PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matty Lewis (ranked 5124 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Banner (ranked 5050 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lewis
vs
Banner

175 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matty Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bruce Banner!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lewis has managed to clinch.
Lewis has Banner pressed against the cage, preventing Banner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Lewis has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Banner regains guard immediately.
Lewis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lewis wants to stand but Banner is controlling his posture from full guard.

Banner is looking for a triangle here but Lewis uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Banner is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Lewis tries for a kimura but Banner is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner tries to bench press Lewis off him but Lewis keeps the position.
Lewis scoring with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banner tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Lewis presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Banner is trying desperately to improve position.
Banner tries to improve his position but instead Lewis has taken his back!
Lewis controlling the position well here. Banner rolled but Lewis kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Lewis. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Banner tries to roll but Lewis sticks to his back.
Lewis throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Banner!
Banner is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Banner showing good submission defense here.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lewis is looking for the choke from the back position but Banner is controlling his hands well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
I really don't envy Banner right now.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Lewis controlling the positon.
Banner is in bad spot here.
Lewis scores with strikes from the back.
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!
Lewis controlling well, preventing Banner from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lewis working for the choke.
Lewis just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Banner tries to escape the position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Lewis controlling the positon.
Lewis cracks Banner with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Banner from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

Banner is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lewis gets his way!
Banner is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Lewis keeps control of the position as Banner tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis controlling from the back.
Lewis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lewis seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Banner for as long as he can get away with.
Lewis has the hooks in. Banner is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Lewis keeps control of the position easily here as Banner tries to buck him off.

Lewis looking for the RNC.
Lewis loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Banner hold on?
Lewis biding his time, looking for the opening.

Banner is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lewis gets his way!

Lewis has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Banner has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Banner tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matty Lewis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Banner throws a sloppy head kick and Lewis moves out of range easily.

Lewis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Banner did well to prevent Lewis getting side control.

Banner looking for subs from the bottom but Lewis mounts him!
Banner working to try and regain half guard.
Banner tries to improve his position but instead Lewis has taken his back!
Lewis just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Lewis continues to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
What can Banner do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Banner tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Banner to escape the position.
Lewis controls the position.
Banner wants to escape the position.
Lewis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Banner can do to turn this around?
Banner rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Lewis stands up and beckons Banner to join him on the feet.

Lewis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lewis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Banner.

Lewis successfully pulls guard.

Banner postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lewis is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Banner, into his guard.

Lewis showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Banner looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lewis passes into side control.
Lewis controlling the position.
Matty Lewis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lewis advances nicely into full mount.
Lewis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lewis prevents Banner from getting the reversal.
Lewis lands with some strikes.
Banner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lewis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Lewis is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Banner has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis prevents Banner from getting the reversal.
Banner is in a horrible position here. Lewis smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The referee warns Banner that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Lewis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Banner working to try and regain half guard.
Lewis lands a big elbow.
Banner is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lewis controlling the position easily from mount.
Banner is trying to reverse the position but instead Lewis has taken his back - oops!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Banner's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Lewis looking to break Banner's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Banner remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Lewis will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Lewis trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Banner doesn't escape.
Banner is really stuck here.
Lewis has good solid back control here.
Lewis is hanging on to Banner's back as he tries to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matty Lewis dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Banner throws a head kick but Lewis moves out of range.
Banner tries a head kick but it misses.
Lewis sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Lewis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Banner lands with a slapping head kick.

Banner gets caught flat footed, as Lewis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Banner isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lewis stacks Banner on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Lewis!
Lewis lands a few punches from side control.
Lewis taking a breather here.
Lewis landing strikes.
Lewis in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lewis gets to mount! Banner was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner is trying to reverse the position but instead Lewis has taken his back - oops!
Lewis biding his time, controlling Banner.

Lewis working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Banner rolls, trying to escape but Lewis keeps control of the position.
Banner is taking damage to the body and head.

Lewis working for the choke.
Banner tries to break free.

Lewis tightening his grip on Banner, looking for the choke.

Lewis has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Bruce Banner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lewis tightening his grip on Banner, looking for the choke.
Banner is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Lewis is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Banner defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Lewis controlling the position well here. Banner rolled but Lewis kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Banner is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis controlling from the back.
Banner is really stuck here.
Lewis biding his time, controlling Banner.
Lewis has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Banner rolls, trying to escape but Lewis keeps control of the position.
Lewis trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Banner doesn't escape.

Lewis working for a choke but Banner is defending well.
Banner wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Banner hold on?!
Banner tries to escape the position.

Lewis is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Lewis has good solid back control here.
Lewis's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Matty Lewis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matty Lewis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lewis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matty Lewis!
Matty Lewis decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.