PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lamont Banner (ranked 2138 p4p, 3270 weight class) and Antonio Rivera (ranked 188 p4p, 267 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Banner
vs
Rivera

179 cm
25
153
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
150
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

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 3 - 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Antonio Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner leaves Rivera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Banner is looking for a counter combo.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Banner swinging wildly here.
Banner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've been told by Banner's head coaches at Rabid Dog that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Rivera moves away from the strike by Banner.
Rivera feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rivera on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Rivera drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera is trying to get an arm triangle but Banner is defending well.

Rivera tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rivera has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Banner is not content to let Rivera control the position.

Rivera is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Banner is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rivera controlling from side mount.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rivera working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivera tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rivera has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Rivera working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Rivera goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Banner rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rivera's guard! Nice work there by Banner!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera pulls Banner in close to prevent any damage.

Banner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rivera manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Banner manages to get himself to full guard.

Rivera thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rivera works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rivera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Banner defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Banner!

Rivera has hold of Banner's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Banner manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rivera working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Banner is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Rivera throws some wild stikes that Banner manages to avoid easily.

Rivera looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Banner trying desperately to get to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Rivera dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rivera will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Banner with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A combination from Banner does no damage.
And Rivera tries to counter it with a takedown but Banner pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Banner!
Banner lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rivera dives in and grabs Banner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Banner pushes down on Rivera's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner misses the shot to the body.
Lamont Banner is winning the standup battle so far.
Banner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rivera.
Banner throws a big counter combination but Rivera scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Lamont Banner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rivera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Danga de danga de dang - Banner scores with a four punch combination!
Banner catches Rivera with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nice straight punches there by Banner. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Banner.
Rivera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banner avoids it really well and circles away.
It looked like Banner was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Banner sprawls well. Banner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Banner scores with a shot to the body.
Jab by Banner.
Banner's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Banner duly obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rivera.
Banner appears to be looking for a big counter.
Banner looks to land a combination. Rivera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Rivera is rocked!
Rivera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rivera tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Lamont Banner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Banner lands a left and a right that send Rivera crashing to the mat, dazed. Banner thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Rivera is still on wobbly legs! Can Banner finish him?
Lamont Banner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivera doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Banner counters with a crisp right that sends Rivera to the canvas! Banner follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lamont Banner!
Lamont Banner 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.