PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juan manual (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

manual
vs
Banks

160 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
132 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Juan manual!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Will Banks!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Banks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Banks wants to control from the top but manual keeps moving.
manual might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
manual being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banks wants to pass the guard but manual is keeping the position.
Banks is working manual over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Banks is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
manual looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Banks puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
manual is staying active underneath Banks, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Banks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Banks thows a huge punch but manual dodges it nicely.
manual trying to control but Banks postures up.
manual blocking the ground and pound attempt from Banks.
Nice strikes from Banks there.

Banks postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for manual to stand up.
Banks doesn't manage to clinch there - manual circles away.
manual leaves Banks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

manual gets in close and instigates a clinch.
manual is pressed up against the cage. Banks has hold of a leg and is looking to drag manual down to the mat. manual avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries to clinch but fails miserably

and manual counters by clinching up.
manual using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Banks has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knees to the body from manual.
Banks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banks blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
manual landing some nice looking knees to the body.
manual working Banks over with knees to the body.
Banks is trying to stall.
Banks stalling the fight.
Banks is looking to break free of the clinch but manual has double underhooks.
Banks avoiding damage as manual throws knees to the body.
Banks throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, manual just misses with a elbow thrown towards Banks's brow.
manual working Banks over with knees to the body.
manual with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Banks fails to pull guard.
Juan manual has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Banks.
manual misses with a knee strike.
Banks drops down looking for an ankle pick but manual pulls his leg out and moves away.
Banks looks gassed!
Banks slips a jab from manual.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks misses with a two punch combination.
Banks fails with a takedown attempt.
manual throws a combination. Banks tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Will Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
manual jabbing away but nothing is landing.
manual tries to bum rush Banks with a series of wild strikes but Banks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Banks closes this distance looking for a takedown but manual circles away.

manual darts in and clinches Banks up against the cage.
manual misses with a knee to the head.
manual throws an elbow but it misses.
manual lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Banks managing to block the knees to the body from manual.
manual misses with a knee to the head.
Banks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
manual tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Banks is trying to break the clinch but manual is controlling him.
manual with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Banks misses with a short punch on the inside.
manual looking to throw knees to the head but Banks is blocking nicely.
manual tries to land knees in the clinch but Banks avoids the damage to the body.
manual tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Banks dodges an elbow strike from manual.
manual is pressed up against the cage. Banks has hold of a leg and is looking to drag manual down to the mat. manual avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
manual circles away from the clinch attempt

and manual counters by moving into the clinch.
Banks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Banks blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Banks avoiding damage as manual throws knees to the body.
A short right from manual.
manual swings wildly with an uppercut but Banks uses good head movement to avoid it.
manual pushes off an throws an elbow but Banks leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Banks drops down looking for an ankle pick but manual pulls his leg out and moves away.
Banks tries to clinch up

and manual counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by manual.
manual throws an elbow that misses.
Banks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. manual smiles and moves away.
Banks tries to work over manual's front leg with a kick but manual checks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan manual dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No luck for Banks with that takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from manual as Banks shoots in.
Banks moves out of range of the strikes.
Banks tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and manual moves into the clinch.
Banks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. manual smiles and moves away.
Juan manual has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Banks.

manual gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
manual tries to land a knee to the head but Banks blocks with his arms.
manual tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
manual scores a nice knee to the body.
manual is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
manual misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Banks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by manual as Banks tries to tie him up.
manual throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Banks blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
manual misses with a knee strike.
manual gets through Banks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
manual misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
manual pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
manual misses with a knee to the head.
manual with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A frustrated look appears on Banks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
manual with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Banks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but manual pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Banks misses with a short punch on the inside.
Banks blocks an uppercut.
Banks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. manual just stands there and leans against the cage.
manual lands a damaging elbow.
Banks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. manual smiles and moves away.
manual doesn't manage to clinch there - Banks circles away.
Banks lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as manual backs up against the cage.
Banks tries to clinch but manual is having none of it.
Juan manual is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
manual is looking to clinch but Banks is avoiding it.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch but manual swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Banks doesn't manage to clinch there - manual circles away.
Banks throws a series of strikes that have manual backpedaling.
manual tries to clinch but Banks moves out of range.
Banks tries to clinch but manual is having none of it.
Banks fails to land the takedown.

Banks drives through and clinches with manual against the cage.
Banks tries to break free but manual pushes him back against the cage.
Banks fails to pull guard.
manual lands a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from manual.
manual with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Banks wants to get back to striking at distance but manual won't allow it.
Banks managing to block the knees to the body from manual.
manual lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
manual tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Banks avoids it.
manual throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Banks blocks it with crossed arms.
Banks pushes manual back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
manual with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Banks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks pushes manual back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
manual tries to land a knee to the head but Banks blocks with his arms.
manual has Banks pressed against the cage, preventing Banks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Banks manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
manual has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Banks scrambles and gets back to his feet.
No luck for Banks with that takedown attempt.

Banks feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Banks wants to control from the top but manual keeps moving.
Banks with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Banks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
manual keeping moving, preventing Banks from controlling successfully.
Banks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
manual working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Banks.
Banks wants to control from the top but manual keeps moving.
manual looking to control.
Banks trying to control the position from guard on top but manual is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Will Banks.

Banks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Will Banks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

manual drives through and clinches with Banks against the cage.
Banks trying to control the position but instead, manual has worked for underhooks and has pushed Banks into the cage.
manual lands on the inside with an uppercut.
manual tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Banks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
manual looks to throw an elbow but misses.
manual lands a good knee to the midsection. Banks won't want to take too many of those.
Banks stalling in the clinch but manual improves position.
manual looks to throw an elbow but misses.
manual unloads a knee to the mid-section. Banks lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Banks on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Banks jumps guard but manual stands there with Banks around his waist. Banks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
manual throws a knee to the head but misses.
Banks tries to pull guard but manual won't allow it.
manual landing knees to the head.
Banks is trying to maintain a safe position but manual gets an underhook and turns Banks into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, manual just misses with a elbow thrown towards Banks's brow.
Banks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
manual creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Banks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Juan manual has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Banks.
Banks looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
manual connects with a knee to the head.
manual looking to throw knees to the head but Banks is blocking nicely.
manual pushes off an throws an elbow but Banks leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Banks dodges an elbow strike from manual.
manual unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Banks tries to circle away but manual has him pinned against the cage.
manual is pressed up against the cage. Banks has hold of a leg and is looking to drag manual down to the mat. manual avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Banks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but manual avoids it really well and circles away.
Banks shoots in and drives through. manual sprawls well.
manual scores with a nice head shot.

manual pushes Banks up against the cage in a clinch.
manual tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Banks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

manual has taken the fight to the clinch.
manual tries a knee to the head but Banks blocks it.
manual with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Banks tries to break free but manual pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks working aggressively here.

Banks has clasped his hands together around manual's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Banks lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Banks lands an elbow.
Banks passes to full mount! That's big trouble for manual!
Banks lands with some strikes.
Banks thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Banks working the ground and pound effectively.
Banks tries to control but manual wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks breaks from manual's wrist control and lands an elbow.
manual holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Banks tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
manual wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Banks.
Banks with a couple of short strikes.
manual avoids a series of strikes thrown by Banks.
Banks throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Banks working away from the top, dropping strikes.
manual blocking the ground and pound.
Banks controlling from the full mount.
Banks throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
manual looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Banks pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
manual blocking the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Banks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Banks has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

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