banks avoids the body shot from Butler.
Banks went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Butler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Butler leaves Banks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butler throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Banks counters with a nice body shot.
Butler misses with a left hand
and Banks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch but Butler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Butler swings widly with a right hand
and Banks counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Butler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banks moves away.
A counter left hand to the body from Banks misses its target.
Banks moves away from the strike by Butler.
Butler just misses with a punch to the body.
Banks seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Butler looks to land a right hand but Banks moved out of range.
Butler swings for the body but Banks moves out of range.
Banks tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Butler manages to circle out of the way.

Butler tries to keep at a distance but Banks has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks trying to stall but Butler improves his position.
Butler is looking to break free of the clinch but Banks has double underhooks.
Banks is trying to maintain a safe position but Butler gets an underhook and turns Banks into the cage.
Butler tries to pull guard but Banks won't allow it.
Banks tries to break the clinch but Butler is controlling the position.
Butler trying to land knees to the body.
Banks throws a head punch that misses.
Butler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banks.
Butler tries to break the clinch but Banks is controlling the position.
Butler trying to stall but Banks improves his position.
Butler fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Butler misses with a knee strike.
Butler can't get the takedown.
Jess Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Butler.
Banks gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Banks trying to stall but Butler improves his position.
Banks tries to stall but Butler uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Banks tries to break the clinch but Butler is controlling the position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Butler as Banks tries to tie him up.
Butler prevents Banks from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Butler looking for a takedown.
Banks is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Banks can't break the clinch.
Banks is looking to control Butler's arms but Butler gets an underhook and turns him. Now Banks has his back to the cage.
Butler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Banks's efforts to push away.
Butler missing with knees to the body.
Butler looking to stall.

Banks breaks from the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A jab from Butler misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jess Banks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Banks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jess Banks!