PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Gower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Banks
vs
Gower

170 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

165 cm
20
156 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jonathan Banks!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jeff Gower!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gower takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gower fails to land with a series of punches.
Banks appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Nice cross by Banks.
Gower walks into a straight right hand from Banks.
Gower moves in looking to clinch but Banks pushes him off.
Banks throwing a counter right hand but Gower manages to avoid it.
Gower uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Banks.
Banks just misses with a punch to the body.
Banks throws a body punch but Gower moves out of range.
Gower keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banks.
Gower tries to counter by closing the distance.
Banks lands a right hook to the body.
Banks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gower lands a jab to Banks's midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gower.
Banks misses with a wild body shot.
Banks is looking to wear down Gower with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Banks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gower.
Banks takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Gower clinches.
Banks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gower swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Banks has Gower pressed against the cage.
Gower lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Banks.
Gower misses with a punch on the inside.
Banks blocks a body shot from Gower.
Banks trying to stall but Gower improves his position.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Gower swings wildly with an uppercut but Banks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gower lands with a left to the head.
Banks tries to break the clinch but Gower is controlling the position.
Banks looking to stall.
Gower dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Gower misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks stalling against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Banks - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jonathan Banks.
Gower misses with a looping left.
Nice straight punches there by Banks. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Banks.
Gower throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gower moves in looking to clinch but Banks pushes him off.
Gower throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Banks has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Banks there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gower avoids the body shot from Banks.
Gower throws out a loose jab but Banks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Banks moves out of range as Gower strikes.
Gower avoids the body shot from Banks.
Banks's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gower under the eye.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gower throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Banks sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Banks throws a looping overhand right but Gower ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks scores with a decent looking hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gower. Banks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gower takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gower keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banks.
Banks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gower was well out of range. Poor timing from Banks.
Gower keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gower is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Gower takes one on the button.
Banks connects with a nice looking jab.
Banks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gower drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Gower takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A slow jab from Banks misses its intended target.
A lazy left from Banks finds it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gower fails in his attempt to clinch.
Banks drops his hands momentarily and Gower takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A lazy left from Banks finds it's target.
Banks misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gower uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Banks.
Banks scores with a body shot.
Banks missing with a left hand there. Gower was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Banks is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Banks connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gower. Gower circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Jab by Banks.
Gower tries to clinch
and Banks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gower cracks Banks with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Banks feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gowers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Banks lands a nice shot to the body.
Banks looks to land a right hand but Gower moved out of range.
Gower throws a hook to the side of Banks's head but Banks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Banks misses.
Banks lands a nice shot to the body.
Jonathan Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gower uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gower throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Gower closes the distance and clinches.
Banks lands a hook that snaps the head of Gower backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Banks dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gower avoids the body shot from Banks.
Gower scores with a crisp jab that stopped Banks in his tracks.
Gower gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Banks.
Banks misses with a hook. Gower ducked under it nicely.
Gower connects with a right hand. Banks shakes it off.
A slow jab from Gower misses its intended target.
Banks lands with a right hand.
Banks sizes up Gower with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Banks throws a lazy right hand but Gower sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gower tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Banks manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gower takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Banks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gower can do to turn this around?
Banks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Banks stuns Gower with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gower swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Gower instigates a clinch.
Banks blocks an uppercut.
I was talking to Banks's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Gower tries a body shot but Banks blocks it.
Gower misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks is looking to control Gower's arms but Gower gets an underhook and turns him. Now Banks has his back to the cage.
Gower lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Banks.
Gower scores with a shot to the side of Banks's head.
Gower has a couple of punches blocked by Banks.
Banks leaning against his opponent.

Banks manages to break the clinch.
Banks misses with a body shot.
Banks throws an overhand right that lands on Gower's shoulder, as Gower tries to avoid the shot.
Gower missing with a left hand there. Banks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gower moves out of range of the strikes.
Gower throws a poor cross that misses
and Banks counters with a left to the body.
Banks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gower blocks a jab.
Gower lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Gower uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Banks.
Gower is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Banks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Banks sets himself, and Gower steps forward looking for the clinch! Banks avoids it this time.
Banks sizes up Gower with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks keeps the fight on the outside.
Banks misses with a hook. Gower ducked under it nicely.
Banks fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A slow jab from Banks misses its intended target.
Banks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gower throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Banks throws a body shot but no joy.
Banks thows a left - swing and a miss!
Banks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gower throws out the jab.
Banks missing with a left hand there. Gower was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Banks misses with a straight left.
Banks connects with a single shot there.
Gower throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gower throws a jab when Banks was well out of range.
Gower looks to score with a jab to the body but Banks is just out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Banks. That snapped Gower's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gower lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Banks moves away from the strike by Gower.
A counter left hand to the body from Banks misses its target.
Gower throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Banks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gower has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Banks connects with a single shot there.
Gower tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gower throws a big shot that misses.
Banks looks to throw the jab but Gower is out of range.
Banks slips under a jab.
Banks getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Gower closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gower.
Banks trying to control the position but instead, Gower has worked for underhooks and has pushed Banks into the cage.
Gower swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gower has a couple of punches blocked by Banks.
Gower presses Banks against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Banks as Gower tries to tie him up.
Gower gets through Banks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Still in the clinch, Gower scores with a nice short uppercut.

Banks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Banks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gower.
It looked like Banks was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Banks with a nice cross.
Gower misses with a wild body shot.
Banks swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Banks connects with a jab.
Banks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gower misses with an uppercut. Banks saw that one coming.
Banks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gower.
Banks lands a jab to the head.
Gower keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gower misses with a hook. Banks ducked under it nicely.
Banks throws a shot from downtown. Gower moves away and avoids it.
Banks scores with a sloppy right hand. Gower should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Banks dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gower scores with a jab to the jaw.
Banks slips a jab and a cross from Gower.
An attempted straight right counter from Banks misses the target.

Gower darts in and clinches Banks up against the cage.
Gower misses with a punch to the body.
Gower creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Banks working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gower lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gower throws a punch but it's blocked by Banks.
Banks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Banks wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Banks blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gower throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gower lands a nice uppercut.

Banks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Banks blocks a jab.
Banks works Gower's body with a nice hook.
Banks misses with an uppercut. Gower saw that one coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banks throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks lands with a nice body punch.
Banks throws a jab when Gower was well out of range.
Gower misses with a looping left.
Banks was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gower misses the shot to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Banks on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Banks thuds his right hand into Gower's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A punch combination from Gower misses.
A slow jab from Gower misses its intended target.
Gower on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A slow jab from Banks misses its intended target.

Gower moves into the clinch.
Jeff Gower seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gower has Banks pushed against the cage.
Banks misses with the head strike.
Banks blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gower can't find room to land a body shot as Banks controls the action.
Gower misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gower struggles to land a body shot inside as Banks controls his hands.
Banks is trying to stall.
Still in the clinch, Banks scores with a nice short uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Banks.
Gower working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body punch from Gower - that landed with a thud.
A short left from Banks.
A head punch on the inside from Gower fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banks.
Gower struggles to land a body shot inside as Banks controls his hands.
Gower goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gower goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Gower digs a right hand underneath Banks's ribcage. Banks let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gower tries to throw a body punch but Banks avoids it by throwing Gower back against the cage.
Gower doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Banks is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gower is keeping busy.
Banks stalling the fight.
Banks is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gower is keeping busy.
Banks is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gower is keeping busy.
Banks can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
A short left from Banks.
Gower digs a right hand underneath Banks's ribcage. Banks let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Banks is trying to maintain a safe position but Gower gets an underhook and turns Banks into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jonathan Banks.
Gower looks to land a left hand but Banks moved out of range nicely.
Banks takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Banks throws a body punch but Gower moves out of range.
Banks moves out of range of the strikes.
Gower lands a right hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks lands a lovely overhand right.
Gower tries to clinch there but Banks circles away.
Jonathan Banks is winning the standup battle so far.
Gower gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gower tries to clinch but Banks moves out of range.
Gower takes a swing at Banks's ribcage but misses.
Banks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gower missing with a left hand there. Banks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Banks swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Banks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Banks walks into a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Banks throws a body punch but Gower moves out of range.
Banks drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nice defenses there by Gower.
Gower pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Banks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gower tries to counter with a clinch but Banks shakes him off and moves away.
Gower avoids the body shot from Banks.
Gower keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gower wants to counter with a clinch but Banks pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Jeff Gower just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Banks lands a glancing blow to the side of Gower's head.
Gower scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Gower gets a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gower.
Banks wants to stall.
Gower misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Banks is trying to maintain a safe position but Gower gets an underhook and turns Banks into the cage.
Banks lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gower gets through Banks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gower working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks leaning his opponent against the cage.
Banks is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jonathan Banks.
Banks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gower throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Banks bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Banks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Banks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Banks throws a body punch but Gower moves out of range.
Banks gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gower.
Banks jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Gower clinches up against the cage.
Gower swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Banks prevents a body shot from Gower.
Gower is trying to stall.
Nice body punch from Gower.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Banks.
Banks blocks an uppercut.
Banks blocks a body shot from Gower.
Gower doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Banks displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gower up against the cage.
Banks gets through Gower's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Banks takes a shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gower lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Banks taking a breather.
Banks trying to stall but Gower improves his position.
Banks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Banks tries to stall but Gower uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gower throws a head punch that misses.
Gower lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Banks backwards.

Banks is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks stalling in the clinch but Gower improves position.
Oh Banks is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jonathan Banks.
Gower throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Banks throws a looping overhand right but Gower ducks down to avoid it.
Banks uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gower.
Banks walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gower stuns Banks with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gower tries to land a front kick but Banks steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Banks takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gower throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Banks looks to land a left hand but Gower moved out of range nicely.
Gower is looking to clinch.
Banks bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gower connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Banks momentarily.
Gower throws a right and a left that Banks avoids nicely.
Banks lands a jab.
Gower throws a jab but it's blocked by Banks.
Gower drops Banks with a big left hand! Banks is injured, injured bad! Gower jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jeff Gower! Jeff Gower retains his featherweight title!
An intense looking Jeff Gower took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Gon' boy cry. Maybe god didnt listen to your prayers. Maybe hes embarrassed by your performance. Now im the champ. I better get that justin beiber money. I aint fightin' for this monopoly money anymore.'.