PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Moses Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Banks
vs
Lopez

150 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Moses Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tony Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lopez as he jumps to the side.
Lopez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Banks counters with a left and a right that stings Lopez.

Banks tries to keep at a distance but Lopez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Lopez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Banks throws a sloppy head kick and Lopez moves out of range easily.
Banks misses with a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lopez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lopez is looking to clinch but Banks is avoiding it.
Lopez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Banks swivels and escapes.
Moses Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Lopez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but Banks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Banks closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lopez did well to prevent Banks getting side control.
Banks is trying to control the action in half guard but Lopez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Banks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lopez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Banks.
Lopez is staying active underneath Banks, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Banks is taking a breather. Lopez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Lopez misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks is just content to waste time from the top position. Lopez takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Banks could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Banks with a nice head shot there.
Banks slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lopez trying to keep a closed guard but Banks is proving a slippery customer.
Banks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Banks from controlling successfully.
Lopez controlling Banks's posture.
Lopez has a closed guard, preventing Banks from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks throws a right and a left that Lopez avoids nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Banks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Banks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lopez as he avoids it easily.
Banks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lopez.
Banks shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lopez as he jumps to the side.
Banks is breathing heavily.
Lopez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lopez shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lopez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Banks working a defensive guard here.
Lopez is looking to stand up but Banks won't let him.
Banks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Banks looking for a sweep. Not yet Banks, not yet.
Lopez with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Banks is trying to keep Lopez in close.
Lopez wants to pass the guard but Banks is keeping the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Banks dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lopez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Banks defends well and Lopez ends up having to push Banks into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Banks throws a combination that misses

and Lopez counters by moving into the clinch.

Lopez manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Lopez. No joy for Banks on that attempt.
Banks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lopez.
Tony Lopez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Moses Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Lopez.
Lopez looks for a takedown but Banks sprawls well.
Banks throws a quick counter head kick but Lopez was just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks stuffs the takedown.
Moses Banks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lopez is breathing heavily.
Banks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lopez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Banks shoots for a takedown but Lopez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lopez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Banks.
Banks fails with the takedown

and Lopez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lopez.
Banks is working for takedown but Lopez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Banks has Lopez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lopez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lopez tries for a takedown but Banks manages to get underhooks.

Lopez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Lopez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lopez is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Lopez decides to stand up, so the ref orders Banks to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Banks appears to be looking for a big counter.
Banks goes for a double leg but Lopez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lopez continues to drive forward.
Nice jab there from Lopez.
Nice takedown defense from Banks. No joy for Lopez on that attempt.
Banks went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Lopez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lopez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Banks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lopez somewhat.
Banks looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Banks jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lopez walks away with a smile on his face. Banks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Banks gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Banks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A right-left combo lands from Lopez.

It looks like Moses Banks has been cut.
Lopez closes the distance and clinches up with Banks, looking for a takedown. Lopez pushes Banks against the cage but Banks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lopez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lopez wants it to stay on the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Lopez scores with a four punch combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez misses with a double jab.
Banks wants to clinch.
Banks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lopez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banks misses with a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Banks as Lopez shoots in.
Banks avoids the head kick by Lopez.
Banks quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Lopez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Lopez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Moses Banks's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lopez shoots in but Banks avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Lopez gets caught flat footed, as Banks shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Banks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Lopez has his foot on Banks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Banks works his way back into a safe position though.
Banks trying to control but Lopez is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks works over Lopez with some ground and pound from guard.
Lopez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Banks from controlling successfully.
Banks seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks throws an elbow that misses. Lopez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Banks's guard. Nice move by Lopez!

Banks wants to control but Lopez passes easily into half guard.
Lopez is trying to control. Banks wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Banks trying to control from the bottom.
Banks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Banks trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Banks defending well though.
Lopez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Lopez prevents Banks from improving his position.
Banks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lopez is working away from the top position though.
Banks wants to get back to full guard but Lopez has passed into side control.
Tony Lopez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lopez fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks is letting Lopez control him for a moment.
Lopez working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lopez dives in and grabs Banks's left leg, looking for a takedown. Banks pushes down on Lopez's head and hops out.
Lopez shoots for a double leg takedown but Banks sprawls well. He's pushed Lopez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Moses Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Lopez.
Lopez goes for a double leg but Banks avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Banks continues to drive forward.
Sloppy strikes from Banks. Those never looked like landing.
A head kick by Banks misses
and Lopez counters with a nice uppercut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Banks is defended easily by Lopez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries a head kick but it misses.
Moses Banks is winning the standup battle so far.
A shot to the liver by Lopez. Beautiful body shot.
Lopez shoots in and drives through. Banks sprawls well.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt.
Banks throws a big counter combination but Lopez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Lopez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Banks counters with a two punch combo.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lopez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banks avoids it really well and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Moses Banks.
I think Banks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Moses Banks!