PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jean Luc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banks is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Onward To Victory. Vladimir Banks is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Luc
vs
Banks

185 cm
24
214 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

186 cm
27
207 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jean Luc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Banks!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Bruno Lombardi and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luc staying out of range there.
Luc shoots in for a takedown but Banks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Banks misses with a looping left.
Banks motions for Luc to come forward. Banks throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Luc looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Banks wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Luc has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Luc in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Banks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Banks is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Luc drops back looking for a leg! Banks is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Banks manages to kick Luc off! Luc jumps back into Banks's guard.
Luc pushing down on Banks's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Luc thows a huge punch but Banks dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luc throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Luc not doing much here.
Luc is trying to control the action in half guard but Banks is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Luc tries to pass to full mount but Banks defends it.
Banks slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Luc throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Banks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Banks is trying to control the position but Luc postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Banks connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Banks.
Banks throws a jab but it's blocked by Luc.
Luc shoots in looking for a takedown. Banks tries to sprawl out of it but Luc keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Banks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Banks throws a nice inside leg kick.
Banks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice takedown defense from Banks. No joy for Luc on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jean Luc. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luc avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Luc shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banks is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Luc defends well.
Luc trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Luc slips nicely into half guard.

Banks has one foot on Luc's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Banks misses with a hook.
Banks thows a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Banks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Banks moves in looking to clinch but Luc pushes him off.
Luc takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Jean Luc has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks throws the left hand but Luc avoids the punch easily.
Luc avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Banks throws a shot from downtown. Luc moves away and avoids it.
Banks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Luc.
Banks misses with a hook.
Luc fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Luc drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Banks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Luc can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Luc trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Banks is trying to hold Luc in close to prevent damage but Luc has managed to pass into half guard.

Luc is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Banks defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vladimir Banks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jean Luc's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Luc is looking to chop away at Banks's legs.
Banks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Banks connects with a body shot.
Luc fails to land the takedown.
Luc with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Banks to score with a decent uppercut.
Luc showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Banks.
Banks misses with a body punch

and Luc counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Banks is doing well to control the position and prevent Luc from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Banks.
Luc trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Luc postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Banks is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Luc, into his guard.
Banks trying to control but Luc is working from the bottom.
Banks stands and throws Luc's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Luc is looking to regain half guard here but Banks keeps moving and retains side control.
Banks sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Luc is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Luc sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luc trying to control here.
Banks prevents Luc from improving his position.
Banks works his way into side control.
Banks lands some shots froms side control.
Luc gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Banks pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Banks landing punches.
Banks trying to control but Luc is having none of it.
Luc keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luc is squirming around, avoiding Banks's attempts to control the action.
Banks with a couple of short strikes.
Banks postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Luc looks a forlorn figure.
Luc is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Banks controlling the pace for now.
Luc regains half guard.
Banks looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Banks is trying to control the action in half guard but Luc is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luc is looking to improve his position.
Luc is positioning himself well to prevent Banks advancing to mount.
Banks wants to pass the guard but Luc is defending well.
Banks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Banks looks to land a left hand but Luc moved out of range nicely.
Luc slips under a jab from Banks.
Luc keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jean Luc's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Banks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jean Luc is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Luc throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Banks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Luc counters with a shoot takedown. Banks fights it but they end up in guard.

Luc drops back, looking for a kneebar! Banks looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Banks looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Banks!
Banks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Banks is working Luc over with some ground and pound from side control.
Jean Luc overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Luc is looking to regain half guard here but Banks keeps moving and retains side control.
Luc manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Banks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Luc keeps working.
Banks prevents Luc from improving his position.
Luc on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Luc tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Banks connects with a nice short shot to Luc's temple.
Luc slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Banks passes Luc's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Banks wants to control but Luc is keeping him busy.
Luc gets back to full guard.

Luc throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Banks is working Luc over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Luc can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Banks controls the pace.
Luc is trying to keep Banks in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks forces his way into half guard.
Luc blocking the ground and pound attempt from Banks.
Banks passes the guard and advances to mount!
Luc is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Banks trying to control but Luc is having none of it.
Banks putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Luc wants to hold on but Banks pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks looking to control but Luc is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Luc is looking to get to half guard.
Luc is working hard here to advance position.
Banks content just to control the position here.
Luc is trying to escape the mount.
Banks breaks from Luc's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Banks cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Banks lands a big elbow.

Jean Luc's cut is getting worse.
Banks looking to control but Luc is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Banks lands a big shot there that rocks Luc but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Jean Luc has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Banks lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Luc hang on?

Jean Luc's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Luc in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Banks avoids the attempt from Luc to control.
Luc keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Banks tries to control but Luc wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banks putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Vladimir Banks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Banks pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
BOOM! Banks connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Banks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Banks 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

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