PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bestigor Tazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banks comes into the arena with Onward To Victory blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Banks
vs
Tazar

186 cm
28
211 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

184 cm
24
219 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Banks!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bestigor Tazar!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks lands a nice looking body shot.
Banks tests Tazar's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Vladimir Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banks fails with the takedown.
Banks fails with a takedown attempt.
Tazar avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tazar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banks moves away.
Banks jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Banks lands a jab to the nose.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tazar moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tazar lands a two punch combo.
Tazar doesn't manage to clinch there - Banks circles away.
Banks ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tazar connects with a body shot.
Banks lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tazar looks gassed!
Nice takedown defense from Tazar. No joy for Banks on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks misses the jab.
Tazar gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Banks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tazar.
Bestigor Tazar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Banks does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Banks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tazar circles away quickly and effectively.
Tazar tries to close the distance and clinch but Banks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Banks throws a big shot that misses.
Tazar defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Banks.
Banks lands with an overhand left.
Banks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tazar avoids it really well and circles away.

Tazar rushes Banks and presses him up against the cage.
Banks wants to break free but Tazar has control.
Tazar misses with a knee strike.
Banks takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Banks working hard to break the clinch.
Come on Tazar - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tazar landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tazar.
Tazar landing knees to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tazar stops a takedown attempt from Banks.
Banks takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Vladimir Banks has been cut.
Tazar lands a knee to the body.
Tazar throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Come on Tazar - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tazar landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Banks takes a shot to the head.
Tazar putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Banks in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tazar stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A right hand to the body from Tazar.
Tazar unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tazar working Banks over with knees to the body.
Tazar crunches a lovely knee into Banks's ribcage.
Tazar lands a right hand that snaps the head of Banks backwards.
Tazar misses with a knee strike.
Tazar lands a good knee to the midsection. Banks won't want to take too many of those.
Tazar scores a nice knee to the body.
Tazar digs a right hand into Banks's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Banks's gas tank.
A right hand to the body from Tazar.
A hook to the body from Tazar.
Tazar effectively controlling the action here.
Tazar lands a nice knee to the body.
Tazar lands a body shot.
Tazar landing knees to the body.
Tazar scores a nice knee to the body.
Tazar landing some nice looking knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banks is trying to force a seperation but Tazar has the dominant position.
Tazar with a knee to the head.
Banks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tazar avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Banks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tazar manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tazar blocks a body shot from Banks.
Tazar connects with a nasty looking knee right to Banks's face.
Banks wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tazar's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Banks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tazar just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tazar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tazar looking to throw knees to the head but Banks is blocking nicely.
Tazar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tazar lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tazar lands a right hand that snaps the head of Banks backwards.
Tazar is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tazar tries to land knees in the clinch but Banks avoids the damage to the body.
Banks tries to pull guard but Tazar won't allow it.
Tazar throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Banks blocks it with crossed arms.
Tazar utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bestigor Tazar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Banks's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Banks misses with a wild body shot.
Banks lands a jab-cross combination.
Banks shoots in for a takedown but Tazar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tazar ducks under a wild hook from Banks.
Banks takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Tazar has Banks up against the cage in a clinch.
Tazar controlling the action here for a moment.
Banks is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tazar prevents the takedown attempt.
Banks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tazar scores with a shoulder strike.
Banks is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Banks misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tazar tries to land knees in the clinch but Banks avoids the damage to the body.
Tazar prevents a body shot from Banks.
Tazar is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tazar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tazar landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Banks takes a knee to the side of the body.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tazar.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tazar lands a good knee to the midsection. Banks won't want to take too many of those.
Tazar lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tazar is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A right hand to the body from Tazar.
Bestigor Tazar seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A knee to the head by Tazar.
Tazar leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tazar lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Banks.
A knee to the head by Tazar.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tazar.
Come on Tazar - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A body shot lands from Tazar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tazar.
Tazar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tazar is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Banks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tazar lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Tazar scores with a knee to the head.
Tazar tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tazar using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Banks has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Banks tries to pull guard but Tazar holds him up against the cage and eventually Banks drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tazar with a knee to the head.
Nice body punch from Tazar.
Good body shot from Tazar.
Banks can't break the clinch.
Tazar landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tazar is pressed up against the cage. Banks has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tazar down to the mat. Tazar avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tazar scores with a hook to the body. Banks takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tazar scores with a three punch combo!

Tazar clinches with his opponent.
Tazar landing knees to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tazar.
A right handed body shot lands from Tazar.
Tazar stalling.
Banks can't find room to land a body shot as Tazar controls the action.
Tazar lands a knee to the body.
Tazar landing knees to the body.
Banks wants to break free but Tazar has control.
Tazar landing knees to the body.
Tazar is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tazar has Banks pushed against the cage.
Tazar trying to land knees to the body.
Tazar throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tazar lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Banks.
Tazar unloads a knee to the mid-section. Banks lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tazar tries a knee to the head but Banks blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks trying to stall but Tazar improves his position.
Banks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Banks is trying to break the clinch but Tazar is controlling him.
Banks takes a knee to the side of the body.
Banks is trying to break the clinch but Tazar has him pressed against the cage.
Tazar scores a nice knee to the body.
Tazar holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Banks tries to break the clinch but Tazar is controlling the position.
Tazar lands with a light punch inside.
Tazar scores with a knee to the head.

Banks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tazar lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Vladimir Banks is winning the standup battle so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tazar swings for the body but Banks moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tazar gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Vladimir Banks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tazar thuds a left hand into Banks's body.
Tazar lands a slapping body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bestigor Tazar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Banks's cut.
That's time! Banks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tazar leaves Banks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tazar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Tazar darts in and clinches Banks up against the cage.
Tazar stalling.
Banks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tazar utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tazar landing knees to the body.
Banks wants to get back to striking at distance but Tazar won't allow it.
Banks wants to break free but Tazar has control.
Tazar lands with a right to the head.
Banks wants to break free but Tazar has control.
Tazar prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tazar throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tazar lands a knee to the head.
Tazar scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A knee to the head by Tazar.
Tazar putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Banks in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tazar lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tazar lands a left hand that snaps the head of Banks backwards.
Tazar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tazar tries a knee to the head but Banks blocks it.
Tazar lands a body shot.
Tazar lands a good knee to the midsection. Banks won't want to take too many of those.
Tazar with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tazar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tazar with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tazar avoiding damage.
Banks tries to break free but Tazar pushes him back against the cage.
Tazar prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tazar lands with a short shot to the head.
Tazar gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Banks.
Banks wants to break free but Tazar has control.
Stalling in the clinch from Tazar.
Banks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tazar avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tazar avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tazar throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Banks blocks it with crossed arms.
Tazar misses with a knee to the head.
Tazar using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Banks has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tazar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Banks is defending well for now.
Tazar lands a body punch in the clinch.
Banks avoiding damage as Tazar throws knees to the body.
Banks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tazar just stands there and leans against the cage.
A body shot lands from Tazar.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Banks goes for a takedown attempt but Tazar pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Banks misses with a kick to the body.
Tazar jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Banks misses with a hook.
Banks lands a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tazar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banks was well out of range. Poor timing from Tazar.
Tazar with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Tazar pushes Banks up against the cage in a clinch.
Banks blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tazar working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Banks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tazar fails in his attempt to clinch.

Tazar clinches with his opponent.
Good body shot from Banks.
Banks blocks a body shot from Tazar.
A frustrated look appears on Banks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Banks managing to block the knees to the body from Tazar.
Banks tries to pull guard but Tazar holds him up against the cage and eventually Banks drops back down to his feet.
Tazar misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banks.
Banks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tazar avoiding damage.

Banks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tazar rushes Banks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tazar unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tazar using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Banks has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Banks drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Banks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tazar moves out of range of the strikes.
A shot to the liver by Tazar. Beautiful body shot.
Banks looks to throw the jab but Tazar is out of range.
Banks fails to land the takedown.
Tazar blocks a jab.
Banks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Tazar to counter with a crisp jab.
Jab, jab by Tazar - just one landing.
Banks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bestigor Tazar really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Banks's cut.
That's time! Banks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tazar lands a glancing blow to the side of Banks's head.
Banks shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tazar but Tazar pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tazar is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Tazar connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Tazar fails to land with a series of punches.
Tazar throws a hook to the side of Banks's head but Banks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tazar scores with a jab to the head.
Banks avoids the body shot from Tazar.
Tazar scores with a jab to the body.
Banks misses with a low kick.
Tazar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banks was well out of range. Poor timing from Tazar.

Tazar clinches up with Banks and pushes him back against the cage.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Banks can't break the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Tazar.
Tazar putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Banks in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tazar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A jab from Tazar finds it's way through Banks's defenses.

Tazar has taken the fight to the clinch.
Banks throws a punch but it's blocked by Tazar.
A left hand lands to the body for Tazar.
Tazar unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Banks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tazar obliges.
Tazar landing knees to the head.
Tazar landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tazar.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tazar creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tazar landing knees to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Tazar.
Tazar stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A knee to the head by Tazar.
Tazar scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tazar lands with a right to the head.
Tazar keeps control of Banks as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tazar lands a body punch.
Banks tries to pull guard but Tazar holds him up against the cage and eventually Banks drops back down to his feet.
Banks tries to pull guard but Tazar won't allow it.
Banks has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tazar is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tazar just leaning against Banks, taking a breather.
A hook to the body from Tazar.
A left hand lands to the body for Tazar.
Banks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Banks tries to break the clinch but Tazar is controlling the position.
Tazar is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Tazar throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Banks blocks it with crossed arms.
Banks tries to break free but Tazar pushes him back against the cage.
Tazar lands a left hand that snaps the head of Banks backwards.
Banks tries to score a body lock takedown but Tazar shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tazar lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tazar misses with a knee to the head.
A body shot lands from Tazar.
Tazar with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tazar connects with a knee to the head.
Banks is trying to push Tazar away but Tazar has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Knees to the body from Tazar.
Tazar stalling against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Banks jumps guard but Tazar stands there with Banks around his waist. Banks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Banks managing to block the knees to the body from Tazar.
Banks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tazar just stands there and leans against the cage.
Banks jumps guard but Tazar stands there with Banks around his waist. Banks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Banks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tazar lands a shoulder strike.
Banks has had enough of the clinch but Tazar keeps him there for the moment.
Banks wants to break free but Tazar has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks can't break the clinch.
Banks fails to pull guard.
Banks avoiding damage as Tazar throws knees to the body.
Tazar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Banks is defending well for now.
Tazar is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Banks takes a knee to the side of the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tazar.
Tazar lands a good knee to the midsection. Banks won't want to take too many of those.
Tazar content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Tazar missing with knees to the body.
Tazar lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tazar working Banks over with knees to the body.
Tazar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Banks is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banks tries to break free but Tazar pushes him back against the cage.
Banks wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tazar.
Banks takes a knee right on the jaw!
Banks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bestigor Tazar dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Banks's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Banks misses with a takedown attempt - Tazar sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tazar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Banks tries to clinch up
and Tazar counters with a one-two to the body.
Banks tries a head kick but it misses.
Tazar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Banks.
Banks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Banks clinches but Tazar breaks the clinch
and Tazar counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tazar scores with a decent looking hook.

Tazar fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Banks, pushing him back against the cage.
Tazar utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Tazar is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tazar landing knees to the head.
Tazar lands a knee to the body.
Nice body punch from Tazar.
Tazar working Banks over with knees to the body.
Tazar with a knee to the head.
Tazar lands a nice uppercut.
A knee to the head by Tazar.
Tazar scores with a hook to the body.
Tazar lands a good knee to the midsection. Banks won't want to take too many of those.
Tazar scores with a hook to the body.
Tazar crunches a lovely knee into Banks's ribcage.
Tazar landing knees to the head.
Banks has had enough of the clinch but Tazar keeps him there for the moment.
Tazar misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Tazar.
Banks wants a takedown but no success here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tazar obliges.

Banks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tazar misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks avoids a punch combination nicely.
Banks takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Banks throws a combination that misses
and Tazar cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Banks throws a hook to the side of Tazar's head but Tazar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tazar stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tazar wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tazar clinches with his opponent.
Banks takes a knee to the side of the body.
Banks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The referee calls for Tazar to work.
Banks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tazar missing with knees to the body.
Tazar presses Banks against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Banks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tazar has him pressed against the cage.
Banks tries to pull guard but Tazar holds him up against the cage and eventually Banks drops back down to his feet.
Banks wants to break free but Tazar has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries to score a body lock takedown but Tazar shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tazar lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tazar lands a good knee to the midsection. Banks won't want to take too many of those.
Tazar slows down the pace here.
Tazar landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Banks takes a shot to the head.
Banks can't get the takedown.
Tazar utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tazar lands a good knee to the midsection. Banks won't want to take too many of those.
Tazar lands a knee to the body.
Tazar presses Banks against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tazar landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tazar is working Banks over against the cage.
Tazar lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Banks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tazar's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tazar gets through Banks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tazar unloads a knee to the mid-section. Banks lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tazar landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tazar lands a good knee to the midsection. Banks won't want to take too many of those.
Tazar cracks Banks with a nice body shot.
Tazar lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tazar is pushing Banks up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Tazar lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Banks has had enough of the clinch but Tazar keeps him there for the moment.
Banks can't break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Tazar.
Tazar missing with knees to the body.
Tazar lands a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tazar pushes Banks back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tazar unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Vladimir Banks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A frustrated look appears on Banks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tazar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tazar landing some nice looking knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bestigor Tazar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tazar 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 43:50
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 43:50
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 43:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bestigor Tazar!
Bestigor Tazar is the new light heavyweight champion!