PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Morgan Hunter (ranked 7943 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Banks (ranked 5478 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Hunter
vs
Banks

169 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Morgan Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Edward Banks!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Banks.
Banks shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hunter sprawls well. Hunter wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Banks gets slowly back to his feet.
As Banks looks to move away, Hunter throws a big counter combo but Banks just gets out of the way.
Banks changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hunter tries to avoid it but Banks manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hunter to the ground. Hunter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Banks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hunter misses with a wild combination.
Banks is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Banks darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter blocks a head kick by Banks.
Banks looks to score with a jab to the body but Hunter is just out of range.

Banks drives through and clinches with Hunter against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hunter is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Morgan Hunter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edward Banks.

Banks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Banks getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A low kick from Hunter is predictable there

and Banks counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Banks.
Hunter throws an elbow that misses.

Hunter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Banks throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hunter.
Banks with a poor takedown
and Banks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banks dives in for a single leg takedown but Hunter sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Banks shoots in and drives through. Hunter sprawls well.
Hunter throws a left and a right that both miss
and Banks counters with a left and a right that stings Hunter.
Hunter misses with a few strikes there.
Hunter tries to clinch but Banks moves out of range.
Hunter sets himself, and Banks steps forward looking for the clinch! Hunter avoids it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hunter pinned against the cage. Hunter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Banks looks winded!

Hunter rushes Banks and presses him up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunter is trying to pull guard but Banks turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Banks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hunter tries to break the clinch but Banks is controlling the position.
Hunter swings wildly with an uppercut but Banks uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hunter breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks catches Hunter with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hunter lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Banks circles away quickly and effectively.

Banks clinches with his opponent.
Banks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hunter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Banks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Banks fails with the takedown.

Banks has closed the distance and engaged Hunter in a clinch.
Hunter tries to pull guard but Banks holds him up against the cage and eventually Hunter drops back down to his feet.
Hunter tries to pull guard but Banks forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries to break the clinch but Hunter is controlling the position.
Banks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hunter fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Banks looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Banks scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Hunter breaks the clinch.
Hunter stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hunter wants it to stay on the feet.
Hunter appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Banks has managed to clinch.

Hunter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunter slips a jab and a cross from Banks.
Edward Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunter doesn't manage to clinch there - Banks circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Banks dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A punch combination from Hunter misses.
Hunter misses with a series of wild punches.
Morgan Hunter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Banks.
Hunter misses with a double jab.
Despite the aggression on Banks's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Banks scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Morgan Hunter has been cut.
Hunter throws a right and a left that Banks avoids nicely.

Banks closes the distance and pushes Hunter back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter is trying to force a seperation but Banks has the dominant position.

Banks pulls guard.
Hunter is looking to work some ground and pound but Banks has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Banks is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banks throws a big right hand that misses.
Banks not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Banks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hunter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Banks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hunter is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Banks looking to pass the guard.
Banks is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hunter looking to control.
Banks is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Banks wants to pass the guard but Hunter is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hunter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hunter doesn't manage to clinch there - Banks circles away.
Banks is looking to clinch but Hunter is avoiding it.
Hunter appears to be looking for a big counter.

Banks has managed to clinch.
Banks goes for a takedown attempt but Hunter pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Hunter gets tackled into the cage by Banks. Banks maintains the clinch.

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

Banks fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hunter, pushing him back against the cage.
Hunter tries to break free but Banks pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banks breaks from the clinch.
Banks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hunter circles away quickly and effectively.
Horrible takedown attempt by Banks or perhaps it was just good defense by Hunter, which made it look bad.
Morgan Hunter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edward Banks.
Hunter throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hunter throws a series of punches but Banks moves out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Banks or perhaps it was just good defense by Hunter, which made it look bad.
Banks is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Banks gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hunter counters with a left and a right that stings Banks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Morgan Hunter's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Banks goes for a double leg but Hunter avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hunter continues to drive forward.

Hunter gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Banks has Hunter pressed against the cage, preventing Hunter from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Banks is trying to break free.
Nice body punch from Banks.
Hunter tries to circle away but Banks has him pinned against the cage.
Hunter is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hunter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morgan Hunter is winning the standup battle so far.
Banks circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks shoots in for a takedown but Hunter shows good takedown defense.

Hunter tries to keep at a distance but Banks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hunter tries to break free but Banks pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter wants to break free but Banks has control.

Hunter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunter looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Banks throws a counter combo.
Banks looks to land a body kick but Hunter moved away.
Hunter misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hunter keeps the fight on the outside.
Hunter is looking for a counter combo.
Banks goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Banks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hunter tries to clinch up
and Banks counters with a series of strikes. Hunter will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter tries to clinch up.
Banks feints the counter takedown.
Hunter swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Banks slips a jab and a cross from Hunter.
Banks shoots in and drives through. Hunter sprawls well.
Morgan Hunter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edward Banks.
Banks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Banks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Hunter rushes Banks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Banks jumps guard but Hunter turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hunter misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries to break the clinch but Hunter is controlling the position.

Hunter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Banks wants to clinch up but Hunter keeps it at a distance.
Hunter leaves Banks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Banks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Banks keeps the fight on the outside.
Banks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hunter seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Banks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hunter defends it nicely.
Hunter shoots for a double leg takedown but Banks sprawls well. He's pushed Hunter's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hunter.
Banks with the counter takedown but Hunter avoids it easily.

Banks moves into the clinch successfully.

Banks manages to break the clinch.

Hunter has closed the distance and engaged Banks in a clinch.
Hunter tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Banks just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Banks dodges an elbow strike from Hunter.
Hunter is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Morgan Hunter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edward Banks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hunter misses with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Morgan Hunter.
I think Banks has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edward Banks!