PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Glover (ranked 5258 p4p, 529 weight class) and Buakaw Banchamek (ranked 3728 p4p, 403 weight class). Buakaw Banchamek has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Glover
vs
Banchamek

175 cm
20
162 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

174 cm
26
158 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ethan Glover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Buakaw Banchamek!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Glover shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Banchamek as he avoids it easily.
Glover dives in for a single leg takedown but Banchamek sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Banchamek drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Glover defends it well.
Banchamek stuffs the takedown attempt from Glover. Glover gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Glover. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Glover scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Glover stops Banchamek from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Banchamek has one foot on Glover's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Banchamek displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Glover.
A jab from Banchamek finds it's way through Glover's defenses.

It looks like Ethan Glover has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Glover bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Banchamek is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Glover has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The referee asks Glover politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Glover prefers to stall for the moment though.
Banchamek is trying to get back to his feet.
Glover works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Banchamek is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Glover has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Glover connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Banchamek some visible discomfort.
Glover takes a little break here. Banchamek wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Banchamek is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banchamek tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Glover controlling his opponent.
Banchamek is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Glover is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Banchamek has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Banchamek squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banchamek somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Glover circles away from the clinch attempt
and Glover cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Glover gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Glover wants a takedown.
Banchamek working aggressively here.
Nice elbow from Banchamek.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Glover.
Good body shot from Banchamek.
Glover lands a right hand that snaps the head of Banchamek backwards.
Glover looking to slow down the pace here.
Glover wants to break free but Banchamek has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banchamek misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Banchamek throws a punch but it's blocked by Glover.
Banchamek misses with a hook to the ribs.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Banchamek.
Banchamek lands an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Glover taking a breather.
Banchamek scores with a nice hook to the head.
Banchamek swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Banchamek.
Banchamek lands a knee to the head.
Glover takes a knee to the side of the body.
Glover is breathing heavily.
Glover wants a takedown but no success here.
Banchamek scores with a knee to the head.
Banchamek scores with a knee to the head.
Banchamek lands with a light punch inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buakaw Banchamek dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ethan Glover's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Banchamek clinches up against the cage.
Banchamek tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Glover avoids it.
Banchamek missing with knees to the body.
Glover is looking to break free of the clinch but Banchamek has double underhooks.
Glover wants a takedown.
Glover tries a body shot but Banchamek blocks it.
Glover blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Banchamek tries a body shot but Glover blocks it.
Glover blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Banchamek keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Glover's efforts to push away.
Glover avoids a wild elbow strike from Banchamek.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banchamek lands a right hand that snaps the head of Glover backwards.
Banchamek keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Glover's efforts to push away.
Buakaw Banchamek seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Banchamek lands a knee to the head.
Banchamek pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banchamek lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Glover backwards.
Banchamek has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Banchamek tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Glover escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Glover tries to clinch up but Banchamek circles away and keeps his distance.
Glover shoots in for a takedown but Banchamek shows good takedown defense.
Glover fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Glover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banchamek tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Glover paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Glover misses with a few strikes there.
Banchamek drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Glover defends it well.
Glover avoids a punch combination nicely.
Glover keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banchamek defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Glover.
Glover turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Banchamek fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Glover.
Banchamek leaves Glover with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Banchamek is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Banchamek swinging wildly here.
A nice combination there by Banchamek.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banchamek clinches with his opponent.
Glover tries to circle away but Banchamek has him pinned against the cage.
Banchamek pushes Glover back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Banchamek misses with a hook from the clinch.
Glover managing to block the knees to the body from Banchamek.
Banchamek tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Glover goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Banchamek gets through Glover's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Glover goes for a takedown in the clinch but Banchamek prevents it.
Banchamek goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Banchamek misses with a punch to the body.
Banchamek tries to land a knee to the head but Glover blocks with his arms.
Banchamek tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Glover is trying to break the clinch but Banchamek is controlling him.
Banchamek scores with a hook to the body.
Glover is trying to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banchamek lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Banchamek works on Glover's body with a couple of short punches.
Nice body punch from Banchamek.
Banchamek unloads a knee to the mid-section. Glover lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Banchamek lands an elbow that stopped Glover in his tracks for a moment.
Glover is looking to control Banchamek's arms but Banchamek gets an underhook and turns him. Now Glover has his back to the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Banchamek creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banchamek scores with a knee to the head.
Banchamek working Glover over with knees to the body.
Banchamek lands a damaging elbow.
Banchamek lands a left hand.
Banchamek landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Glover takes an elbow to the temple.
Banchamek lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Banchamek.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buakaw Banchamek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ethan Glover's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Banchamek looks to land a combination but Glover avoids it well.

Banchamek clinches up against the cage.
Glover takes an elbow to the temple.
Banchamek works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Glover has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Banchamek avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Glover jumps guard.

Glover is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Banchamek wants to stand but Glover has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banchamek wants to stand and escape but instead Glover has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Banchamek wants to stand up but Glover is controlling him.
Glover throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Glover throws a big right hand that misses.
Glover wants to pass the guard but Banchamek is keeping the position.
Glover prevents Banchamek from getting back to his feet.
Banchamek being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Banchamek manages to escape and get back to his feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Banchamek. That's going to slow Glover down.
Banchamek avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Banchamek has taken the fight to the clinch.
Banchamek tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Banchamek.

Glover escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Glover dives in and grabs Banchamek's left leg, looking for a takedown. Banchamek pushes down on Glover's head and hops out.

Glover fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Banchamek sprawls well initially but Glover persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Banchamek is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banchamek tries to kick Glover off in order to stand up. Glover Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Banchamek has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Banchamek is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Banchamek prevents Glover from moving into mount.
Banchamek is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Banchamek can do anything to dispel that myth.

Glover is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Banchamek knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Banchamek is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Glover asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banchamek is not content to let Glover control the position.
Banchamek is trying to buck Glover off.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A leg kick checked by Glover.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Glover dives in and grabs Banchamek's left leg, looking for a takedown. Banchamek pushes down on Glover's head and hops out.
Ethan Glover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Buakaw Banchamek is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Glover. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Banchamek clinches up with Glover and pushes him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buakaw Banchamek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Banchamek winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buakaw Banchamek!