PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Bankers (ranked 4550 p4p, 5810 weight class) and John Voz (ranked 0 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.

Bankers
vs
Voz

183 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
165
0 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gregory Bankers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, John Voz!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Voz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bankers sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As Voz tries to get set, Bankers tries to push him back and clinch up but Voz manages to avoid the attempt.
Voz checks a low kick from Bankers.
Voz wants to counter the offense by Bankers and move into the clinch position.

Voz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bankers napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Bankers throws Voz to one side and escapes!

Bankers shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bankers is looking for a kimura but Voz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bankers to get the leverage.
Voz tries to roll over but Bankers keeps him under control.

Bankers is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Voz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bankers throwing shots but Voz is blocking nicely.

Bankers is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Voz trying to control but Bankers postures up.
Bankers is just content to waste time from the top position. Voz takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Voz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bankers trying to control the position from guard on top but Voz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bankers's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Voz wants to stand up but Bankers is controlling him.

Bankers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bankers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Voz keeping moving, preventing Bankers from controlling successfully.
Voz wants to control the position but Bankers says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bankers trying to control from half guard but Voz is working away.
Bankers missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bankers seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Voz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bankers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Voz is doing well to control the position and prevent Bankers from advancing to side control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Voz shoots for a double leg takedown but Bankers sprawls well. He's pushed Voz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bankers takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Voz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Voz looks winded!

Bankers thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bankers throws an elbow that misses. Voz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bankers's guard. Nice move by Voz!

Bankers managing to control the position.
Voz wants to control from the top but Bankers keeps moving.
Bankers is looking to stand up but Voz isn't so interested in that idea.
Voz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bankers working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory Bankers dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Voz shoots in for a takedown but Bankers shows good takedown defense.
Voz tries to clinch up.

Bankers is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Voz's half guard.
Bankers working the head and body with strikes.
Bankers seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Voz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Bankers is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Bankers looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bankers slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bankers works his foot free and advances to mount.
Voz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bankers is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Bankers working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Voz looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Bankers! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Gregory Bankers!