PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Morys Bankowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryuuichi Toda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bankowski comes into the arena with Rocket Man blaring out of the sound system. Ryuuichi Toda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bankowski
vs
Toda

171 cm
28
170 lbs
7 - 4 - 1

177 cm
20
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

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 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Morys Bankowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ryuuichi Toda!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bankowski loads up on a big right hand but Toda slips the punch.
Bankowski tries to clinch but Toda is having none of it.
Bankowski throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Toda dives in and grabs Bankowski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bankowski pushes down on Toda's head and hops out.
Bankowski cracks Toda with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Toda shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bankowski sprawls well. Bankowski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Toda gets slowly back to his feet.
Bankowski looks to land a right hand but Toda moved out of range.

Bankowski gets caught napping as Toda dives in and scores a takedown. Bankowski manages to retain guard.
Bankowski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Toda sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Toda gets to his feet - Bankowski follows without any prompting.

Toda shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bankowski is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toda takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bankowski is looking to escape.
Toda content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bankowski looks like he's trying to stand up.
Toda keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bankowski throws a shot from downtown. Toda moves away and avoids it.
Bankowski pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bankowski throws an overhand right that lands on Toda's shoulder, as Toda tries to avoid the shot.
Toda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bankowski throws a jab but it's blocked by Toda.
Bankowski fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Toda moves away from the strike by Bankowski.
Toda is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bankowski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Morys Bankowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryuuichi Toda.
Bankowski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jab from Bankowski.
Toda tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bankowski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Toda somewhat.

Bankowski shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Toda napping and manages to drive through into side control!
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!
Toda tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Toda keeps trying to improve his position.
Bankowski tries to stand but Toda is controlling his head.
Toda is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bankowski is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bankowski wants to stand but Toda is controlling his arm.

Bankowski stands up and beckons Toda to his feet.
Toda goes for a double leg but Bankowski avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bankowski continues to drive forward.
Bankowski is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Toda fails with the takedown.
Toda ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bankowski throws out a powerful jab.
Bankowski tries to clinch up but Toda circles away and keeps his distance.
Toda fails with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Bankowski misses the target.
Toda shoots in but no luck this time.
Bankowski throwing a counter right hand but Toda manages to avoid it.
Toda misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bankowski throws a hook to the side of Toda's head but Toda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Toda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bankowski.
No luck for Toda with that takedown attempt.
Toda throws a body shot but no joy.
Bankowski is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Toda closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Toda lands in his opponent's guard.

Toda gets to his feet. Bankowski looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Bankowski pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Toda appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch 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!
Toda scores with a hook to the body. Bankowski takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Toda swings for the body but Bankowski moves out of range.
Bankowski scores with a jab to the head.
Toda slips under a jab from Bankowski.
Toda tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Toda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bankowski.
Toda throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Toda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bankowski was well out of range. Poor timing from Toda.
Bankowski misses with an uppercut. Toda saw that one coming.
Toda's coach down at Heart Cave was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Toda's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Ryuuichi Toda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bankowski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Toda.
Toda jabs Bankowski to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Toda shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bankowski as he avoids it easily.
Toda fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Toda moves out of range of the strikes.
Toda swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morys Bankowski dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Toda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bankowski was well out of range. Poor timing from Toda.
Bankowski throws a jab when Toda was well out of range.
Bankowski misses the jab.

Bankowski is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Toda's half guard.
Bankowski wants to stand up but Toda has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Bankowski blocks the strikes from Toda.
Bankowski wants to stand up but Toda has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Bankowski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Toda can do to turn this around?
The fighters are battling for position here. Toda manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bankowski trying to stand up but can't free himself from Toda's guard.
Toda is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bankowski wants to get up but he can't break Toda's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Toda connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bankowski jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Toda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bankowski.
Toda will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Toda fails with the takedown.
Bankowski thows a left - swing and a miss!
Toda keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Toda lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Toda feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Toda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bankowski wants to stand but Toda is controlling the position.
Toda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bankowski is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toda prevents Bankowski from getting back to his feet.
Toda slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Toda scores with a takedown into Bankowski's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Toda controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bankowski is working an open guard so Toda takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Toda gets caught napping as Bankowski dives in and scores a takedown. Toda manages to retain guard.
Bankowski wants to stand but Toda has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Toda is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Toda is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bankowski looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ryuuichi Toda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Toda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Toda lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Toda seems content to control.
Bankowski tries to kick Toda off but Toda keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Toda throws a strike but Bankowski avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Toda pushing down on Bankowski's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Toda decides to stand up.
Toda fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bankowski avoids the body shot from Toda.
Bankowski throws a jab but it's blocked by Toda.
Toda slips under a jab.
Toda now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Toda fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Morys Bankowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryuuichi Toda.
Toda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bankowski pinned against the cage. Bankowski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A big right from Bankowski misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryuuichi Toda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Bankowski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Toda looks for a takedown but Bankowski sprawls well.
Bankowski stuffs the takedown attempt from Toda. Toda gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bankowski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Bankowski looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
It looks like Bankowski is going to stand back up.
Toda moves into full guard.

Bankowski gets to his feet. Toda looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toda looks to score with a jab to the body but Bankowski is just out of range.

Bankowski feints and as Toda raises his hands in defense, Bankowski changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Toda pulls Bankowski in close to his closed guard and prevents Bankowski from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bankowski tries to stand but Toda is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toda looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bankowski has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Toda is proving hard to escape from.
Toda is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Toda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bankowski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bankowski wants to get up but he can't break Toda's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bankowski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Bankowski decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Toda ducks under a wild hook from Bankowski.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Toda.
Morys Bankowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryuuichi Toda.
Bankowski tries to clinch but Toda is having none of it.
Toda lands with an overhand left.

Toda darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Bankowski manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Toda keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Toda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Toda is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bankowski gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Toda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Toda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Toda tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bankowski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Toda somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toda is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bankowski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bankowski half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Bankowski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Toda shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bankowski sprawls well. Bankowski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Toda gets slowly back to his feet.
Bankowski throws a hook to the side of Toda's head but Toda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bankowski throws a looping overhand right but Toda ducks down to avoid it.
Toda walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Toda dodges the punch combination from Bankowski.
Bankowski loads up on a big right hand but Toda slips the punch.
Toda slips under a jab.
Toda misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bankowski misses with a hook.
Toda is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bankowski rather than just go for the knockout.
Toda looks to land a right hand but Bankowski moved out of range.
Bankowski looks to land a combination but Toda avoids it well.
Toda feints the counter takedown.
Bankowski moves in looking to clinch but Toda pushes him off.
Toda defending well as Bankowski loads up on a big left hand.
Toda swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toda ducks under a wild hook from Bankowski.
Toda misses with an uppercut. Bankowski saw that one coming.
Bankowski misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Toda is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bankowski's half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Toda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bankowski is trying to stand up here but Toda is controlling him well.
Toda is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Toda with the ground and pound but Bankowski uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Toda controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bankowski wants to stand and escape but Toda is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morys Bankowski showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bankowski 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Morys Bankowski!
After winning the bout, Morys Bankowski thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.