PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexandre Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Almeida comes into the arena with Vale Tudo blaring out of the sound system. Alexandre Almeida could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Scott Banks's chin.

Almeida
vs
Banks

171 cm
27
182 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

187 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

L.A. Elite Clothing Co
CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexandre Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Scott Banks!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida moves out of range of the strikes.
Almeida keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banks.

Almeida looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Almeida wants to get back to his feet.

Almeida decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Banks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Banks wants to sweep here but Almeida controlling him for the moment.
Almeida postures up.
Almeida wants to get up but he can't break Banks's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banks trying to keep a closed guard but Almeida is proving a slippery customer.
Almeida might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Almeida stands up and waves to Banks to follow him.
Alexandre Almeida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Almeida throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Banks.
Almeida avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Almeida slips a jab from Banks.
Banks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A slow jab from Banks misses its intended target.
Banks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Almeida misses with a few strikes there.
Almeida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A slow jab from Banks misses its intended target.
Some wild striking there from Almeida.

Almeida closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Almeida lands in his opponent's guard.
Almeida wants to stand but Banks is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Almeida stands up and waves to Banks to follow him.
Almeida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Banks pinned against the cage. Banks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Almeida fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banks avoids it really well and circles away.
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!
Banks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Almeida.
Banks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big right from Banks misses.
Banks gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Almeida.
A swing and a miss from Banks.
Almeida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Banks loads up on a big right hand but Almeida slips the punch.
Almeida tries to score a power double leg takedown but Banks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Almeida somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandre Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Banks's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Banks duly obliges.
Banks might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Almeida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Banks circles away quickly and effectively.
Almeida misses with a series of wild punches.
Banks connects with a good right hand that stumbles Almeida. Almeida circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Almeida fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Banks sprawls well initially but Almeida persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Banks can do anything to dispel that myth.
Almeida is thwarting Banks's attempts to control the position.
Banks tries to get to full guard but Almeida has control of the leg.
Banks is trying to maintain the position but Almeida is very close to passing his half guard.

Almeida decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Almeida fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Banks misses with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Almeida avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Almeida lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Banks lands with an overhand left.
Almeida swinging wildly here.
Almeida misses with a two punch combination.
Banks cracks Almeida with an open hand slap.
Almeida fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banks avoids it really well and circles away.
Almeida takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Almeida moves out of range of the strikes.
Banks throws a hook to the side of Almeida's head but Almeida sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Banks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Almeida.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almeida uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banks.
Almeida fails with a takedown attempt.
Banks cracks Almeida with a good jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandre Almeida dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Almeida fails with a takedown attempt.
Banks looks to land a right hand but Almeida moved out of range.
Banks throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Almeida on the side of the head.
Banks connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Almeida momentarily.
Banks lands with a straight right. Almeida didn't see that one coming.
A swing and a miss from Banks.
Banks throws out a loose jab but Almeida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Banks looks to land a right hand but Almeida moved out of range.
Almeida tries to bum rush Banks with a series of wild strikes but Banks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Banks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Banks.
Banks misses with a body shot.
Almeida slips a jab from Banks.
Banks is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Banks throws out a loose jab but Almeida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Scott Banks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Almeida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Banks but Banks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Banks keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Banks jabs at Almeida's body.
Alexandre Almeida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Almeida does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida slips under a jab.
Banks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Almeida manages to avoid it.
Banks connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Banks loads up on a big right hand but Almeida slips the punch.

Almeida dives in and scores a takedown into Banks's guard.
Banks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alexandre Almeida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Banks has a closed guard, preventing Almeida from standing up.
Banks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Banks has a closed guard, preventing Almeida from standing up.

Banks is working an open guard so Almeida takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Banks throws a hook but Almeida avoids it easily.
Almeida takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Banks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almeida was well out of range. Poor timing from Banks.
Almeida throws a series of punches but Banks moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Banks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Almeida.
Banks with a jab.
Banks thows a body shot but no joy.
Almeida keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banks.
Almeida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Banks with a nice cross.
Almeida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Almeida throws a nice looking combination but Banks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Almeida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Banks is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Almeida.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Almeida has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandre Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banks misses with a wild body shot.
Almeida moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Banks bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Almeida's head.
Banks connects with a jab.
Banks looks to throw the jab but Almeida is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida moves out of range of the strikes.
Banks connects with a right hand. Almeida shakes it off.

Almeida shoots in and bounces Banks off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Banks looking to control.
Banks looking for a sweep. Not yet Banks, not yet.
Banks looking to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Almeida stands up and waves to Banks to follow him.
Banks stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Banks throws a jab but it's blocked by Almeida.
Banks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Banks misses with a wild body shot.
Banks lands a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Banks sprawls well. Banks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Almeida gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banks takes a swing at Almeida's ribcage but misses.
Almeida blocks a jab.
Almeida misses with a wild combination.
Banks loads up on a big right hand but Almeida slips the punch.
Banks tests Almeida's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Almeida slips a jab from Banks.
Scott Banks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Almeida slips under a jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Banks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Banks wants it to stay on the feet.
Almeida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Banks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Almeida looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Banks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Banks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Banks throws an overhand right that lands on Almeida's shoulder, as Almeida tries to avoid the shot.
Almeida staying out of range there.
Banks misses with a looping left.
Almeida closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Banks misses with a looping left.
Almeida looks for a takedown but Banks sprawls well.
Banks looks to score with a jab to the body but Almeida is just out of range.
Banks throws a good cross that connects.
Banks misses with an uppercut.
Banks misses with a body shot.
Banks is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Almeida.
Almeida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice takedown defense from Banks. No joy for Almeida on that attempt.
Banks misses with a wild combination.
Almeida fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandre Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A swing and a miss from Banks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks swings for the body but Almeida moves out of range.
Almeida uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banks.
Almeida moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Almeida slips a jab from Banks.
Almeida blocks a jab.
Almeida throws a right and a left that both miss.
Banks stuns Almeida with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Banks misses with a wild body shot.
Banks slaps away a takedown attempt from Almeida, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Banks lands a lovely overhand right.
Banks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Almeida moves away.
Banks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Banks wants it to stay on the feet.
Almeida misses with a wild combination.
Banks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida shoots in and drives through. Banks sprawls well.
Almeida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Banks paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Banks moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banks lands a jab to the head.
Almeida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Banks circles away.
Banks throws out a loose jab but Almeida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Almeida looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Horrible takedown by Almeida or perhaps it was just good defense by Banks which made him look bad.
Almeida uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Banks.
Banks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almeida was well out of range. Poor timing from Banks.
Banks lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Banks dodges the punch combination from Almeida.
Banks lands a jab.
Banks swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Banks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Almeida uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banks.
Almeida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Banks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almeida was well out of range. Poor timing from Banks.
Banks scores with a crisp jab that stopped Almeida in his tracks.
Banks digs a good hook to Almeida's body.
Almeida takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Almeida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Almeida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from Almeida does no damage.
Banks misses the shot to the body.
Almeida throws a right hand that Banks ducks under and follows up with a left that Banks also avoids with ease.
Banks lands a body shot.
Almeida slips a straight right by Banks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Banks is fending him off so far but Almeida persists. Nope, Banks circles away and we're back to standing.
Banks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Almeida circles away quickly and effectively.
Almeida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Almeida blocks a jab.
Almeida walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Banks throws a nice looking combination but Almeida bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Banks avoids a punch combination nicely.
Banks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almeida was well out of range. Poor timing from Banks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almeida shoots in but Banks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Banks misses with a looping right.
Almeida on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almeida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A big right from Banks misses.
Almeida slips under a jab from Banks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Banks!
Scott Banks made sure to mention his sponsor, L.A. Elite Clothing Co in his post fight interview.