PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lamont Banner (ranked 2701 p4p, 3885 weight class) and Emmanuel Thompson (ranked 211 p4p, 279 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Banner
vs
Thompson

179 cm
25
153
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
145
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lamont Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Emmanuel Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thompson circles away quickly and effectively.
Thompson looks for a takedown but Banner sprawls well.
Banner went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Thompson has a takedown stuffed.
Banner moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Banner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Banner throws a right and a left that Thompson avoids nicely.
Thompson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thompson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A leg kick checked by Banner.
Banner went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Banner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thompson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A little jabbing left from Thompson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Banner moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Banner checks the leg kick.
Lamont Banner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Thompson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Banner to the ground. Thompson is now in Banner's guard.

Banner is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson tries to pull guard but Banner forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lamont Banner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emmanuel Thompson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson manages to pull guard.

Thompson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Thompson is looking for a triangle but Banner pushes his legs off easily.

Thompson looking for a guillotine here but Banner defends easily.
Banner would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thompson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Banner has managed to get both his arms back between Thompson's legs - danger averted.

Thompson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Banner is aware though and is defending well.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Hilo inform us that Thompson has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Banner gets to his feet - Thompson follows without any prompting.
Banner throws a shot from downtown. Thompson moves away and avoids it.
Thompson avoids a punch combination nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Thompson! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner lands with a cross.
Thompson dodges the punch combination from Banner.
Banner tests Thompson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Banner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Banner throws a series of punches but Thompson moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lamont Banner dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A combination from Banner does no damage.
Banner jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Thompson slips a jab and a cross from Banner.
Banner scores with a decent looking hook.
A big left from Banner misses.
Thompson with a poor takedown
and Banner counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Banner. Those never looked like landing.
Thompson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banner avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner digs a good body shot into Thompson's ribs.
Banner throws a nice looking combination but Thompson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thompson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Banner defends it well.
Banner misses with a jab, cross combination.
A lazy left from Banner finds it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Banner misses.
Banner lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Banner is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Banner lands with a nice combination. Thompson backs away looking to recover.

Thompson is rocked!

It looks like Emmanuel Thompson has been cut.
It looks like Banner has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Thompson tries for a takedown but Banner circles away easily
and Banner counters with a crisp right that sends Thompson to the canvas! Banner follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lamont Banner!
Lamont Banner bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.