PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bob Backlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banner comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Pump Up The Jam kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Bruce Banner has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Backlund
vs
Banner

189 cm
33
189 lbs
14 - 14 - 0

180 cm
43
175 lbs
27 - 18 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

KnockOut

Tokyo United Fightwear

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 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bob Backlund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruce Banner!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backlund tries a low kick but Banner avoids it.
Backlund is looking to slow Banner down with leg kicks.
Backlund throws a leg kick

and Banner counters with a nice double leg into side control. Backlund won't be happy with that.
We've been hearing good reports from Backlund's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Backlund manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Backlund trying to mount his opponent but Banner defends it.

Backlund is trying to work for a kimura but Banner is defending well.
Backlund wants to pass to mount but Banner is defending the position.

Backlund is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Banner defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backlund trying to pass the guard but Banner defending well.

Backlund is working for a kimura but Banner is defending it quite comfortably.

Backlund is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Backlund is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Banner has managed to free his arm - good work.

Backlund is looking for a kimura but Banner is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Backlund to get the leverage.

Backlund is trying to work for a kimura but Banner is defending well.
Banner slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backlund stands and throws Banner's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Banner is looking to regain half guard here but Backlund keeps moving and retains side control.

Backlund is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Banner knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Banner manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Backlund gets back to full guard.
My spies in Animal House inform me that Banner has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Backlund is trying to hold Banner in close to prevent damage but Banner has managed to pass into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Banner is thwarting Backlund's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bob Backlund will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A clash of legs there as Banner blocks the low kick.
Banner stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Backlund.
Backlund throws a leg kick but Banner sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Banner tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Backlund lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Banner has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Banner and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Banner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Banner circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner lunges at Backlund with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Backlund's hand.
Backlund throws a body kick that misses.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Banner, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backlund takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Backlund, right into the meat.
Banner with a hook.
Banner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Banner's jab looks to have found its range, popping Backlund under the eye.

Banner closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Backlund did well to prevent Banner getting side control.
Backlund makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Backlund.
Backlund is trying to hold Banner in close to prevent damage but Banner has managed to pass into half guard.

Banner is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backlund is trying to maintain the position but Banner is very close to passing his half guard.
Banner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banner is keen to just control but Backlund is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backlund is holding on to half guard well.
Banner trying to control the action but Backlund is working from the bottom.
Backlund regains full guard. Nicely done.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Banner. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Backlund had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Banner defends it easily.
Banner postures up and lands a big shot to Backlund's brow.
Banner advances position into side control!
Bruce Banner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Backlund struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Banner are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Backlund struggling a bit here.
Backlund is not content to let Banner control the position.
You can see the frustration on Backlund's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Backlund is looking to regain half guard here but Banner keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Backlund is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Banner misses with a hook.

Banner 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.
Banner wants to control from the top but Backlund keeps moving.
Banner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Backlund is keeping the position for now.
Backlund looking for a sweep. Not yet Backlund, not yet.
Backlund is trying to keep Banner in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Backlund is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backlund pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banner is keeping the position for now.
Banner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Backlund works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Backlund works his way into side control.
Banner tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Backlund tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Backlund moves into full mount!
Backlund seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Banner is holding on tight.

Backlund looking for a guillotine from mount but Banner is having none of it.
Banner is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner has given up his back. Will we see Backlund going for some submissions?

Banner preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Backlund.
Backlund is trying to stick to Banner's back but Banner is turning into Backlund. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Backlund's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Banner.

Backlund is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Backlund trying to keep a closed guard but Banner is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner stopping the sweep attempt from Backlund.
Backlund controls Banner momentarily but Banner frees himself.

Backlund had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Banner defends it easily.
Backlund trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Banner wants to pass the guard but Backlund is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bob Backlund.
I think Backlund 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bob Backlund!
Bob Backlund decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.