PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rex Bannion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vera is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Weightless by All Time Low. Rex Bannion has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bannion
vs
Vera

175 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

182 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rex Bannion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joey Vera!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bannion keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Vera scores with a takedown into Bannion's guard.
Vera controls from within his opponent's guard.

Vera stands and steps away. Bannion gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bannion throws a leg kick which misses Vera's front leg but catches the back leg as Vera tries to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Bannion.
Vera will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bannion is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bannion.
Bannion throws a leg kick

and Vera counters with a single leg into guard. Bannion didn't expect that.
Vera controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannion wants to get back to his feet but Vera is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Vera slips nicely into half guard.
Vera trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vera moves into full mount! Bannion won't be happy about that!
Vera looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bannion is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera content just to control the position here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Vera looks gassed!
Vera trying to control but Bannion is having none of it.

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.

Vera stands up from mount. Strange move.
Vera avoids the head kick by Bannion.
Bannion is looking to land body kicks.
Bannion pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Bannion gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bannion keeping moving, preventing Vera from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Vera dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A head kick by Bannion misses

and Vera counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Vera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bannion works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vera controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Despite being in the dominant position, Joey Vera just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A low kick from Bannion is predictable there

and Vera counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Vera won't allow Bannion to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Vera gets to his feet - Bannion follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rex Bannion seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bannion throws a lazy head kick

and Vera counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bannion!
Vera controlling from mount.

Vera stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Vera stuns Bannion with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rex Bannion is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vera looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vera perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Vera is working for a submission of some sort.
Vera frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera controlling the pace for now.
Vera trying to control but Bannion is having none of it.
Vera won't let Bannion get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

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.

Vera stands up from mount. Strange move.
Bannion throws a head kick but Vera moves out of range.
Vera has a takedown stuffed.
Bannion will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Vera throws a one two combo.
Bannion throws a front kick that sends Vera stumbling back into the ropes.
Bannion tries a head kick but it misses.
Bannion wants to clinch up but Vera keeps it at a distance.
A head kick by Bannion misses

so Vera counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Vera stands up from Bannion's guard - Vera perhaps looking for a knockout.
Bannion tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Vera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Vera fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bannion tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Vera counters with a series of strikes. Bannion will be more careful next time no doubt.
Bannion throws a sloppy head kick and Vera moves out of range easily.
Bannion throws a lazy head kick

and Vera counters with a takedown into side control.
Vera works to advance to full mount. Bannion defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Vera controlling from mount.
Bannion has given up his back.
Vera has good solid back control here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joey Vera has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Let's hope that Vera has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Joey Vera just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bannion throws a lazy head kick

and Vera holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Vera.

Vera pulls guard effortlessly.
Bannion has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vera controlling Bannion's posture.
Vera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bannion!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bannion is trying to stand up.
Vera looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bannion squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Vera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vera 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Vera!