PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Neil Bannister (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julius Kane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bannister
vs
Kane

176 cm
20
176 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
26
173 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

[IFC] Hilton Supplements *NYC*

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 2 - 1 - 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Julius Kane!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Dean Styles and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bannister has a takedown stuffed.
Kane bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bannister's head.
Bannister is looking to clinch.
Kane misses with a head kick.
Kane scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Kane clinches up against the cage.

Kane gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Bannister missing with punches from the bottom.
Bannister is trying to maintain the position but Kane is very close to passing his half guard.
Kane is taking a breather. Bannister says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kane throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kane seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bannister does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bannister tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bannister tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannister is trying to control but can't.
Well, if Kane is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Bannister trying to control but Kane postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kane lands a jab to Bannister's midsection.

Kane darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kane is taking a breather. Bannister says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Bannister punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bannister tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kane wants to advance to full mount but Bannister doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Bannister lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kane!
Kane flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Kane is looking to improve his position but Bannister isn't that keen on the idea.
Bannister working the ground and pound effectively.
Bannister throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kane flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane holds on for dear life.
Bannister trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bannister misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kane blocking the ground and pound.
Kane avoids a series of strikes thrown by Bannister.
Kane can't escape the position.
Kane is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bannister avoids the attempt from Kane to control.
Bannister thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Bannister throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kane because Bannister loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bannister throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kane is working to get back to half guard.
Kane throwing hammer fists to the chest of Bannister. What's that going to do exactly?
Bannister thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bannister blocks Kane's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Kane is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kane might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bannister kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kane swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Bannister looking to finish with strikes here!
Bannister thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kane working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Kane dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bannister fails with the takedown.
Kane throws a half hearted mid kick.
A head kick from Kane lands but Bannister takes it in his stride.

Kane looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bannister!
Bannister tries to hold on but Kane postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kane misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Kane avoids the attempt from Bannister to control.
Bannister flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Bannister avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kane.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannister tries to hold on but Kane pushes him away.
Kane blocks Bannister's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Bannister tries to hold on but Kane pushes him away.
Kane looking to finish with strikes here!
Kane throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Bannister throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Bannister manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kane in particular looking to stall.
Bannister avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kane.
Kane thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bannister's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bannister keeping hold of Kane's head, controlling as best he can.
Kane perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bannister is trying to control but can't.
Kane is looking to advance position but Bannister won't allow it.
Bannister is trying to control but can't.
Kane trying to control the action but Bannister is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A cross from Kane lands.
Kane throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kane closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bannister to the mat! Bannister manages to get full guard.
Bannister working a defensive guard here.
Kane controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bannister is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kane is aware though and is defending well.
Kane is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bannister working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kane.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kane accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bannister looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Bannister is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kane really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bannister. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bannister can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kane controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bannister throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bannister throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kane trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bannister keeping moving, preventing Kane from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Julius Kane.
Bannister is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kane rushes Bannister and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kane is struggling to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Kane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Bannister's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kane tries a head kick but it misses.

Kane 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.
Bannister preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kane throwing strikes but missing.
Kane's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bannister tries to strike from the bottom.
Bannister tries to strike from the bottom.
Kane trying to control but Bannister is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kane preventing the sweep.
Kane must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Julius Kane.
Kane is looking to chop away at Bannister's legs.
Good exchange - Kane coming out on top.
Bannister avoids the head kick by Kane.
Bannister misses with a takedown attempt - Kane sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Bannister drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kane trying to strike off his back.
Bannister postures up in Kane's guard and throws a big left but Kane blocks it.
Kane wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bannister trying to control but Kane is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kane working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Julius Kane.
Bannister shoots for a double leg takedown but Kane sprawls well. He's pushed Bannister's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kane throws a good cross that connects.

Kane scores a takedown into full mount!
Kane throwing strikes here but Bannister is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Bannister holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kane tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Kane blocks Bannister's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Kane punching from mount but Bannister doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Bannister wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kane.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bannister keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kane misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Bannister has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kane controlling the position easily from mount.
Kane throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Kane looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bannister is working to get back to half guard.

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.
Bannister avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kane.
Julius Kane has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bannister wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kane.
Kane throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Kane avoids the attempt from Bannister to control.
Kane throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kane tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bannister is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Poor strikes thrown by Kane there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Neil Bannister has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kane looking to ground and pound but Bannister is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julius Kane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kane 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julius Kane!