|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikuru Asakura (ranked 2941 p4p, 2900 weight class) and Lamont Banner (ranked 245 p4p, 243 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.
 |
|
 |
| 178 cm
26
150
3 - 2 - 0 |
|
179 cm
26
153
4 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power |
|
BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed |
|
| |
|
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mikuru Asakura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lamont Banner!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Russell Pearce and Lou da Vinci.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asakura throws a body kick that misses.
Asakura avoids a punch combination nicely.
Asakura misses with a lunging right hand
and Banner counters with a straight right hand.
Asakura swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Banner counters with a nice uppercut.
Banner sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Asakura loads up on a big right hand but Banner slips the punch.
Asakura takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nice defenses there by Banner.
Asakura throws the left hand but Banner avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner misses with a few strikes there.
Asakura has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Rising Sun Training in the buildup to the fight.
Banner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Asakura.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Banner tries to bum rush Asakura with a series of wild strikes but Asakura uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Asakura throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Banner sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Banner scores with a three punch combo!
Asakura throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Banner counters with a two punch combo.
A swing and a miss from Asakura.
Asakura misses with a left hand
and Asakura takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A looping hook to the body misses from Asakura. Banner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Banner is looking for the big counter here.
Mikuru Asakura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left lands for Banner.
Banner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Banner let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banner misses with a wild combination.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asakura throws a hook but Banner blocks it.
A punch combination from Asakura misses.
Asakura looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A nice combination there by Banner.
Banner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Asakura throws out the jab.
Banner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Asakura drops his hands momentarily and Banner takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Asakura misses with a body kick.
Asakura throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Banner is looking for the big counter here.
Asakura loads up on a big right hand but Banner slips the punch.
Despite the aggression on Banner's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Asakura misses with a kick to the body.
Banner misses with a few strikes there.
Asakura is looking to counter with a body kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura missing with a left hand there. Banner was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Banner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Asakura looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Banner lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Asakura tries to move into range but Banner moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A combination from Banner does no damage.
Asakura throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Asakura misses with a looping right.
Banner takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Banner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Asakura.
Banner slips under a jab from Asakura.
Banner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Asakura throws out the jab.
Asakura's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Banner connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Asakura scrambles back to his feet.
A slow jab from Asakura misses its intended target.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner throws a series of strikes that have Asakura backpedaling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banner jabs Asakura to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Asakura misses with a body shot
and Banner counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Asakura throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Asakura takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Asakura misses with a hook.
Banner looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Banner is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Asakura had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Banner throws a series of punches but Asakura moves out of range.
Asakura looks to score with a jab to the body but Banner is just out of range.
Asakura throws a head kick but Banner moves out of range.
Asakura takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A punch combination from Banner misses.
A combination from Banner does no damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Lamont Banner dominated that round.
That's time! Asakura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Asakura throws a hook but Banner avoids it easily.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Asakura might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Banner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Asakura throws a shot from downtown. Banner moves away and avoids it.
Banner is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Asakura throws a right hand that misses
and Banner counters with a right hand to the body.
Asakura throws a head kick but Banner moves out of range.
Banner throws a combination. Asakura tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lamont Banner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Asakura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banner.
Asakura misses with a right hand
and Banner makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Asakura takes a swing at Banner's ribcage but misses.
Despite the aggression on Banner's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asakura throws a lazy head kick
and Banner counters with a left and a right that stings Asakura.
Asakura misses with a body kick.
Asakura misses with an uppercut.
Banner has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Banner misses with a wild body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura lands with a kick to the ribs.
Asakura missing with a left hand there. Banner was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Banner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Asakura moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Asakura lands a front kick.
No joy there for Banner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Asakura scores with a spinning back kick!
Asakura swings widly with a right hand
and Banner counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Banner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Asakura.
Banner is looking for the big counter here.
Asakura misses with a hook. Banner ducked under it nicely.
Banner's jab looks to have found its range, popping Asakura under the eye.
Asakura throws out a loose jab but Banner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Banner takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Asakura scores with a hook.
Lamont Banner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Asakura throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Banner jabs Asakura right on the nose. Asakura blinks but takes it well.
Asakura throws the kick towards the body but Banner avoids it.
Banner unleashes a big counter combination but Asakura bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Asakura misses with a straight right.
Asakura looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Banner throws a nice looking combination but Asakura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Banner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Banner just misses with a punch to the body.
A punch combination from Banner misses.
Asakura drops his hands momentarily and Banner takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Asakura connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Asakura misses with a straight right.
Banner is looking for the big counter here.
Asakura moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Banner is looking for the big counter here.
Asakura throws a hook but Banner blocks it.
Asakura connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Banner momentarily.
Asakura throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Banner counter with a right hand.
Banner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Asakura lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Banner circles away quickly and effectively.
Asakura throws an off balance right hand
and Banner counters with a one-two to the body.
Banner lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Banner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Asakura.
Asakura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banner was well out of range. Poor timing from Asakura.
Asakura misses with a body kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Asakura circles away quickly and effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Banner misses with a double jab.
Banner throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Asakura throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Banner to counter with a crisp jab.
Banner is working the combinations to good effect here.
A swing and a miss from Asakura.
Asakura looks to land a right hand but Banner moved out of range.
Asakura misses with a looping left.
Banner dodges the punch combination from Asakura.
Banner throws a series of punches but Asakura moves out of range.
Banner misses with a double jab.
Asakura is looking to counter punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Lamont Banner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Asakura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Asakura's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Banner connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Asakura scrambles back to his feet.
Asakura scores with a nice body kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Asakura.
Banner looks to score with a jab to the body but Asakura is just out of range.
Banner goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Asakura misses with an attempted mid kick.
Asakura throws a sloppy head kick
and Banner counters with a stiff right hand.
Asakura throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asakura throws the left hand but Banner avoids the punch easily.
Banner looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Banner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Asakura moves out of range as Banner strikes.
Banner has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Asakura.
Banner steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Asakura. That one must have hurt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Asakura.
Banner misses with a two punch combination.
Asakura is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Asakura throws a hook but Banner avoids it easily.
Banner moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Asakura misses with a low kick.
Banner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
An attempted straight right counter from Asakura misses the target.
Banner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Asakura misses with a body kick.
Asakura looks to land a right hand but Banner moved out of range.
Asakura showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Banner.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Banner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Banner defending well as Asakura loads up on a big left hand.
Asakura misses with a shot to the body
and Banner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Banner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Banner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Asakura thows a body kick. Banner tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Asakura throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Asakura is looking to land body kicks.
Asakura looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A thudding body kick lands there by Asakura!
Asakura looking to land some kicks to the body here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura thuds his shin into the meat of Banner's side.
Banner throws a left and a right that both miss
and Asakura counters with a straight right hand.
Banner takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Banner takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Banner looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Asakura misses with a looping right.
Banner is looking for the big counter here.
A head kick misses from Asakura.
Banner moves out of range as Asakura throws a body kick.
Despite the aggression on Banner's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Asakura thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Banner if he has to take too many more of those.
Asakura throws a sloppy body shot
and Banner counters with a nice uppercut.
Asakura connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asakura throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Asakura moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Asakura tries to land a front kick but Banner steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Banner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Asakura throws a jab when Banner was well out of range.
Mikuru Asakura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Banner slips a straight right by Asakura.
Banner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Asakura.
Banner on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Asakura tries to land a front kick but Banner steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Asakura takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lamont Banner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Banner staying out of range there.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mikuru Asakura.
Well Banner has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lamont Banner!
A pretty intense looking Lamont Banner took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
68% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
