PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wayne Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brendan Mullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mullen has chosen Let's Do the Time Warp Again as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Banner
vs
Mullen

171 cm
22
136 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

176 cm
20
142 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wayne Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brendan Mullen!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mullen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mullen shoots in for a takedown but Banner shows good takedown defense.

Banner shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mullen's guard.
Banner postures up and lands a big shot to Mullen's brow.
Mullen striking from his own guard.
Banner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Banner takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Banner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mullen lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Mullen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mullen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Mullen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Banner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mullen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mullen tries for a takedown but Banner circles away easily

and Banner counters by moving into the clinch.
Wayne Banner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brendan Mullen.
Mullen trying to control the position but instead, Banner has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mullen into the cage.

Mullen is fighting off a takedown attempt but Banner is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Mullen to the mat. Mullen regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Mullen throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Mullen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Banner slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mullen tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Banner lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Mullen is not content to let Banner control the position.
Mullen tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Mullen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Mullen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mullen misses with a strike from the bottom.
Check out the look on Banner's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Banner scoring with punches from side control.
Mullen throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Banner avoids the strikes from the bottom by Mullen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mullen tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Banner working the ground and pound from side control.
Mullen throws up a few punches.
Banner works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Banner blocks the strikes from Mullen.
Banner lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Mullen stops Banner from passing to mount.
Mullen is looking to reverse the position.
Mullen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Banner's best efforts.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mullen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mullen tries to strike from the bottom.
Mullen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Banner postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mullen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Banner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mullen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banner trying to control but Mullen is working from the bottom.
Banner is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Banner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mullen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mullen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Banner lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mullen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Banner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mullen!
Mullen swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Mullen throwing hammer fists to the chest of Banner. What's that going to do exactly?
Mullen is trying to escape the mount.
Mullen swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Banner dominating with strikes here.
Mullen swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Banner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Banner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Mullen regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mullen is in trouble now - Banner has advanced to mount!
Mullen throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Mullen throwing hammer fists to the chest of Banner. What's that going to do exactly?
Banner landing strikes, looking to finish!
Mullen is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Banner cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mullen throwing hammer fists to the chest of Banner. What's that going to do exactly?
Mullen flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Banner blocks Mullen's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Mullen taking shots to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banner blocks Mullen's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Mullen throwing hammer fists to the chest of Banner. What's that going to do exactly?
Banner lands a nice shot to the head.
Mullen throwing hammer fists to the chest of Banner. What's that going to do exactly?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne Banner dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mullen tries for a takedown but Banner circles away easily

and Banner counters by clinching up.
Banner is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mullen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Banner is keeping busy.
Banner trying to control the position but instead, Mullen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Banner into the cage.
Mullen is pressed up against the cage. Banner has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mullen down to the mat. Mullen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Mullen scores with a takedown into Banner's guard.
Wayne Banner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mullen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banner is keeping the position for now.

Mullen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Banner manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Mullen has Banner in his guard.
Mullen striking off his back but it's not causing Banner any problems.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mullen trying to strike off his back.
Banner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mullen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mullen is on top in guard.

Mullen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Banner is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mullen, into his guard.
Mullen striking off his back.
Banner lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Banner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mullen strikes from his own guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner postures up in Mullen's guard and throws a big left but Mullen blocks it.
Banner chips away with some ground and pound.
Mullen throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Banner with a nice head shot there.
Mullen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mullen is trying to work for a kimura but Banner is defending well.

Mullen is working for a kimura but Banner is defending it quite comfortably.

Banner is defending against the submission attempts here by Mullen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mullen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mullen works his way into full mount!

That's four 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.

Mullen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Banner is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Banner and Mullen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Mullen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Mullen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Banner has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brendan Mullen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mullen with a poor takedown

and Banner holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Banner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mullen fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Banner gets caught flat footed, as Mullen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Mullen has gone for a leg lock! Banner slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mullen's guard.
Banner scoring with some ground and pound.
Banner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mullen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Mullen striking from his own guard.
Banner chips away with some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mullen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Banner is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mullen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen looking for a sweep. Not yet Mullen, not yet.
Banner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mullen keeping moving, preventing Banner from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mullen with a poor takedown

and Banner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mullen!
Mullen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mullen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Banner postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mullen looks a forlorn figure.
Banner scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Mullen throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Mullen taking shots to the head.
Mullen throwing hammer fists to the chest of Banner. What's that going to do exactly?
Banner cracks Mullen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Banner blocks Mullen's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mullen throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Banner blocks Mullen's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Banner lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Banner connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Banner lands a heavy elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mullen throwing hammer fists to the chest of Banner. What's that going to do exactly?
A nice elbow there by Banner.
Banner in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mullen is trying to escape the mount.
Banner working the ground and pound effectively.
Mullen flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Mullen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Banner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Banner throwing shots but Mullen is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Mullen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Mullen taking some punishment here, with Banner in his half guard.
Mullen lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Banner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mullen is pressing down on Banner's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mullen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Banner shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mullen is trying to defend but Banner finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Banner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mullen's head.
Banner is trying to control the action in half guard but Mullen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Banner blocks the strikes from Mullen.
Mullen manages to get to full guard.
Mullen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Banner is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Banner distracts Mullen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mullen fails with the takedown

and Banner counters with a shoot takedown. Mullen fights it but they end up in guard.
Wayne Banner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brendan Mullen.
Banner distracts Mullen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mullen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Mullen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Banner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mullen is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wayne Banner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Banner 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wayne Banner!