PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Trinidad Elliott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Elliott
vs
Banks

177 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

166 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Trinidad Elliott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Banks!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks feints a jab promting Elliott to slip. Banks then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Elliott slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Banks lands with a nice combination. Elliott backs away looking to recover.
Banks slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Elliott shoots in looking for a takedown. Banks tries to sprawl out of it but Elliott keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Banks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Banks connects with the punch.

Banks moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Banks gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Elliott is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Elliott keeps control of Banks as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Elliott prevents Banks from breaking the clinch.
Elliott is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Banks to keep the fight standing.
Banks tries for a takedown. No joy.

Banks pulls guard effortlessly.
Banks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Banks tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elliott wants to stand but Banks has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Banks trying to keep a closed guard but Elliott is proving a slippery customer.
Banks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Elliott is controlling him.

Banks is working an open guard so Elliott takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Banks has taken the fight to the clinch.
Elliott prevents the takedown attempt.
Trinidad Elliott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Banks.

Banks manages to pull guard.
Banks looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elliott distracts Banks with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Elliott stands up from Banks's guard - Elliott perhaps looking for a knockout.
Elliott swats away the attempt to clinch by Banks.

Elliott closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Elliott wants to stand but Banks has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Banks trying to control but Elliott postures up.
Banks is looking to escape.

Elliott decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elliott darts in looking for a takedown but Banks gets double underhooks and turns Elliott into the cage.
Banks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A counter left hand to the body from Elliott misses its target.

Banks moves into the clinch successfully.
A short uppercut from Banks.
Banks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Banks manages to break the clinch.
Elliott shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Banks as he avoids it easily.

Elliott closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Elliott wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Banks fails with a takedown attempt.
Banks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Banks scores with a three punch combo!
Banks misses with a double jab
and Elliott counters with a head kick. That will keep Banks thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Elliott shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Banks manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Banks is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Banks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Banks.
Banks is pushing Elliott up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Banks fails to pull guard.
Banks is breathing heavily.
Banks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A bit of stalling here from Banks.

Elliott manages to pull guard.
Trinidad Elliott overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elliott is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Banks defends well.
Banks working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Banks stands up over Elliott, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Elliott has a closed guard, preventing Banks from standing up.
Banks looking to sit in guard and control but Elliott gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Elliott gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banks closes the distance and pushes Elliott back into the cage.
Banks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Banks tries to break the clinch but Elliott is controlling the position.

Banks jumps into guard, dragging Elliott to the mat.
Elliott is looking to stand up but Banks won't let him.
Banks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Elliott.
Elliott postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Banks looking to control but Elliott passes into half guard.
Elliott working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Elliott wants to work for an arm triangle but Banks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Banks is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elliott tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Banks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Elliott winds up and cracks Banks with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Elliott not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Elliott looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Elliott stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Banks to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Trinidad Elliott will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Banks rushes Elliott and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Banks wants a takedown.
Elliott drops down looking for an ankle pick but Banks pulls his leg out and moves away.
Banks shoots in looking for a takedown. Elliott tries to sprawl out of it but Banks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Elliott manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Elliott feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elliott 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.
Banks cracks Elliott with a good jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banks closes the distance and clinches.
Elliott has Banks pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Banks manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Banks gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Elliott has his feet on Banks's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Banks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Banks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Banks throws out a counter right but Elliott avoids it with no problem.

Elliott shoots in and bounces Banks off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
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!

Banks has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Elliott should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Banks has tightened it up now! Elliott should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Paul Banks!