PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Robin Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Duterte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Duterte's choice of entrance music: Tayo ay Dabawenyo. Robin Banks has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Banks
vs
Duterte

225 cm
28
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

179 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Robin Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Duterte!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Banks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Duterte is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Banks gets tackled into the cage by Duterte. Duterte maintains the clinch.
Duterte misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banks.
Banks gets through Duterte's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Banks breaks the clinch.
Banks fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Duterte checks it well.
Duterte is trying to counter with his kicks.
Banks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Duterte.
Duterte avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Banks scores with a jab.
Duterte moves in looking to clinch but Banks pushes him off.
Banks throws a big counter combination but Duterte scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Nice jab there from Banks.
Banks connects with a crisp jab.
Duterte shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duterte throws out a leg kick but Banks moves out of range and Duterte only half commits.
Banks connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Duterte momentarily.
Banks throws a series of punches but Duterte avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks throws the left hand but Duterte avoids the punch easily.
Duterte fails in his attempt to clinch.
Banks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Duterte.
Banks buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Banks slips a jab and a cross from Duterte.
Banks is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Banks connects with a looping right hand.
Duterte keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banks.
Banks throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Duterte.

Duterte is rocked!

Duterte drives through and clinches with Banks against the cage.
Duterte trying to land knees to the body.
Banks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Banks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Duterte tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Banks lands a right hand.
Duterte misses with a punch to the body.
Duterte lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
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!
A right hand to the body from Banks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks misses with a hook to the ribs.

Banks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Duterte takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Duterte fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Banks, pushing him back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Banks.

It looks like Rodrigo Duterte has been cut.
Banks avoids the elbow strike from Duterte, against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Banks.

Banks breaks from the clinch.
Banks getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Banks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Duterte throws a series of punches but Banks avoids them all with ease.
Duterte blocks a head kick by Banks.
Banks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Banks avoids the head kick by Duterte.
Robin Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Banks clinches.

Banks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duterte tries a head kick but it misses.
Banks smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Banks misses with a hook
and Banks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banks connects with a jab.
Banks is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Banks is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Banks tests Duterte's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Duterte moves out of range as Banks strikes.
Duterte tries a quick counter leg kick but Banks is wise to it.
Banks is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Duterte lands with a hook. Banks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Banks thumps Duterte with a low kick.
Duterte takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Duterte throws a head kick that misses.
Banks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Duterte is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Duterte uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Banks.
Duterte shapes to counter with a head kick.
Banks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duterte blocks a head kick by Banks.
That kick from Banks tenderised Duterte's leg. Duterte is trying to keep his angry face on.
Duterte rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Banks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Banks moves into the clinch successfully.
Duterte is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Banks is defending well for now.
Banks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Duterte has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Banks seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Duterte can turn it around.

Banks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Banks scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Banks throws a right hand that misses
and Duterte cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Duterte moves in looking to clinch but Banks pushes him off.
Banks bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Duterte's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Duterte fails to land with a series of punches.
Duterte doesn't manage to clinch there - Banks circles away.

Banks rushes Duterte and presses him up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Banks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robin Banks dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Duterte's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Banks misses with a hook
and Duterte counters with a nice low kick that buckles Banks's knee momentarily.
Jab, jab by Banks - just one landing.

Duterte takes the fight into the clinch.
Banks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Duterte can do to turn this around?
Banks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Duterte blocks a body shot from Banks.

Banks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Duterte tries to clinch there but Banks circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Duterte. Banks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Duterte tries to land a front kick but Banks steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Banks scores with a decent looking hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Duterte momentarily.
Duterte is looking to clinch.
Banks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice uppercut there from Banks.
Banks moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Duterte is still on wobbly legs! Can Banks finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Banks.
Banks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Duterte takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Banks throws a head kick but Duterte moves out of range.
Banks lands with an uppercut that bounces Duterte off the cage and back into range.
Duterte tries to close the distance and clinch up but Banks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Duterte moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Banks scores with a nice strike.
Banks will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Banks dips to his left and cracks Duterte with an uppercut!
Banks throws a head kick but Duterte moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banks misses with a low kick as Duterte jumps back.
Duterte punishes Banks's body with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duterte tries to clinch but Banks is having none of it.
Banks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Duterte seems to have recovered his senses.

Duterte gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Robin Banks has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Banks creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Banks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Duterte fakes the leg kick and cracks Banks in the body.
Duterte throws a series of punches but Banks avoids them all with ease.

Banks clinches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Duterte throws an elbow but misses.
Banks avoiding damage as Duterte throws knees to the body.
Banks avoiding damage as Duterte throws knees to the body.
Banks managing to block the knees to the body from Duterte.
Banks misses with a body punch.
Duterte tries a knee to the head but Banks blocks it.
Banks misses with a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Duterte.

Banks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Duterte gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Duterte.

Banks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Banks.
Duterte slips a jab and a cross from Banks.
Duterte shapes to counter with a head kick.
Duterte gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Banks missing with a left hand there. Duterte was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Banks dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Duterte. That did some damage!

Banks rushes Duterte and presses him up against the cage.
Banks digs a right hand into Duterte's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Duterte's gas tank.
Duterte lands with a light punch inside.
Banks wants to stall.
Banks scores with an uppercut up the middle.
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!
Duterte misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Duterte tries to clinch up but Banks circles away and keeps his distance.
Banks throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Duterte counters with a series of strikes. Banks will be more careful next time no doubt.
Duterte needs to keep his hands up - Banks had a free shot at his head there.
Banks connects with a crisp jab.
Duterte tries to close the distance and clinch but Banks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Robin Banks is winning the standup battle so far.
Duterte throws a sloppy head kick and Banks moves out of range easily.
Banks is looking to counter punch.
Rodrigo Duterte is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Banks shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Duterte misses with a hook to the body
and Banks counters with a series of strikes. Duterte will be more careful next time no doubt.
Duterte avoids the head kick by Banks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banks misses with a few strikes there.
Duterte avoids the head kick by Banks.
Banks misses with an uppercut. Duterte saw that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robin Banks dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Duterte's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

Banks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Duterte sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Banks stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Duterte tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Duterte throws a series of punches but Banks avoids them all with ease.
Banks moves into range and connects with a jab.
Duterte just misses with a punch to the body.
Duterte tries to clinch there but Banks circles away.
Banks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Duterte connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Duterte fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duterte takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice shot by Banks.
Banks lands a head shot.
Duterte buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Banks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Duterte throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duterte takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Duterte dodges the punch combination from Banks.
Duterte is looking for the big counter here.
Banks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Banks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Duterte.
Duterte misses with a body kick.
Duterte has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Banks swats away the attempt to clinch by Duterte.
Banks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As Banks backs off Duterte throws a huge counter combo but Banks manages to avoid it all.
Duterte feints and then cracks Banks's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Banks down.
Banks looks to land a right hand but Duterte moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks swinging wildly here.
Duterte pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Banks with a hook.
Duterte on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Duterte uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banks.
Banks cracks Duterte with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A clash of legs there as Banks blocks the low kick.
Duterte throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Banks scores with a decent looking hook.
Duterte uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banks.
As Banks backs off Duterte throws a huge counter combo but Banks manages to avoid it all.
Duterte lands a leg kick that knocks Banks off balance momentarily.
Duterte gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Banks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks scores with a nice strike.
Duterte throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Banks is looking to slow Duterte down with leg kicks.
Banks looks to throw the jab but Duterte is out of range.
Banks falls off balance throwing a combination
and Duterte counters with a body kick.
Banks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Duterte.
Duterte throws a leg kick that misses.
Banks avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fighters circling - Banks throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A countering left hand to the body from Duterte misses.
Banks misses with a looping left.
Banks cracks Duterte with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Duterte clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks lands an elbow that stopped Duterte in his tracks for a moment.
Banks blocks an elbow strike.
Banks wants to break free but Duterte has control.

Banks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Duterte fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Banks, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Duterte trying to land knees to the body.

Banks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Duterte is looking to clinch but Banks is avoiding it.
Duterte tries a head kick but it misses.
Banks was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Banks misses with a head kick.

Banks clinches up against the cage.
Duterte misses with a hook to the ribs.
Duterte scores a nice knee to the body.
Robin Banks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Still in the clinch, Duterte scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rodrigo Duterte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Duterte prevents a body shot from Banks.
Duterte creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robin Banks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Banks, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robin Banks!
After the fight, Robin Banks was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.