PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harry Noakes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Noakes
vs
Banks

186 cm
22
203 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
208 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Harry Noakes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Banks!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks motions for Noakes to come forward. Banks throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Banks swats away the attempt to clinch by Noakes.

Noakes rushes Banks and presses him up against the cage.

Banks has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Noakes clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Noakes looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Banks really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Noakes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noakes trying to get back to his feet but Banks is in full control for now.
Banks struggling to land strikes to the head as Noakes covers up.
Banks controlling from the back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Banks missing with strikes from the back.
Banks trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Noakes doesn't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Michael Banks just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Noakes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Banks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Noakes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Noakes tries to clinch there but Banks circles away.
Noakes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Noakes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Noakes wants to clinch.
Banks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Banks lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Harry Noakes has been cut.
Noakes avoids the head kick by Banks.
A solid leg kick lands there for Banks.
Harry Noakes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noakes checks a leg kick.

Banks clinches with his opponent.
Noakes taking a breather.
Banks takes an elbow to the temple.
Banks tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Banks is trying to break the clinch but Noakes has him pressed against the cage.
Noakes looking to slow down the pace here.
Noakes lands a nice elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Noakes trying to stall but Banks improves his position.

Banks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Banks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Noakes pinned against the cage. Noakes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Noakes tries to clinch up
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Banks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Banks looks gassed!
Noakes clinches but Banks breaks the clinch

and Banks counters by clinching up.
Noakes has Banks pressed against the cage.
Noakes blocks an elbow strike from Banks.
Noakes misses with an elbow over the top.
Noakes misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Banks dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Harry Noakes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Noakes tries to clinch but Banks moves away

and Banks counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banks.
Noakes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Banks looking to pass the guard.
Noakes is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Banks dives into side control.
Noakes is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Banks is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Banks has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Noakes tries to clinch
and Banks counters with a slapping leg kick.
Noakes wants to clinch
and Banks counters with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Noakes closes the distance but Banks moves to the side

and Banks counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Banks.
Noakes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Noakes misses with a knee strike.
Banks is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Noakes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Banks jumps guard but Noakes stands there with Banks around his waist. Banks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Noakes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Harry Noakes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Banks.
Noakes lands an elbow inside.
Banks is trying to break free.

Banks breaks the clinch.
Noakes clinches but Banks breaks the clinch
and Banks counters with a thumping low kick.
Banks circles away from the clinch attempt
and Banks makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Noakes closes the distance looking to clinch
and Banks makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Banks misses with a head kick.
Noakes clinches but Banks breaks the clinch
and Banks counters with a two punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Banks.
Noakes clinches but Banks breaks the clinch
and Banks counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Noakes.
Michael Banks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Noakes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Noakes landing knees to the head.
Noakes lands an elbow just above Banks 's eye.
Noakes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Noakes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Banks takes an elbow to the temple.
Banks can't break the clinch.
Banks tries to pull guard but Noakes won't allow it.
Noakes lands an elbow just above Banks 's eye.
Banks goes for a takedown attempt but Noakes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Noakes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Noakes is looking to clinch but Banks is avoiding it.
Noakes tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Banks counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noakes with a knee to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Noakes throws an elbow that misses.
Noakes connects with a knee to the head.
Noakes creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Banks's defenses.
Noakes comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Banks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Noakes closes the distance looking to clinch
and Banks counters with an outside leg kick.
Harry Noakes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Noakes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Banks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Noakes tries to clinch up but Banks circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Noakes tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Banks counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Harry Noakes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Banks finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Banks throws a head kick but Noakes moves out of range.
Noakes tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Noakes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Noakes looks to clinch

and Banks counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banks.
Banks looking to pass the guard.
Banks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Banks pushes down on Noakes's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Noakes is trying to stand back up but Banks is controlling him
Noakes is trying is best to control the position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks trying to control the pace.
Noakes is looking to control Banks's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Noakes avoid being mounted?
Noakes wants to get back to his feet.
Noakes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Banks is working away from the top position though.

That's two 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.
Noakes is refusing to be controlled, as Banks sits in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Banks throws a series of punches but Noakes moves out of range.
Banks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Noakes tries to clinch but Banks moves away

and Banks counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Noakes wants to get back to his feet.

Noakes makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noakes tries to clinch up but Banks circles away and keeps his distance.

Noakes moves into range and clinches up with Banks.
Noakes is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Banks lands a body punch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Noakes just misses with a elbow thrown towards Banks's brow.
Banks is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Banks tries to pull guard but Noakes won't allow it.
Noakes misses with a knee to the head.
Banks misses with the head strike.
Noakes creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Banks's defenses.
Banks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Noakes holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Banks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Noakes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Noakes misses with an elbow over the top.
Noakes lands an elbow just above Banks 's eye.
Noakes looking to stall.

Banks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Noakes tries to clinch but Banks is having none of it.
Michael Banks seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Noakes tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Banks counters with a one-two to the body.
Harry Noakes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Banks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Noakes wants to clinch but Banks slips to the side

and Banks counters with a single leg into guard. Noakes didn't expect that.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Banks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Noakes wants to stand up but Banks is controlling him.
Banks wants to stand and escape but instead Noakes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Noakes throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Banks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Banks winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Banks!