PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connor comes into the arena with Ça vaut mieux que d'attraper la scarlatine by Ray Venture blaring out of the sound system. Banks has chosen All I do Is win as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. John Connor could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Will Banks's chin.

Connor
vs
Banks

165 cm
30
158 lbs
27 - 15 - 0

175 cm
29
156 lbs
21 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Happy Pills 159Q - Laundry
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Legion of Pain Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Connor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Will Banks!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Connor misses the shot to the body.
Banks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Connor was well out of range. Poor timing from Banks.
Connor throws a head kick that misses.

Connor drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Banks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Banks controlling Connor's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Connor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banks is keeping the position for now.
Banks is looking to sweep but instead, Connor has passed into half guard.
Banks is concentrating on defense, preventing Connor from advancing position.
Banks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Connor is working away from the top position though.
Connor thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Banks's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor throwing shots but Banks is blocking nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Banks manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Connor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Connor wants to control from the top but Banks keeps moving.
Banks managing to control the position.
Connor trying to control but Banks is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Banks scores with a hook.
Connor doesn't manage to clinch there - Banks circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Banks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Connor looks to land a body kick but Banks moved away.
Banks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Banks lands a jab to Connor's midsection.
Banks avoids the body shot from Connor.
Connor misses with an uppercut. Banks saw that one coming.
Connor fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Connor throws a lazy right hand but Banks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Banks gets the takedown into side control.
Connor manages to get back to half guard.
Connor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Banks.
Connor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Banks trying to control from half guard but Connor is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banks is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Banks wants to take a breather but Connor is having none of it.
Banks perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Connor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Banks.
Banks not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Connor tries to roll over but Banks keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks is keen to just control but Connor is a slippery customer.
Banks is looking to pass Connor's guard but actually Connor recovers to full guard.
Connor is trying to control the position but Banks postures up.

Connor throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Banks escapes and throws Connor's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Connor struggling a bit here.
Banks trying to control the action but Connor is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banks tries to move to mount but Connor blocks the move with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Will Banks will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Banks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Connor misses the jab.
Banks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Connor misses with a low kick.
Connor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Banks on the side of the head.
Connor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banks was well out of range. Poor timing from Connor.
Connor looks to land a combination but Banks avoids it well.
Connor swings for the body but Banks moves out of range.
Connor lands a nice shot to the body.
Banks misses with a body shot.
Banks takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Banks - that will leave a mark!
A swing and a miss from Connor.
Banks avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor misses with a hook.
Connor tries to bum rush Banks with a series of wild strikes but Banks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Connor misses with a wild body shot.

Banks looking to score a takedown here. Connor is defending well but Banks drives through and ends up in Connor's guard.
Banks slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Connor takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Banks wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Connor, who protects the arm well.
Connor can't do much from the bottom here.
Will Banks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Connor tries to improve position but can't.
Banks landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connor is trying to control Banks's posture but Banks avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banks in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Banks working the head and body with strikes.
Connor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Banks throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banks misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Banks is putting a hurting on Connor here, landing some big shots from side control.
Connor manages to get back to half guard.
Banks content to control rather than advance.
Banks seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Connor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Banks throwing shots but Connor is blocking nicely.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Banks thows a huge punch but Connor dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks looks to land a strike but Connor avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Connor controls Banks momentarily but Banks frees himself.
Connor seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Banks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Banks showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Will Banks wasn't active enough on the ground.
Banks looks to throw the jab but Connor is out of range.
John Connor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice defenses there by Connor.
Banks scores with a punch to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connor on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Banks misses with a wild body shot.
Banks lands a glancing blow to the side of Connor's head.
Connor throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Banks sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Connor misses with a double jab.
Connor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Banks misses with a looping right.
Connor misses with a few strikes there.
Banks misses with a leg kick.
Connor has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
John Connor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Connor ducks right into an uppercut from Banks.
Connor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banks moves away.
Connor looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nice defenses there by Connor.
A big left from Connor misses.
Connor is looking to score with low kicks.
Connor lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A big right from Connor misses.
Connor misses with a double jab
and Banks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Connor.
Connor thows a body shot but no joy.
Banks wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Banks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Connor looking to sit in guard and control but Banks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Banks wants to control from the top but Connor keeps moving.
Connor being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks is looking to advance position but Connor has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Banks regains half guard.
Banks keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Connor prevents Banks from improving his position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banks trying to hold on to Connor's head to control him but Connor postures up.
Banks keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks is trying to control but can't.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Will Banks hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Connor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banks was well out of range. Poor timing from Connor.
Banks looks to score with a jab to the body but Connor is just out of range.
Connor bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Banks throws a shot to the body.
John Connor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Will Banks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Connor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Banks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Banks scores with a jab to the head.
Connor takes one on the button.
Connor shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Banks eats them both and turns towards Connor to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice uppercut there from Banks.
Connor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Connor lands a jab to Banks's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Banks manages to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Connor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
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!
Connor lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Banks is rocked!
Connor takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Connor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banks avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Banks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Connor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Banks catches Connor with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Connor misses with a right hand
letting Banks counter with a right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connor just misses with a punch to the body.
Banks throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Banks ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Connor.
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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Banks!
Will Banks took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150 for their support in the buildup to the fight.