PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sal Bernito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buakaw Banchamek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bernito
vs
Banchamek

196 cm
25
159 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
152 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sal Bernito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Buakaw Banchamek!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Banchamek clinches up with Bernito and pushes him back against the cage.
Bernito wants to take the fight to the mat but Banchamek manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bernito takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Sal Bernito has been cut.
Banchamek lands a nice elbow.
Bernito tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Banchamek avoids it.
Banchamek trying to land knees to the body.
Bernito has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Banchamek is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Banchamek landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Bernito is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sal Bernito. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bernito tries to pull guard but Banchamek won't allow it.
Bernito blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Banchamek tries to land knees in the clinch but Bernito avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bernito manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bernito is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Banchamek is aware though and is defending well.

Banchamek decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Banchamek closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banchamek unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nice elbow from Banchamek.
Banchamek lands a knee to the head.

Sal Bernito's cut is getting worse.
Banchamek comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Banchamek tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bernito avoids it.
Bernito on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Bernito scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bernito avoids a wild elbow strike from Banchamek.
Banchamek tries to land a knee to the head but Bernito blocks with his arms.
Bernito can't get the takedown.
Banchamek with a knee to the head.
Bernito managing to block the knees to the body from Banchamek.
Bernito jumps guard but Banchamek stands there with Bernito around his waist. Bernito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Banchamek unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banchamek connects with a knee to the head.
Banchamek lands an elbow just above Bernito 's eye.
Banchamek lands a nice elbow.
Banchamek prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bernito is breathing heavily.
Bernito lands a nice elbow.
Banchamek looking to throw knees to the head but Bernito is blocking nicely.
Bernito on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Banchamek missing with knees to the body.
Banchamek is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bernito is defending well for now.
Banchamek lands a nice elbow.
Banchamek trying to land knees to the body.
Bernito is trying to maintain a safe position but Banchamek gets an underhook and turns Bernito into the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Banchamek obliges.
Bernito really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banchamek lands a nice knee to the body.
Bernito is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Banchamek is defending well.
Bernito tries for a takedown but Banchamek manages to get underhooks.
Banchamek putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bernito in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Banchamek.

Sal Bernito's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Banchamek unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bernito wants a takedown but no success here.
Banchamek unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bernito lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Banchamek obliges.
Bernito taking a breather.
Banchamek lands a damaging elbow.
Banchamek landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Banchamek tries to land knees in the clinch but Bernito avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bernito on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banchamek lands a nice elbow.
Banchamek is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bernito is defending well for now.
Banchamek lands an elbow inside.
Banchamek tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bernito takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bernito managing to block the knees to the body from Banchamek.
Knees to the body from Banchamek.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bernito.
Bernito managing to block the knees to the body from Banchamek.
Bernito takes an elbow to the temple.
Banchamek scores with a knee to the head.

Bernito is rocked!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Banchamek obliges.
Bernito tries to break the clinch but Banchamek is controlling the position.
Bernito is trying to pull guard but Banchamek has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buakaw Banchamek dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sal Bernito's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Banchamek rushes Bernito and presses him up against the cage.
Banchamek tries a knee to the head but Bernito blocks it.
Bernito looking for a takedown.
Bernito working aggressively here.
Banchamek lands a nice knee to the body.
Bernito goes for a takedown in the clinch but Banchamek prevents it.
Banchamek creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Banchamek throws an elbow that misses.
Banchamek with a knee to the head.
Oh Bernito is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bernito can't break the clinch.
Banchamek lands a good knee to the midsection. Bernito won't want to take too many of those.
Banchamek with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Banchamek tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Banchamek jerks Bernito's head down, straight into the path of a devastating knee! Bernito drops to the floor in a crumpled heap! Banchamek goes to throw a finishing haymaker but pulls out - good sportsmanship from Banchamek because Bernito was completely out of it. That was a nice finish - just the right level of brutality to send everyone home happy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). Buakaw Banchamek!
Buakaw Banchamek bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.