PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kurou Nishiyama (ranked 5589 p4p, 3833 weight class) and Branko Banik (ranked 543 p4p, 434 weight class). Branko Banik acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Nishiyama
vs
Banik

183 cm
20
167
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
19
179
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kurou Nishiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Branko Banik!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Nishiyama.

Nishiyama drops Banik with a beautiful combination! Banik stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Nishiyama is looking for the KO!

It looks like Branko Banik has been cut.
Banik on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Banik shoots for a double leg takedown but Nishiyama sprawls well. He's pushed Banik's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nishiyama scores with a body shot.
Banik throws a lazy right hand but Nishiyama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nishiyama tries to counter by clinching up but Banik breaks away and moves out of range.
Nishiyama keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banik.
Nishiyama misses with a head kick.
Nishiyama lands a leg kick that knocks Banik off balance momentarily.
Banik throws a jab but it's blocked by Nishiyama.
No joy there for Nishiyama, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Nishiyama has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right from Nishiyama on the inside.
Nishiyama is trying to pull guard but Banik turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nishiyama is working Banik over against the cage.

Nishiyama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nishiyama closes the distance and pushes Banik back into the cage.

Nishiyama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Nishiyama - just one landing.
Kurou Nishiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nishiyama digs a good body shot into Banik's ribs.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nishiyama.
Nishiyama lands a leg kick that knocks Banik off balance momentarily.
Banik misses with a body shot.
Nishiyama throws a head kick but Banik moves out of range.
And Banik tries to counter it with a takedown but Nishiyama pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nishiyama lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Nishiyama instigates a clinch.
Nishiyama lands a shot to the body.
Banik blocks an elbow strike.
Banik tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Nishiyama manages to break the clinch.
Nishiyama definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Banik throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nishiyama sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nishiyama is looking for a counter combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banik missing with a left hand there. Nishiyama was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nishiyama doesn't manage to clinch there - Banik circles away.
Banik rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nishiyama moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nishiyama moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Banik walks forward, straight into a front kick from Nishiyama.
Banik looks winded!
Banik throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nishiyama looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

Nishiyama drives through and clinches with Banik against the cage.

Nishiyama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Banik takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Banik avoids the head kick by Nishiyama.
Banik is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nishiyama.
Banik has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Oooooh!!! Nishiyama has knocked Banik down with a huge combo! Nishiyama steps away and waves a wobbly Banik back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Nishiyama connects with a right that clearly hurt Banik. He's backed up against the cage with nowhere to go as Nishiyama proceeds to tee off with vicious combinations till Banik collapses and taps out under the pressure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kurou Nishiyama!