PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Bannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Shanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Bannon
vs
Shanks

204 cm
31
275 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

188 cm
32
255 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hellbent

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thomas Bannon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mickey Shanks!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shanks doesn't manage to clinch there - Bannon circles away.
Bannon on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shanks. Shanks obviously looking to wear him down.
Shanks throws a right and a left that Bannon avoids nicely.
Bannon fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Shanks is out of range.
A low kick from Bannon misses
and Shanks makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The fighters circling - Bannon throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shanks scores with a jab. Bannon acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bannon looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Shanks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bannon.
Bannon throws a lazy right hand but Shanks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shanks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bannon circles away quickly and effectively.
Bannon tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Shanks is able to avoid easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bannon throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shanks feints and then cracks Bannon's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bannon down.
Bannon throws a hook but Shanks blocks it.
Shanks takes one on the chin but seems OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shanks throws a looping overhand right but Bannon ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks throws a hook but Bannon blocks it.
Bannon displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shanks throws out the jab.
Bannon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bannon fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bannon moves out of range of the strikes.
Shanks swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bannon counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bannon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bannon looks to land a body kick but Shanks moved away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shanks, right into the meat.
Bannon swings for the body but Shanks moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Shanks on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
An inside leg kick lands from Shanks.
Shanks walks into a straight right hand from Bannon.
The fighters circling - Shanks throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bannon thinks about countering with a body kick.
Bannon throws out a loose jab but Shanks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bannon scores with a punch to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bannon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shanks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Shanks lands a jab to the head.
Shanks takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Mickey Shanks has been cut.
Shanks lands a high kick!
Shanks slips under a jab from Bannon.
Shanks has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Some wild striking there from Bannon.
Shanks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bannon looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
That kick from Shanks tenderised Bannon's leg. Bannon is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bannon moves out of range as Shanks strikes.
Bannon looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bannon tries a low kick but Shanks avoids it.
Bannon digs a good body shot into Shanks's ribs.
Bannon misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bannon takes a swing at Shanks's ribcage but misses.
It seemed like Shanks was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bannon works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Shanks blocks a low kick nicely.
Bannon digs a good body shot into Shanks's ribs.
A punch lands to the side of Shanks 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bannon bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Shanks's head backwards.
Shanks looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bannon lands with a good body shot.
Bannon tries a low kick but Shanks avoids it.
A lazy left from Bannon finds it's target.
Shanks looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A swing and a miss from Bannon.
Bannon misses with a wild body shot.
Bannon is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
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!
Shanks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bannon connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bannon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shanks.
Shanks attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bannon throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Shanks to counter with a crisp jab.
Bannon uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Shanks has time to react.
Bannon throws a leg kick but Shanks checks it.
Bannon is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Bannon slips under a jab.
Shanks avoids the body shot from Bannon.
Shanks lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bannon blocks a leg kick.
Bannon with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bannon moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shanks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shanks lands with a cross.
An inside leg kick from Shanks misses.
Bannon swings away with a body shot that misses
and Shanks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bannon dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mickey Shanks's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

An inside leg kick from Bannon misses.
Shanks tried to score with a low kick but Bannon checks it.
Bannon throws a big counter combination but Shanks scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Shanks tries a low kick but Bannon avoids it.
Shanks's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bannon connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Shanks scrambles back to his feet.
Shanks attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Bannon wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bannon throws out a powerful jab.
Shanks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shanks cracks a nice hook into Bannon's ribs.
Bannon lands a nice hook to Shanks's body. Shanks takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thomas Bannon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bannon throws a body kick that misses.
Bannon tries to clinch there but Shanks circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Shanks crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Bannon - the referee stops the clock and Shanks gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Bannon. Shanks manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Bannon drops his hands momentarily and Shanks takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Shanks takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shanks stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bannon.
Bannon checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannon throws the left hand but Shanks avoids the punch easily.
Bannon tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bannon swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bannon takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bannon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shanks manages to avoid it.
Shanks feints a counter leg kick.
Bannon has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bannon there as he acknowledges the shot.
Shanks tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bannon is able to avoid easily.
Bannon comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Bannon moves into range and clinches up with Shanks.
Bannon is trying to break the clinch but Shanks has him pressed against the cage.
Shanks scores with a shot to the side of Bannon's head.
Bannon digs a right hand into Shanks's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Shanks's gas tank.
Bannon blocking some punches.
Shanks stalling the fight.
Bannon avoiding damage.
Bannon is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bannon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shanks. That's going to slow Bannon down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shanks throws a hook but Bannon blocks it.
Shanks fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bannon has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Shanks misses with an uppercut.
Bannon scores with a leg kick.
A shot to the body from Bannon misses
and Shanks counters with an inside leg kick.
Shanks takes one to the side of the head.
Shanks throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bannon looks to land a right hand but Shanks moved out of range.
Shanks scores with a leg kick.
Shanks pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bannon is out of range and Shanks settles back down.
Bannon checks a low kick from Shanks.
A little feinted left hand from Bannon on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Shanks throws a sloppy body shot
and Bannon counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bannon checks the leg kick.
Nice cross by Bannon.
Bannon moves into range and connects with a jab.
Shanks throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bannon throws a body shot but no joy.
Bannon throws a leg kick
and Shanks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shanks scores with a nice right hand.
Shanks throws a hook but Bannon avoids it easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bannon. That's going to slow Shanks down.
Bannon throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A slow jab from Shanks misses its intended target.
Shanks throws a low kick but it's checked well by Bannon.
Shanks loads up on a big right hand but Bannon slips the punch.
Shanks looks to land a right hand but Bannon moved out of range.
Bannon checks the leg kick nicely there.
Thomas Bannon is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bannon getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shanks blocks a head kick by Bannon.
Bannon takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shanks is looking to chop away at Bannon's legs.
Shanks misses with a wild body shot.
A shot to the body from Shanks misses
and Bannon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shanks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bannon moves away.

Shanks clinches.
Bannon lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Shanks.
Our sources have told us that Bannon has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Bannon prevents a body shot from Shanks.
Shanks lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Bannon lands a nice knee to the body.
Shanks is breathing heavily.
Bannon taking a breather.
Bannon lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Bannon manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shanks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
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 Thomas Bannon will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mickey Shanks's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shanks lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Shanks thows a leg kick but Bannon checks it
and Bannon counters with a right hand to the body.
A low kick from Bannon misses
and Shanks counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bannon's knee momentarily.
Shanks just misses with a punch to the body.
Shanks walks into a jab.
Bannon walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Shanks checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Bannon loads up on a big right hand but Shanks slips the punch.
Shanks throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shanks does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Shanks works over Bannon's head and body with a nice combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shanks throws a leg kick that misses.
Bannon misses with a right hand
and Shanks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shanks lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shanks lands a leg kick that knocks Bannon off balance momentarily.
Shanks throws an off balance right hand
and Bannon counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Shanks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks avoids a kick to the body.
Shanks takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Shanks on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shanks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bannon. Bannon obviously looking to wear him down.
Good standup being displayed there by Bannon as he connects with a hook.
Shanks moves out of range of the body kick.
Shanks moves out of range as Bannon strikes.
Shanks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bannon.
Bannon connects with an inside leg kick.
Bannon buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Bannon throws a leg kick
and Shanks makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bannon misses with a jab to the body
and Shanks counters with a nice uppercut.
Bannon looks to score with a jab to the body but Shanks is just out of range.
A slow jab from Bannon misses its intended target.
Bannon backing away here, and Shanks unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Mickey Shanks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bannon looks to score with a jab to the body but Shanks is just out of range.
Shanks misses the body punch
and Bannon counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Shanks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bannon is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Shanks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bannon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice uppercut there from Bannon.
Bannon scores with a hook to the body. Shanks takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bannon lands a nice shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bannon darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Shanks stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bannon.
Shanks throws a front kick aimed at Bannon's knee but Bannon avoids it well.
Good standup being displayed there by Bannon as he connects with a hook.
Bannon blocks a head kick by Shanks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shanks on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Shanks has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bannon scores with a nice right hand.
Bannon throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bannon on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Bannon tries to clinch but Shanks is having none of it.
Bannon scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Bannon connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Shanks turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bannon tries a head kick but it misses.
Shanks looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shanks misses with a low kick.
Bannon connects with a solid leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bannon.
Shanks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bannon.
Shanks lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shanks misses with a low kick.
Bannon scores with a hook to the body. Shanks takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
An inside leg kick lands from Shanks.
Bannon fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A big left from Shanks misses.
Bannon fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Bannon throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shanks sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shanks has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Shanks has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bannon.
Bannon feints a jab promting Shanks to slip. Bannon then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Shanks slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bannon throws a body kick that misses.
Shanks scores with a jab to the jaw.
Bannon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shanks.
Shanks throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bannon counters with a big head kick but Shanks shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Bannon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bannon has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Bannon!
Thomas Bannon made sure to mention his sponsor, Hellbent in his post fight interview.