PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Le Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ninja Samurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ninja Samurai has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Le Banner
vs
Samurai

190 cm
27
217 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

193 cm
27
214 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jerome Le Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ninja Samurai!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Samurai as he jumps to the side.
Banner throws a shot to the body.
Samurai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Banner circles away quickly and effectively.

Banner feints and as Samurai raises his hands in defense, Banner changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Samurai has his hands on Banner's head, controlling the position.
Samurai working a defensive guard here.
Banner landing some decent shots from guard.
Banner stands up over Samurai, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Samurai has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banner postures up.
Banner with a nice head shot there.
Banner sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Samurai manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samurai wants to control the pace but Banner is squirming around nicely.
Banner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samurai wants to control the pace but Banner is squirming around nicely.
Banner is trying to stand but he's just given Samurai his back.
Banner has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner tries to roll but Samurai sticks to his back.
Samurai struggling to keep hold of the position.
Samurai avoiding Banner 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner can't escape the position.
Banner is trying to get back to his feet but Samurai has full control of the position and if anything, Banner has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banner staying busy and making it hard for Samurai to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Le Banner dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Samurai fails in his attempt to clinch.

Samurai moves into the clinch successfully.
Banner has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Banner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Samurai fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Banner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Banner shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Le Banner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banner scores with a nice right hand.
Samurai tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Samurai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banner takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Jerome Le Banner has been cut.
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!
Banner fails with a takedown attempt.
Ninja Samurai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banner keeps the fight on the outside.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Banner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Samurai's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Samurai manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Samurai tries to get to full guard but Banner has control of the leg.
Samurai moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Banner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Banner tries to free his leg and advance position but Samurai is retaining full guard.
Samurai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Samurai is on top in guard.
Banner wants to stand but Samurai is controlling the position.
Samurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Banner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner is looking to stand up but Samurai isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ninja Samurai wasn't active enough on the ground.
Samurai tries to clinch up
and Banner makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Samurai wants to clinch but Banner slips to the side

and Banner counters with a single leg into guard. Samurai didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Samurai wants to sweep but no luck.
Banner won't allow Samurai to get back to his feet.
Banner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Banner postures up.
Banner postures up in Samurai's guard and throws a big left but Samurai blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samurai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Banner won't allow Samurai to sweep him here.
Banner working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Banner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Samurai controls Banner momentarily but Banner frees himself.
Samurai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Banner works over Samurai with some ground and pound from guard.
Banner tries to free his leg and advance position but Samurai is retaining full guard.
Banner lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Banner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Samurai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Samurai is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Banner is controlling him.
Samurai is pulling down on Banner's head. It's preventing any offense from Banner, at least for the moment.
Samurai manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner is looking to get to half guard.
Banner has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Banner tries to roll but Samurai sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Le Banner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jerome Le Banner's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Samurai tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Banner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Samurai on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Samurai tries to clinch but Banner moves away

and Banner counters with a single leg into guard. Samurai didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Samurai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Banner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Samurai is trying to keep Banner in close.
Banner landing some decent shots from guard.
Banner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Samurai trying to control the position.
Banner chips away with some ground and pound.
Banner trying to control the position from guard on top but Samurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Samurai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner distracts Samurai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Samurai holds on and takes a little breather.
Banner trying to control the position from guard on top but Samurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Samurai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Samurai is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Banner is controlling him.
Banner working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Samurai's head.
Samurai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Banner.
Samurai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Banner is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Samurai's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Samurai's back!
Samurai can't escape the position.
Ninja Samurai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samurai just trying to survive but Banner is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Banner landing with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banner doesn't have the hooks in and Samurai manages to turn into his guard.
Banner keeping moving, preventing Samurai from controlling successfully.
Banner looking for a sweep. Not yet Banner, not yet.
Banner is wriggling around but Samurai manages to pass to half guard.
Samurai prevents Banner from improving his position.
Banner on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Banner tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner is doing well to control the position and prevent Samurai from advancing to side control.
Banner is looking to escape.

Jerome Le Banner has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Samurai tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Banner decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Samurai's guard.
Samurai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Samurai is controlling Banner's posture.
Banner won't allow Samurai to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samurai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Banner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Banner with a nice head shot there.
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!
Banner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Samurai working a defensive guard here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Banner's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Banner postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Banner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Samurai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Banner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Banner working some strikes from top position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Banner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Banner stays in close to Samurai's body and controls the position.
Banner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jerome Le Banner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Banner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerome Le Banner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Banner, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerome Le Banner!