PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Neil Bannister (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian McDermott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Christian McDermott has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Neil Bannister's chin.

Bannister
vs
McDermott

176 cm
20
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neil Bannister!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Christian McDermott!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Steve Montenegro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bannister shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in McDermott's guard.
Bannister loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bannister trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bannister postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDermott seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bannister trying to stand up but can't free himself from McDermott's guard.
Bannister has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bannister pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDermott is keeping the position for now.
McDermott is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McDermott clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDermott works on Bannister's body with a couple of short punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bannister.
Bannister managing to block the knees to the body from McDermott.
Bannister wants a takedown.
McDermott tries to throw a body punch but Bannister avoids it by throwing McDermott back against the cage.
McDermott digs a right hand underneath Bannister's ribcage. Bannister let out a lung full of air as it connected.
McDermott cracks Bannister with a nice body shot.

Bannister's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McDermott fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bannister misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

McDermott gets a clinch.
McDermott missing with knees to the body.
McDermott has Bannister pressed against the cage, preventing Bannister from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bannister has McDermott pressed against the cage, preventing McDermott from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McDermott struggles to land a body shot inside as Bannister controls his hands.
Bannister wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

McDermott has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bannister uses from the top position.
Bannister pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDermott is keeping the position for now.
Bannister stands and throws McDermott's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bannister is looking to take a break and control but McDermott is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McDermott tries to bench press Bannister off him but Bannister keeps the position.
McDermott gets back to half guard.
Bannister wants to take a breather but McDermott is having none of it.
Bannister trying to pass the guard but McDermott defending well.
McDermott wants to control but Bannister is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDermott is controlling Bannister's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Bannister trying to control the pace.
Bannister trying to mount his opponent but McDermott defends it.
McDermott is positioning himself well to prevent Bannister advancing to mount.
Bannister trying to pass the guard but McDermott defending well.

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.
Bannister is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and McDermott reverses the position - he's now on top in Bannister's guard.
McDermott wants to control from the top but Bannister keeps moving.
Bannister pulls McDermott in to control the position.
Bannister trying to control the position.
McDermott trying to control the position from guard on top but Bannister is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDermott trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bannister manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian McDermott dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A head kick misses from Bannister.
McDermott closes the distance and clinches up with Bannister, looking for a takedown. McDermott pushes Bannister against the cage but Bannister circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Neil Bannister is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bannister tries to land a front kick but McDermott steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Bannister shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
McDermott not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bannister is looking to work some ground and pound but McDermott has wrist control.
McDermott keeping full guard, as Bannister tries to pass.
McDermott keeping moving, preventing Bannister from controlling successfully.
Bannister sitting in guard here, content to control.
McDermott is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannister tries to free his leg and advance position but McDermott is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Bannister gets the takedown into side control.
McDermott wants to control but Bannister postures up.
Bannister tries to advance to mount but can't.
Bannister trying to control the position but McDermott is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bannister working away.
McDermott tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bannister wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bannister is looking to take a break and control but McDermott is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McDermott tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bannister tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDermott swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McDermott with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bannister counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McDermott is breathing heavily.
Bannister working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bannister trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bannister is stalling in the full guard.
Bannister's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

McDermott throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McDermott keeping moving, preventing Bannister from controlling successfully.
McDermott is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McDermott is trying to hold Bannister in close to prevent damage but Bannister has managed to pass into half guard.
Bannister tries to stand but his hand is stuck under McDermott.
McDermott moves into full guard.
Bannister sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McDermott's guard.
Bannister moves nicely into side control.
Bannister tries to advance to mount but McDermott denies him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil Bannister dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McDermott circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bannister lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McDermott misses with a takedown

and Bannister counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bannister.
McDermott is trying to control the position but Bannister postures up.
Bannister pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDermott is keeping the position for now.
Bannister postures up.
McDermott keeping moving, preventing Bannister from controlling successfully.
Bannister tries to free his leg and advance position but McDermott is retaining full guard.
McDermott takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bannister wants to control from the top but McDermott keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDermott manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bannister can't escape the position.
McDermott content just to control the position here.
Bannister tries to hold on but McDermott pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bannister is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

McDermott is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bannister has managed to escape the submission attempt.
McDermott can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bannister is looking to escape.
Bannister is wriggling around trying to escape.
McDermott trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McDermott is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
McDermott controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermott can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bannister is looking to escape.
Bannister tries to lock up and control but McDermott gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bannister can't escape the position.

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.
McDermott looking to control but Bannister is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bannister tries to hold on but McDermott postures up.
McDermott looking to control but Bannister is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bannister wants to hold on but McDermott pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bannister tries to reverse the position but McDermott maintains control.
McDermott trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil Bannister showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bannister has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neil Bannister!