PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brian Fantana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruce Banner has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Fantana
vs
Banner

165 cm
32
144 lbs
18 - 6 - 2

165 cm
32
145 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

My$tic Clothing ~ (`10%Laundry`)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Fantana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bruce Banner!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fantana looks to land a left hand but Banner moved out of range nicely.

Banner instigates a clinch.
A short right from Fantana.
Fantana throws a punch but it's blocked by Banner.
Banner throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Fantana tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Banner's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Fantana fails to land.
Banner taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Banner prevents Fantana from breaking the clinch.
Fantana doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fantana works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Fantana lands a right hand.
Banner lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fantana working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Fantana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fantana throws an overhand right that lands on Banner's shoulder, as Banner tries to avoid the shot.
Banner wants to clinch.
Banner cracks Fantana with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fantana.
Fantana just misses with a punch to the body.

Banner forces Fantana back against the cage and clinches.
Banner lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Fantana misses with the head strike.
Fantana dodges an elbow strike from Banner.
Fantana wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Banner has him pressed against the cage.
Fantana lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Banner prevents Fantana from breaking the clinch.
Banner throws an elbow that misses.
Banner effectively controlling the action here.
Banner throws an elbow but it misses.
Banner lands an elbow inside.
Fantana lands a hook that snaps the head of Banner backwards.

Fantana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banner moves away.
Banner lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Banner slips a jab from Fantana.
Bruce Banner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Banner moves into range and clinches up with Fantana.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Banner is trying to maintain a safe position but Fantana gets an underhook and turns Banner into the cage.
Fantana has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Banner misses with an elbow strike.

Fantana's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Banner throws an overhand right that lands on Fantana's shoulder, as Fantana tries to avoid the shot.
Banner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fantana.
Fantana throws a hook to the side of Banner's head but Banner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Banner clinches.
Fantana avoids a wild elbow strike from Banner.
Banner throws an elbow that misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Banner.
Banner misses with a body punch.
Banner is struggling to control the position.
Banner lands a damaging elbow.
Fantana takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Fantana manages to break the clinch.
Banner doesn't manage to clinch there - Fantana circles away.
The fighters circling - Banner throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Banner doesn't manage to clinch there - Fantana circles away.
Fantana tries to counter with a takedown but Banner is quick to defend against it.
Banner misses with a lunging right hand

and Fantana decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Banner's guard.
Fantana content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fantana lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Banner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fantana is one step ahead there.
Fantana lands a couple of digs.
Banner keeping moving, preventing Fantana from controlling successfully.
Fantana stands up over Banner, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fantana stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Banner swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Banner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fantana manages to get himself to full guard.

Banner wants to control from the top but Fantana keeps moving.
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!
Banner sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Fantana's guard.
Fantana wants to improve his position but Banner is controlling well.

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

Banner is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fantana has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bruce Banner will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Banner doesn't manage to clinch there - Fantana circles away.
Fantana looks to throw the jab but Banner is out of range.
Fantana throws out a powerful jab.
Banner walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A slow jab from Fantana misses its intended target.
Fantana works the jab nicely.
Fantana takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Banner slips a straight right by Fantana.
Banner is looking to clinch but Fantana is avoiding it.
Fantana attempts a counter takedown but Banner avoids it well and moves away.
Fantana scores with a jab to the head.

Banner is rocked!

Banner gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fantana avoids a wild elbow strike from Banner.
Fantana avoids a wild elbow strike from Banner.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banner blocking some punches.
Banner lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fantana has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Banner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Banner is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner throws an elbow that misses.
Fantana blocks an elbow strike from Banner.
Fantana scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fantana cracks Banner with a nice body shot.
Fantana wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Fantana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Banner loads up on a big right hand but Fantana slips the punch.
Fantana is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Banner.
Banner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fantana paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Banner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Banner with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Fantana to score with a decent uppercut.
Fantana scores with the left hand. Banner knows he should have avoided that one.
Fantana looks to score with a jab to the body but Banner is just out of range.
Fantana scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Banner doesn't seem bothered though.
Fantana works the jab nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fantana misses with a hook. Banner ducked under it nicely.
Banner jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Fantana avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fantana appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Banner tries to clinch but Fantana moves away

and Fantana counters with a nice double leg into side control. Banner won't be happy with that.
Banner is trying to get back to half guard.
Fantana trying to control the action but Banner is working from the bottom.
Banner is trying to control Fantana's posture but Fantana avoids it.
Fantana grinds an elbow into Banner's temple.
Banner regains half guard.
Fantana stops Banner from getting back to his feet.
Fantana is trying to control. Banner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Banner tries to kick Fantana off but Fantana keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fantana keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banner is looking to improve his position.
Fantana wants to take a breather but Banner is having none of it.
Banner trying to control here.
Banner is trying to get back to full guard.
Banner regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantana won't allow Banner to sweep him here.
Banner is still trying to improve position.
Banner is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fantana is controlling him.
Fantana distracts Banner with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantana won't allow Banner to sweep him here.
Fantana is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Banner looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Fantana puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Fantana wants to control but Banner is keeping him busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Banner manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Banner is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Banner trying to control from half guard but Fantana is working away.
Fantana trying to control from the bottom.
Banner is looking to stall here but Fantana recovers full guard.
Fantana wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Fantana dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Fantana loads up on a big right hand but Banner slips the punch.
Banner tries to clinch up.

Fantana gets tackled into the cage by Banner. Banner maintains the clinch.
Banner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Fantana scores with a shot to the side of Banner's head.
Banner tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Banner lands an elbow inside.
Banner is looking to control Fantana's arms but Fantana gets an underhook and turns him. Now Banner has his back to the cage.
Fantana blocks an elbow strike.
Banner throws an elbow but it misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fantana.
Banner using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fantana has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Fantana takes an elbow to the forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantana blocks an elbow strike from Banner.
Bruce Banner seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fantana misses with a body punch.
Banner lands an elbow inside.
Banner blocks an uppercut.
Banner lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fantana misses with a hook to the ribs.
Banner gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Fantana blocks the elbow strike.

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

Banner has Fantana up against the cage in a clinch.
Banner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Fantana wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Banner has him pressed against the cage.
Fantana dodges an elbow strike from Banner.

Fantana breaks the clinch.
Banner lands a really nice looking cross but Fantana seems unphased.
Fantana just misses with a punch to the body.
Fantana swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Brian Fantana is winning the standup battle so far.
Fantana misses with an uppercut. Banner saw that one coming.
Fantana has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Fantana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banner moves away.
Fantana misses the shot to the body.

Banner gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantana has had enough of the clinch but Banner keeps him there for the moment.
The referee calls for Banner to work.
Fantana is trying to push Banner away but Banner has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Fantana manages to break the clinch.
Bruce Banner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantana walks into a straight right hand from Banner.

Fantana is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banner throws a powerful right kick. Fantana tried to block low but the kick was high! Fantana was taken right off of his feet! Banner jumps in to finish the job and the ref tackles him! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Bruce Banner!
Bruce Banner managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, My$tic Clothing ~ (`10%Laundry`), into his post fight interview.