PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zevran Arishok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Arishok
vs
Banner

183 cm
25
176 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

180 cm
32
175 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Tokyo United Fightwear ($9 shirts)

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zevran Arishok!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruce Banner!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Banner gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Arishok drives through and clinches with Banner against the cage.
Banner can't find room to land a body shot as Arishok controls the action.
Banner lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Arishok backwards.
Arishok holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Arishok misses with a hook to the ribs.

Arishok's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arishok throws a predictable looking body shot

and Banner counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Banner is keen to just control but Arishok is a slippery customer.
Arishok knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Banner on the ground.
Arishok is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Banner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arishok trying to control from the bottom.
Banner looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Arishok with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Arishok is holding on to half guard well.
Arishok tries to get to full guard but Banner has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Banner connects with a nice short shot to Arishok's temple.

Banner is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Arishok sees it coming and defends easily.
Banner lands strikes from half guard.
Banner works his way into side control.
Banner trying to control the action but Arishok is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner in the domination position with Arishok hanging on.
Arishok can't do much from the bottom here.
Arishok defending against the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banner lands a few punches from side control.
Banner cracks Arishok with a big right hand but Arishok just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sloppy strikes there by Banner.
Banner content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Arishok can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner cracks Arishok with a big elbow.
Banner cracks Arishok with a big elbow.
Arishok is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Franklin D. Bluth Memorial Supergym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Arishok struggling a bit here.
Arishok avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Banner.
Arishok dodges the ground and pound from Banner.
Arishok is looking to reverse the position.
Banner scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arishok is letting Banner control him for a moment.
Arishok is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Banner is trying to control. Arishok wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Arishok is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Banner pulls his head out easily.
Banner not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Banner scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arishok is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banner winds up and cracks Arishok with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Arishok is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Banner dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Arishok takes a swing at Banner's ribcage but misses.

Arishok moves into the clinch.
Banner throws a head punch that misses.

Arishok pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arishok throws a leg kick but Banner sees it coming and moves out of range.
Arishok scores with a leg kick.
Arishok will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Arishok throws a big shot that misses.
Arishok loads up on a big right hand but Banner slips the punch.
Banner drops his hands momentarily and Arishok takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Banner throws a jab but it's blocked by Arishok.
Banner cracks Arishok with an open hand slap.
Arishok misses with a looping right.
A punch combination from Arishok misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner throws a hook to the side of Arishok's head but Arishok sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Arishok throws a leg kick but Banner sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Banner slips under a jab.
Arishok thuds a left hand into Banner's body.
Arishok turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Banner looks to score with a jab to the body but Arishok is just out of range.
Arishok turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Banner crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Arishok - the referee stops the clock and Banner gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Arishok. Banner manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A big right from Arishok misses.
Arishok scores with a nice strike.
Arishok lands the left hand.
Banner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arishok throws a poor cross that misses

so Banner counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arishok wants to sweep here but Banner controlling him for the moment.
Banner passes Arishok's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Banner thows a huge punch but Arishok dodges it nicely.
Arishok wants to control but Banner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Banner winds up and cracks Arishok with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Banner trying to mount his opponent but Arishok defends it.
Bruce Banner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arishok blocking the ground and pound attempt from Banner.
Banner not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Banner is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Banner thows a huge punch but Arishok dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Arishok does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Banner wants to pass to mount but Arishok is defending the position.
Arishok is trying to get back to full guard.
Arishok keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Banner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arishok won't allow Banner to pass to mount.
Banner trying to control from half guard but Arishok is working away.

Banner wants to work for an arm triangle but Arishok is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Banner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Banner frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Arishok is looking to improve his position but Banner isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bruce Banner will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A big right from Arishok misses.
Arishok swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Arishok is looking to clinch but Banner is avoiding it.
Banner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Arishok was well out of range. Poor timing from Banner.
Arishok lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Arishok!
Arishok throws a right hand that Banner ducks under and follows up with a left that Banner also avoids with ease.
Arishok lands with a good body shot.
Arishok misses with a head kick.
Banner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Arishok lands a nice leg kick that just misses Banner's sensitive parts.
Banner tries to move into range but Arishok moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Zevran Arishok seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arishok lands a body shot.
Zevran Arishok is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner ducks under a wild hook from Arishok.
Arishok moves in looking to clinch but Banner pushes him off.
Arishok tries to clinch there but Banner circles away.
Arishok misses with a low kick as Banner jumps back.
Banner jabs Arishok right on the nose. Arishok blinks but takes it well.
Arishok misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banner.
Banner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Banner looks to score with a jab to the body but Arishok is just out of range.
Arishok thows a body shot but no joy.
Banner bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Arishok's head.
Banner walks into a stiff left hand from Arishok.
Banner catches Arishok with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Arishok just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner just misses with a punch to the body.
Arishok misses with a body punch

and Banner counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banner cracks Arishok with a big elbow.
Banner passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Arishok!
Banner lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Banner landing strikes from the mount and Arishok is in trouble!

Arishok is rocked!
Banner scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Arishok?
Oh Arishok is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Banner working Arishok over with strikes here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banner is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Banner pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Arishok really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Banner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arishok tries to hold on but Banner postures up.
Banner postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Arishok in real trouble here! The ref calls for Arishok to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bruce Banner!