PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iggy Maranello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Banks
vs
Maranello

186 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

199 cm
22
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bryan Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Iggy Maranello!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maranello misses with a two punch combination.
Maranello tries to clinch but Banks is having none of it.
Maranello lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Maranello misses with a wild combination.
Maranello is looking to clinch but Banks is avoiding it.
Banks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Maranello gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maranello striking off his back but it's not causing Banks any problems.
Maranello tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Banks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Maranello is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Banks stands and throws Maranello's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Banks slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Maranello.
Maranello's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maranello tries to hold on but Banks postures up.
Maranello tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Banks trying to control but Maranello is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maranello can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Banks controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maranello really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Banks tries to control but Maranello wriggling away.
Maranello is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Banks looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Banks looking to control but Maranello is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Maranello tries to lock up and control but Banks gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Banks wants to control the pace but Maranello is squirming around nicely.
Maranello is looking to get to half guard.
Maranello looks gassed!
Banks trying to control but Maranello is having none of it.

That's four 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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Bryan Banks just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Banks fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Banks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Banks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maranello shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Banks as he avoids it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Banks lands a nice looking body kick.
Banks wants to clinch up but Maranello keeps it at a distance.
Banks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Banks moves into the clinch.

Banks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Banks gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Banks connects with a knee to the head.
Banks looking to throw knees to the head but Maranello is blocking nicely.
Maranello drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Banks gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Banks dominated that round.
That's time! Banks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maranello will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Danga de danga de dang - Maranello scores with a four punch combination!
Banks tries to clinch up.
Maranello looks for a takedown but Banks sprawls well.
Banks scores with a decent looking hook.
Maranello fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maranello is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Banks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maranello moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Banks has closed the distance and engaged Maranello in a clinch.
Banks lands with a right to the head.
Maranello gets underhooks to prevent Banks's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Banks landing knees to the head.
Maranello drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Banks gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A knee to the head by Banks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks is struggling to control the position.

Maranello is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Banks can't fight it off and eventually Maranello manages to take the fight to the floor. Banks looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maranello thows a big elbow that misses.
Maranello trying to control but Banks is working from the bottom.
Maranello in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Maranello trying to control the position from guard on top but Banks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maranello prevents Banks from getting back to his feet.
Maranello is in close to Banks's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Maranello with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maranello throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maranello shoots and misses

and Banks counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Banks.
Bryan Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iggy Maranello.
A short left from Banks.
Banks landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Banks jumps guard.
Banks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Banks wants to get back to his feet but Maranello is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maranello showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Maranello would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Maranello cracks Banks with a solid left hand.
Maranello won't allow Banks to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Maranello looking to sit in guard and control but Banks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maranello trying to strike off his back.
Maranello is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maranello is striking off his back. Banks thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Maranello tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Banks manages to move to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iggy Maranello showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Maranello cracks Banks with a right hand to the side of the head.
Maranello throws a series of strikes that have Banks backpedaling.
Maranello wants to clinch

and Banks counters by moving into the clinch.
Banks throws a punch but it's blocked by Maranello.
A knee to the head by Banks.
Banks throws a knee to the head but misses.
Banks working hard to break the clinch.
Maranello goes for a takedown in the clinch but Banks prevents it.
Banks is struggling to control the position.
Banks tries for a takedown. No joy.
Banks prevents a takedown attempt there.
Maranello is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Banks gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bryan Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iggy Maranello.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Banks lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks lands a knee to the head.
Maranello is trying to break the clinch but Banks is controlling him.
Banks stalls.
Maranello tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Banks just stands there and leans against the cage.
Maranello has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Banks is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Maranello is looking to control Banks's arms but Banks gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maranello has his back to the cage.
The referee calls for Banks to work.
Banks stops a takedown attempt from Maranello.
Banks prevents the takedown attempt.
Maranello takes a knee right on the jaw!

Maranello jumps into guard, dragging Banks to the mat.
Maranello is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Banks dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maranello tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

Banks decides to stand back up.
Banks doesn't manage to clinch there - Maranello circles away.
Banks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maranello shoots in for a double leg but Banks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maranello doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Banks counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banks.
Maranello punching from the bottom - just letting Banks know he's still in a fight.

Banks stands up and waves to Maranello to follow him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch but Maranello swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks wants to clinch up but Maranello keeps it at a distance.

Maranello is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Banks's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maranello thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Banks to regain full guard.
Maranello postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maranello postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maranello controlling from the top position.
Maranello lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maranello looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Maranello gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Maranello fails to land the takedown.
Banks wants to clinch up but Maranello keeps it at a distance.

Banks pushes Maranello up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banks with a knee to the head.

Maranello has picked Banks up - he's going for a ride! Maranello dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Maranello controlling the pace.

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 Bryan Banks.
I think Banks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!