PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ashley Banal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reno Kittler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reno Kittler has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ashley Banal's chin.

Banal
vs
Kittler

195 cm
24
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ashley Banal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Reno Kittler!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kittler fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Banal throws a nice head kick!
Nice takedown defense from Kittler. No joy for Banal on that attempt.
Kittler shoots and misses

and Banal counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kittler wants to get back to his feet but Banal is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Banal looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Banal decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Banal shoots in for a double leg but Kittler sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kittler has his takedown stuffed
and Banal counters with a one-two to the body.
Ashley Banal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reno Kittler.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banal gets a takedown into half guard.
Kittler trying to control from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Banal seems content to control.

Banal is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Well, if Banal is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Banal will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banal wants to stand up but Kittler manages to regain full guard.
Kittler looking for a sweep. Not yet Kittler, not yet.
Kittler controls Banal momentarily but Banal frees himself.
Banal controls from within his opponent's guard.
Banal wants to get up but he can't break Kittler's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banal lands a couple of elbows.

Kittler working for a triangle but Banal defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Banal is stalling in the full guard.
Kittler looking to control.
Banal looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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.
Banal chips away with some ground and pound.
Kittler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Banal is one step ahead there.
Banal not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Banal has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Banal gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kittler misses with a shot to the body

and Banal counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kittler tries to get to full guard but Banal has control of the leg.

Banal is looking for a kimura here.
Kittler trying to hold on to Banal's head to control him but Banal postures up.
Banal works his way into side control.
Banal working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kittler taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kittler struggling a bit here.
Kittler is letting Banal control him for a moment.

Banal stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Banal moves into the clinch.

Banal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kittler looks to throw the jab but Banal is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kittler misses with a takedown attempt

and Banal counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kittler is breathing heavily.
Kittler makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kittler.
Banal is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ashley Banal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Banal postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banal is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Banal wants to get up but he can't break Kittler's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kittler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Banal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kittler misses with a few strikes there.
Banal thows a body kick. Kittler tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Kittler gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Banal to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kittler wants to stand up but Banal is controlling him.
Banal working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kittler's head.
Kittler being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ashley Banal dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Banal drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kittler is looking for a triangle but Banal pushes his legs off easily.
Banal content to stall in guard here.
Kittler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Banal stopping the sweep attempt from Kittler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banal looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Banal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Banal looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ashley Banal just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kittler clinches but Banal breaks the clinch

and Banal counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banal.

Banal stands up and waves to Kittler to follow him.
Kittler misses with a takedown

and Banal counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banal.
Kittler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Banal content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kittler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ashley Banal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Banal's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kittler wants to stand up but Banal is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ashley Banal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Banal has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ashley Banal!