PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gregg Willis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brenden Bannerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Willis
vs
Bannerman

191 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gregg Willis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brenden Bannerman!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bannerman shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Willis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Willis wants to sweep here but Bannerman controlling him for the moment.

Bannerman stands up and waves to Willis to follow him.

Bannerman takes the fight into the clinch.

Willis jumps into guard, dragging Bannerman to the mat.
Bannerman won't allow Willis to sweep him here.

Willis has his foot on Bannerman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bannerman works his way back into a safe position though.
Willis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bannerman preventing the sweep.

Willis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bannerman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bannerman throwing strikes from guard but Willis blocks nicely.
Willis is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannerman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Willis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bannerman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Willis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Willis wants to stand but Bannerman is controlling the position.
Bannerman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bannerman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Willis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bannerman pushing down on Willis's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Willis wants to get back to his feet.
Willis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Bannerman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Willis is refusing to be controlled, as Bannerman sits in half guard.

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

Bannerman throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Willis tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bannerman is in Willis's guard.
Bannerman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Willis is proving hard to escape from.
Bannerman trying to control but Willis is working from the bottom.
Bannerman is stalling in the full guard.
Bannerman scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willis keeping moving, preventing Bannerman from controlling successfully.
Willis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Willis is on top in guard.

Bannerman controls Willis momentarily but Willis frees himself.
Bannerman should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Willis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bannerman striking off his back but it's not causing Willis any problems.
Willis engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bannerman controls Willis momentarily but Willis frees himself.
Willis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Willis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Willis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Willis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Willis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bannerman trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Willis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Willis wants to control from the top but Bannerman keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brenden Bannerman will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bannerman shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Willis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Willis is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Bannerman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bannerman moves into range and clinches up with Willis.

Willis gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Willis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bannerman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bannerman tries to roll over but Willis keeps him under control.
Willis controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannerman is looking for a sweep. Willis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bannerman trying to control but Willis postures up.
Gregg Willis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Willis lands with a punch from half guard.
Bannerman wants to control but Willis is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bannerman is looking to improve his position.

Willis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Willis takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bannerman is looking to improve his position.
Willis looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bannerman trying to control from the bottom.
Bannerman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bannerman is breathing heavily.
Bannerman is trying to control but can't.
Bannerman tries to get to full guard but Willis has control of the leg.

Willis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bannerman wants to improve his position but Willis is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Willis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bannerman is trying to stand back up but Willis is controlling him
Willis slows the pace down in half guard.
Bannerman is looking for a sweep. Willis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Willis takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Still in half guard, Willis seems content to control.
Bannerman has hold of Willis's hands but Willis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Willis keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Bannerman is defending against the submission attempts here by Willis.
Willis controlling the pace.
Willis lands strikes from half guard.
Willis is controlling the pace.
Bannerman trying to hold on to Willis's head to control him but Willis postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bannerman is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Willis is staying active.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregg Willis dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bannerman misses with the body kick

and Willis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Willis.

Bannerman scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Gregg Willis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bannerman closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bannerman lands in his opponent's guard.
Willis is wriggling around but Bannerman manages to pass to half guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bannerman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Willis tries to get to full guard but Bannerman has control of the leg.

Bannerman stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Bannerman tries to clinch up but Willis circles away and keeps his distance.

Willis tries to sprawl but Bannerman drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bannerman working over Willis with some ground and pound. Willis looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Willis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bannerman pulls his head out easily.
Willis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bannerman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bannerman preventing the sweep.

Willis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bannerman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Willis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bannerman has managed to get both his arms back between Willis's legs - danger averted.

Willis looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bannerman passes into side control.
Willis takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Willis is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bannerman stands up.
Willis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bannerman throws a head kick that Willis semi-blocks.
Bannerman lands a front kick.
Nice cross by Bannerman.
Bannerman takes a swing at Willis's ribcage but misses.
Willis throws a big counter combination but Bannerman scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Willis misses the shot to the body.
Bannerman lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
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!

Willis closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Willis lands in his opponent's guard.

Bannerman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Willis got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bannerman has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Willis has managed to get both his arms back between Bannerman's legs - danger averted.
Willis chips away with some ground and pound.

Willis stands up and waves to Bannerman to follow him.
Bannerman will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Willis shoots in looking for a takedown. Bannerman tries to sprawl out of it but Willis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bannerman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Willis clinches up with Bannerman and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bannerman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bannerman is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Willis is keeping busy.
Bannerman lands with a left to the head.

Bannerman works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Willis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bannerman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Willis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bannerman manages to get himself to full guard.

Bannerman wants to sweep here but Willis controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brenden Bannerman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bannerman 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brenden Bannerman!
Brenden Bannerman thanked the fans post fight for their support.