PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joca Carioca (ranked 3214 p4p, 285 weight class) and Banlovic Bantom (ranked 24245 p4p, 482 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Carioca
vs
Bantom

175 cm
26
145 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

190 cm
20
145 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joca Carioca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Banlovic Bantom!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Ben Hemmingworth and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carioca closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bantom quickly recovers to half guard.
Bantom is trying to stand back up but Carioca is controlling him

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

Carioca is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bantom has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bantom is looking to improve his position.
Carioca is keen to just control but Bantom is a slippery customer.

Carioca is working for a kimura but Bantom is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bantom wants to get back to full guard.
Carioca trying to control the pace.
Carioca trying to mount his opponent but Bantom defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Carioca seems content to control.
Carioca trying to control from half guard but Bantom is working away.
Carioca working Bantom over with strikes.

Carioca is looking for a kimura but Bantom is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Carioca to get the leverage.
Bantom looks like he's trying to stand up.

Bantom is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carioca pulls his head out easily.

Carioca wants to work for an arm triangle but Bantom is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bantom wants to get back to full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Carioca'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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carioca content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bantom is trying to stand.

Carioca is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bantom sees it coming and defends easily.
Bantom is trying to get back to full guard.

Carioca seems to be working for a kimura but Bantom defends the submission attempt.
Bantom is looking to control Carioca's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bantom avoid being mounted?
Carioca is looking to advance position but Bantom won't allow it.
Bantom is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bantom is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carioca controlling the pace.

Bantom is defending against the submission attempts here by Carioca.
Carioca looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Carioca looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Carioca is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

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.
Carioca wants to control but Bantom is keeping him busy.

Carioca is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bantom has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Carioca is working away from the top position though.

Carioca is trying to work for a kimura but Bantom is defending well.
Carioca is thwarting Bantom's attempts to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carioca wants to pass the guard but Bantom is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joca Carioca dominated that round.
That's time! Carioca's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice takedown defense from Bantom. No joy for Carioca on that attempt.
Bantom fails with the takedown

so Carioca counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Carioca might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Carioca is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bantom is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bantom is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Carioca dives into side control.
Carioca wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bantom keeps working.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carioca thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bantom stops Carioca from passing to mount.
Bantom wants to control but Carioca postures up.

Carioca in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Bantom is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Joca Carioca!