PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oren Wilson (ranked 7890 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Banoe (ranked 8383 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.

Wilson
vs
Banoe

155 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Oren Wilson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zach Banoe!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banoe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Banoe takes the fight into the clinch.

Wilson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Banoe drives through and clinches with Wilson against the cage.
A knee to the head by Banoe.
Wilson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Wilson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Banoe has Wilson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wilson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Banoe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wilson walks away with a smile on his face. Banoe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wilson wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Banoe jumps guard.
Banoe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wilson is one step ahead there.
Wilson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banoe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Wilson gets to his feet. Banoe looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Banoe gets a clinch.

Banoe ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Banoe no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Banoe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Wilson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Banoe is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Banoe decides to stand up.
Zach Banoe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Banoe has Wilson up against the cage in a clinch.

Banoe breaks from the clinch.
Banoe scores with a kick to the body.

Banoe instigates a clinch.
Wilson is trying to break the clinch but Banoe is controlling him.
Banoe tries for a takedown but Wilson manages to get underhooks.
Oren Wilson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zach Banoe.
Wilson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banoe misses with a kick to the body
and Wilson counters with a two punch combo.
Wilson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Banoe circles away quickly and effectively.
Banoe tries to counter with a clinch but Wilson shakes him off and moves away.
Zach Banoe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wilson tries to close the distance and clinch but Banoe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Banoe clinches.

Wilson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wilson tries to bum rush Banoe with a series of wild strikes but Banoe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Banoe wants to counter the offense by Wilson and move into the clinch position.
Nice uppercut there from Banoe.

Banoe closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Banoe jumps guard but Wilson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Wilson wants to get back to striking at distance but Banoe won't allow it.
Wilson wants to break free but Banoe has control.
Banoe is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Wilson to keep the fight standing.

Banoe decides to pull guard.

Banoe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wilson stands up and waves to Banoe to follow him.
Wilson throws a head kick that misses

and Banoe counters with a crisp one two that drops Wilson! Banoe thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Wilson to his feet! Wilson is in big trouble!

Wilson is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banoe looks for a left high kick but can't connect. Banoe backs up to catch a breather... no he lunges forward with a huge flying knee that smacks Wilson's temple! It sends Wilson violently to the canvas! The crowd goes nuts as Banoe celebrates and the doctors try to help Wilson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Flying Knee). Zach Banoe!
A very excited looking Zach Banoe made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.