PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Latundan El Banana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Velikij (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Latundan El Banana is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

El Banana
vs
Velikij

225 cm
25
184 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Latundan El Banana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Velikij!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velikij shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. El Banana defends it nicely.
Velikij is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
El Banana lands a high kick!
Velikij closes this distance looking for a takedown but El Banana circles away.
El Banana looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
El Banana displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Velikij.
Latundan El Banana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Velikij.
Velikij misses with a takedown attempt - El Banana sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Velikij takes a head kick and keeps coming.

El Banana 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
El Banana looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velikij not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Velikij looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
El Banana knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Velikij on the ground.
Velikij trying to control the position.

Velikij looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
El Banana controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
El Banana stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velikij swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Velikij is looking to stand up but El Banana isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Velikij walks forward, straight into a front kick from El Banana.
Velikij looks gassed!

El Banana shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Velikij is trying to defend but El Banana finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
El Banana will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
El Banana wants to pass to mount but Velikij is defending the position.

El Banana is working for a kimura but Velikij is defending it quite comfortably.
Velikij is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Banana wants to lay and pray for a moment but Velikij keeps working.
Still in half guard, El Banana seems content to control.
Velikij slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Velikij avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velikij is trying to control the position but El Banana postures up.
El Banana tries to free his leg and advance position but Velikij is retaining full guard.
Velikij is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Velikij is looking for a triangle here but El Banana uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Banana trying to control the position but Velikij is working away.
Velikij can't do much from the bottom here.
Velikij tries to buck El Banana off but El Banana is having none of it.
Velikij sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
El Banana tries to pass the half guard into mount. Velikij knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
El Banana lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Latundan El Banana dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

El Banana tries to clinch up.

El Banana shoots in and gets a takedown into Velikij's guard.
El Banana has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Velikij is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
El Banana is trying to stand up here but Velikij is controlling him well.
Latundan El Banana overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Velikij is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so El Banana is just riding it out for now. Velikij eventually gives up the hold.
El Banana really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Velikij wants to take a breather but El Banana is having none of it.
Velikij moves into full mount! El Banana won't be happy about that!

Velikij is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, El Banana has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
El Banana is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velikij fails to move to back control.
Velikij looking to control but El Banana is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Velikij gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Velikij is breathing heavily.
El Banana lands with a kick to the temple. Velikij shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Velikij tries to keep at a distance but El Banana has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Velikij's face as he tries to break the clinch.
El Banana is trying to pull guard but Velikij has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Banana tries to pull guard but Velikij forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
El Banana tries to pull guard but Velikij holds him up against the cage and eventually El Banana drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Latundan El Banana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
El Banana jumps guard but Velikij turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
El Banana gets underhooks to prevent Velikij's takedown attempt.
El Banana gets underhooks to prevent Velikij's takedown attempt.
Velikij has El Banana pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. El Banana manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velikij stops a takedown attempt from El Banana.

El Banana escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
El Banana throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Velikij fails to land the takedown.

El Banana scores a takedown into full mount!
Velikij working to try and regain half guard.
A nice elbow there by El Banana.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Banana putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Velikij can't escape the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
El Banana is landing with some decent strikes but Velikij is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Velikij tries to reverse the position but El Banana maintains control.
Velikij is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
El Banana cracks Velikij with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Velikij is in all sorts of trouble here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
El Banana tries to control but Velikij wriggling away.
El Banana landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Latundan El Banana dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
El Banana is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Velikij to keep the fight standing.
El Banana fails to pull the fight into his guard.
El Banana tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Velikij smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Latundan El Banana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velikij avoids the head kick by El Banana.
The fight stays on the outside here - Velikij looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Velikij gets a double leg takedown into El Banana's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Banana is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Velikij is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
El Banana keeping moving, preventing Velikij from controlling successfully.
El Banana wants to sweep but no luck.
El Banana keeping full guard, as Velikij tries to pass.
El Banana wants to sweep but no luck.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ivan Velikij wasn't active enough on the ground.

El Banana gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Velikij is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
El Banana gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Velikij.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velikij can't get the takedown.
Velikij tries to pull guard but El Banana holds him up against the cage and eventually Velikij drops back down to his feet.
El Banana jumps guard but Velikij stands there with El Banana around his waist. El Banana gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Velikij is working for takedown but El Banana is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velikij has clasped his hands together around El Banana's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
El Banana avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Velikij.
El Banana is trying to buck Velikij off.
Velikij trying to control the action but El Banana is working from the bottom.
El Banana holds on to Velikij's head and controls the position momentarily.
El Banana wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ivan Velikij has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
El Banana on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if El Banana tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velikij is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. El Banana knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
El Banana takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Velikij misses with the ground and pound.

Velikij is trying to get an arm triangle but El Banana is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
El Banana wants to control but Velikij postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velikij wants to control but El Banana is keeping him busy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Velikij looking to punish the body of his opponent here but El Banana is avoiding damage well.
Latundan El Banana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Velikij misses with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Velikij comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well El Banana 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Latundan El Banana!