PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lamont Banner (ranked 316 p4p, 40 weight class) and Pascal Henry (ranked 455 p4p, 61 weight class). Pascal Henry has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Banner
vs
Henry

171 cm
26
160 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

170 cm
30
165 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lamont Banner !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pascal Henry!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henry.
Banner has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Henry.
Banner has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Jab, jab by Banner - just one landing.
Banner moves into range and connects with a jab.
Banner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Henry slips a jab from Banner .
Henry avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Henry shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
It looked like Banner wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Henry throws a head kick that misses.
Banner misses with a head kick.
Banner throws a jab when Henry was well out of range.
Banner missing with a left hand there. Henry was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Henry pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Henry looks to land a body kick but Banner moved away.
Banner looks for the body kick but Henry saw that one coming.
Banner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Henry manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Henry was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Banner slips under a jab from Henry.
Banner misses with a head kick.
Henry tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Banner is able to avoid easily.
Banner thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henry defending well as Banner loads up on a big left hand.
Banner waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Henry.
Banner moves out of range of the body kick from Henry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Banner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Henry moves away.
Henry takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Banner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Banner misses the jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Henry.
Henry fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Henry thows a left - swing and a miss!

Banner moves into the clinch successfully.
Banner is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Henry to keep the fight standing.
Banner fails to pull guard.
Banner lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Henry backwards.
Banner is trying to pull guard but Henry turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lamont Banner . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banner is trying to pull guard but Henry has him pressed against the cage.
Henry takes a shot to the head.
Henry lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banner jumps guard but Henry turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Banner jumps guard but Henry stands there with Banner around his waist. Banner gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Henry misses with a punch on the inside.
Henry throws a head punch that misses.
Banner scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry can't find room to land a body shot as Banner controls the action.
Banner tries to work over Henry's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Banner is trying to pull guard but Henry turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Henry scores with a nice hook to the head.
Henry misses with the head strike.
Henry throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Banner s head.
Banner lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Henry backwards.

Banner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Henry gets to his feet. Banner looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Henry throws a shot from downtown. Banner moves away and avoids it.
Henry ducks under a wild hook from Banner .
Banner swings for the body but Henry moves out of range.
Banner on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Henry. Henry obviously looking to wear him down.
Henry throws a front kick aimed at Banner 's knee but Banner avoids it well.
Banner takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Banner steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Henry.
Henry jabs Banner right on the nose. Banner blinks but takes it well.
Henry lands a slapping body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Henry misses with a straight left.
Banner throws a sloppy head kick and Henry moves out of range easily.
The crowd cheers as Banner lands an impressive looking overhand right. Henry doesn't seem phased though.
Henry sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry slips a jab from Banner .
Banner avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Banner misses the target.
Henry wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Banner scores with a nice strike.
Henry defending well as Banner loads up on a big left hand.
Henry attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Banner misses with a hook.
Banner slips under a jab.
Banner on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Henry. Henry obviously looking to wear him down.
Banner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Banner closes the distance and pushes Henry back into the cage.
Still in the clinch, Banner scores with a nice short uppercut.
Banner tries to pull guard but Henry holds him up against the cage and eventually Banner drops back down to his feet.
Henry tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Banner 's elbow.
Banner is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Henry to keep the fight standing.
Henry scores with a nice hook to the head.
Banner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Henry just stands there and leans against the cage.
Banner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Banner misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Banner .
Henry tries to work over Banner 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner blocks a body shot from Henry.
Henry tries to work over Banner 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Henry.
Banner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Henry tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Banner 's elbow.
Banner fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Henry misses with the head strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Henry.
Banner lands a left hand that snaps the head of Henry backwards.
Henry swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Henry lands with a short shot to the head.
Henry takes a shot to the head.
Banner is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Henry to keep the fight standing.

Banner has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Henry uses from the top position.

Banner working for a triangle but Henry defends it easily.

Henry decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banner needs to keep his hands up - Henry had a free shot at his head there.
Henry keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banner .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lamont Banner will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Banner throws a lazy right hand but Henry sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Henry slips a straight right by Banner .
Henry raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Henry ducks under a wild hook from Banner .
Banner throws a lazy uppercut
and Henry counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Banner throws a hook but Henry blocks it.
Banner misses with a body shot.
Henry avoids the head kick by Banner .
Banner throws out a powerful jab.
Banner swinging wildly here.
Henry throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Banner misses with an uppercut. Henry saw that one coming.
It seemed like Henry was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Henry scores with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Henry.
Henry lands an overhand right.
A slow jab from Banner misses its intended target.
Henry misses with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Banner looks to land a right hand but Henry moved out of range.
Banner getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Both fighters circling a little - Henry finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Lamont Banner is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice defenses there by Henry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry needs to keep his hands up - Banner had a free shot at his head there.
Banner cracks Henry with an open hand slap.
Henry needs to keep his hands up - Banner had a free shot at his head there.
Henry scores with a leg kick.
Henry lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Banner misses with the combination.
Banner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A telegraphed right hand from Banner misses the target.
Henry is looking to slow Banner down with leg kicks.
Henry displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Banner throws out the jab.
Henry punishes Banner 's body with a nice straight punch.
Banner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Banner misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Banner is looking to clinch but Henry is avoiding it.
Henry works the jab nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banner throws a lazy right hand but Henry sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Banner gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Henry scores with a nice hook to the head.
Banner tries to pull guard but Henry holds him up against the cage and eventually Banner drops back down to his feet.
Banner tries to pull guard but Henry holds him up against the cage and eventually Banner drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Henry as the two fighters clinch.
Lamont Banner has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Banner tries to pull guard but Henry won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lamont Banner . That's going to take a lot out of him.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Henry.
Banner misses with a short punch on the inside.
Henry working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Henry lands a shoulder strike.
Henry lands a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Henry creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Banner tries to pull guard but Henry forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Henry creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Banner jumps into guard, dragging Henry to the mat.

Henry stands up from Banner 's guard - Henry perhaps looking for a knockout.
Henry tries a low kick but Banner avoids it.
Banner avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Banner throws out a loose jab but Henry uses good head movement to avoid it.
Henry throws a head kick but Banner moves out of range.
Banner tries to close the distance and clinch but Henry swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Henry lands with a shot to the body.
Banner slips a straight right by Henry.
Henry scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner tries to clinch but Henry is having none of it.
Henry uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banner .
Henry connects with a solid leg kick.
Banner looks to land a left hand but Henry moved out of range nicely.
Henry looks to throw the jab but Banner is out of range.
Henry steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Banner .
Henry throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Banner on the side of the head.
Henry throws a leg kick which misses Banner 's front leg but catches the back leg as Banner tries to avoid it.
Henry swats away the attempt to clinch by Banner .
Banner throws a jab but it's blocked by Henry.
Henry throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Henry doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Henry gets tackled into the cage by Banner . Banner maintains the clinch.
A short uppercut from Henry.
Banner is trying to pull guard but Henry turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Banner blocks a body shot from Henry.
Banner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Henry just stands there and leans against the cage.
A hook to the body from Henry.
Banner tries to pull guard but Henry holds him up against the cage and eventually Banner drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Banner .
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henry throws a punch but it's blocked by Banner .
Banner tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A short body shot lands from Banner as the two fighters clinch.
Henry misses with a hook from the clinch.
Banner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Banner tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Banner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Banner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Henry defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Henry decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Banner , up you get!
Henry slips under a jab from Banner .
Banner has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Henry.
Banner is looking to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed right hand from Henry misses the target.
Banner throwing a counter right hand but Henry manages to avoid it.
Henry throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Banner checks a low kick from Henry.
Banner tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Henry works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pascal Henry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Henry throws a nice outside leg kick.
Banner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Banner misses with a looping right.
Henry pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Henry scores with the left hand. Banner knows he should have avoided that one.
Henry takes a jab right on the kisser.
Henry scores with a hook to the body. Banner takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Banner listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Banner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Banner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Henry.
Banner blocks a jab.
Banner misses with a hook
and Henry counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Henry feints and then cracks Banner 's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Banner down.
Banner works over Henry's head and body with a nice combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henry displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Banner throws out the jab.
Henry fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Banner is out of range.
Henry takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Banner tries to clinch up.
Banner throws an overhand right that lands on Henry's shoulder, as Henry tries to avoid the shot.
Nice jab there from Henry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry ducks under a wild hook from Banner .
Henry throws out a counter right but Banner avoids it with no problem.

Banner darts in and clinches Henry up against the cage.
Banner lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Banner prevents a body shot from Henry.
Banner misses with a punch to the body.
Banner is trying to pull guard but Henry turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Banner has a couple of punches blocked by Henry.

Banner drags the fight down to the ground.
My spies in Banana Stand inform me that Henry has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Henry decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Banner , up you get!
Banner chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Henry can pounce on him.
Decent striking displayed by Banner there.
Banner tries to clinch but Henry is having none of it.
Henry tries to work over Banner 's front leg with a kick but Banner checks it.
Henry connects with a body shot that sends Banner 's belly button to the back.
Henry slips a straight right by Banner .
A nice inside leg kick there by Henry. That's going to slow Banner down.
Henry slips a straight right by Banner .
Banner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
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 throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Henry counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Henry takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Henry scores with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A solid body kick from Henry.
Good leg kick by Henry there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A nice leg kick lands there from Henry.
Banner throws a looping overhand right but Henry ducks down to avoid it.
Banner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Henry cracks Banner with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Banner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Henry.
A punch combination from Henry misses.
Henry blocks a head kick by Banner .
A big left from Henry misses.
Banner throwing a counter right hand but Henry manages to avoid it.
Henry throws a low kick but Banner avoids it.
Banner misses with a looping left.
Banner ducks under a wild hook from Henry.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Henry.
Banner loads up on a big right hand but Henry slips the punch.
Banner takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A jab from Banner misses.
Henry slips under a jab from Banner .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Banner moves out of range of the leg kick from Henry.
Henry tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Banner slips under a jab from Henry.
Banner throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Henry.
Banner walks into a straight right hand from Henry.
Banner misses with an uppercut.
Henry throws a half hearted mid kick.
Banner misses with the combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Henry.
Banner tries to clinch but Henry is having none of it.
Henry throws out a counter right but Banner avoids it with no problem.
Henry throws a half hearted mid kick.
Henry displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Banner throws out the jab.
Banner wants to clinch up but Henry keeps it at a distance.
Banner getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Banner throws an overhand right that lands on Henry's shoulder, as Henry tries to avoid the shot.
It seemed like Henry was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Henry lands with a hook. Banner tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Henry steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Banner .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henry throws a shot from downtown. Banner moves away and avoids it.
Banner connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Henry misses with a head kick.
Henry works Banner 's body with a nice hook.
Banner moves out of range of the strikes.
Banner cracks Henry with a good jab.
Banner throws the left hand but Henry avoids the punch easily.
Henry throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Banner checks a leg kick nicely.
Banner has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Henry.
Banner lands with a straight right. Henry didn't see that one coming.
Henry thumps Banner with a low kick.
Banner misses with a hook
and Henry counters with a slapping leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henry misses with a hook.
Banner tries to clinch up.
Banner is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Banner is looking to clinch but Henry is avoiding it.
Banner lands a jab to the nose.
Banner takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pascal Henry comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Henry has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pascal Henry!
During a confident post fight interview, Pascal Henry thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.