PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lamont Banner (ranked 536 p4p, 71 weight class) and Gustavo Fring (ranked 1061 p4p, 124 weight class). Fring has chosen Bamboleo by The Gypsy Kings as his entrance music. Gustavo Fring has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Banner
vs
Fring

171 cm
26
160 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

185 cm
29
162 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter
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 - 6 - 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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Gustavo Fring!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fring scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Fring takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Banner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Banner misses the jab.
Fring is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Banner .
Fring scores with a decent looking hook.
Banner misses with a jab, cross combination.
It seemed like Fring was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Banner has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Big Bear Fight Factory in the buildup to the fight.
Fring slips a jab from Banner .
We've been informed that Fring has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Banner avoids the body shot from Fring.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Fring throws a looping overhand right but Banner ducks down to avoid it.
Banner fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Fring on the side of the head.
Banner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fring.
Fring misses with a wild body shot.
Banner takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Banner cracks Fring with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fring loads up on a big right hand but Banner slips the punch.
Banner tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Banner tries to land a front kick but Fring steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Banner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fring swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice shot by Banner .
Banner misses with a straight right.
Banner tries to clinch but Fring is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner throws a jab when Fring was well out of range.
Fring misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banner .
Banner jabs at Fring's body.
Banner blocks a jab.
Nice defenses there by Fring.
Banner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Banner gets a clinch.
Fring tries to throw a body punch but Banner avoids it by throwing Fring back against the cage.
Banner is trying to pull guard but Fring turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Banner pulls Fring into guard.

Banner looking for subs off his back but Fring has passed one foot through into half guard.
Banner trying to get back to full guard but Fring takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Fring controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Banner regains half guard.
Banner trying to control but Fring postures up.
Fring seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Banner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fring pulls his head out easily.

Banner actively working from the bottom here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Banner with the active half guard here but Fring passes nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fring wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Fring working away.
Banner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Banner tries to bench press Fring off him but Fring keeps the position.
Banner struggling a bit here.
Banner tries to improve position but can't.
Fring gets to mount! Banner was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Banner is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner tries to hold on but Fring pushes him away.
Banner tries to reverse the position but Fring maintains control.
Fring trying to control but Banner is having none of it.
Banner is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gustavo Fring will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fring ducks under a wild hook from Banner .
Fring takes a swing at Banner 's ribcage but misses.
Banner is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Banner closes the distance and pushes Fring back into the cage.

Fring breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Banner throws a body kick that misses.
Fring scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fring takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Fring takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Fring misses with a low kick.
Fring pivots, looking for a leg kick but Banner is out of range and Fring settles back down.
Banner lands an overhand right.
Banner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Banner staying out of range there.
Banner seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Banner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Banner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fring closes the distance and lands a one-two.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fring manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Banner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Fring. Banner shrugs it off though.
Fring digs a good hook to Banner 's body.
Fring avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fring misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Banner checks a leg kick.
Fring circles away from the clinch attempt.
Banner throws out a loose jab but Fring uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fring throws a body shot but no joy.
Fring bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Banner gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Fring.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fring tries to work over Banner 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Banner lands a left hand.
Banner blocks a body shot from Fring.
Banner lands an uppercut.
Banner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Fring just stands there and leans against the cage.
Banner misses with a punch to the body.
Fring misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fring lands a hook that snaps the head of Banner backwards.
Banner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Banner lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fring misses with a hook from the clinch.

Banner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banner displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Fring lands a leg kick that knocks Banner off balance momentarily.
Fring misses the shot to the body.
Fring avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fring loads up on a big right hand but Banner slips the punch.
And Banner counters with a quick kick to the body but Fring blocks it.
Banner misses with a head kick.

Banner has Fring up against the cage in a clinch.
Banner swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Fring escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Banner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Fring.
Fring throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Banner stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Banner lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Banner connects with a crisp jab.
Banner throws a wild body kick that Fring sees coming a mile off.
Fring misses with a straight right.
Banner seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Fring looks to land a left hand but Banner moved out of range nicely.
Banner ducks under a wild hook from Fring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fring blocks a jab.
Banner misses the jab.
Fring lands a jab to Banner 's midsection.
Fring fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Banner checks it well.
A telegraphed right hand from Banner misses the target.
Banner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fring misses with a low kick.
Banner throws a head kick but Fring moves out of range.
Banner cracks Fring with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Banner has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Fring throws a leg kick but Banner sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Banner has closed the distance and engaged Fring in a clinch.
Fring scores with a shoulder strike.
Fring lands a nice uppercut.
Banner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fring tries to work over Banner 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Banner pulls guard successfully.
Banner is trying to keep Fring in close.

Banner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fring defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fring wants to get up but he can't break Banner 's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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

Banner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fring gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Fring gets to his feet. Banner looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Fring lands with a hook. Banner tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Banner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fring throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Banner checks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fring. Banner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Banner blocks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lamont Banner will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Fring misses with a low kick as Banner jumps back.
Banner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Banner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Banner tries to bum rush Fring with a series of wild strikes but Fring uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A little jabbing left from Fring on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Banner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fring slips under a jab.
A head kick misses from Banner .
Banner wants to clinch.
Banner tries to clinch there but Fring circles away.
Banner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fring fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Banner has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fring connects with a nice looking jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fring moves away from the strike by Banner .
Fring connects with a solid leg kick.
Banner closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Banner has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fring tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Banner 's elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short uppercut from Banner .
Banner misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fring misses with a hook to the ribs.
Banner tries to pull guard but Fring forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Banner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Banner takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Fring turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Banner avoids the head kick by Fring.
Fring tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Banner tries to clinch up.
Banner ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Banner lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Fring, right into the meat.
Banner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Banner ducks under a wild hook from Fring.
Fring tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banner was well out of range. Poor timing from Fring.
Banner slips a straight right by Fring.
Gustavo Fring seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fring attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Banner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fring paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fring jabs at Banner 's body.

Banner moves into the clinch.
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!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banner .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fring tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fring lands a body shot.
Fring lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fring can't find room to land a body shot as Banner controls the action.
Banner is trying to pull guard but Fring turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A short left from Fring.
Lamont Banner has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Banner scores with a shot to the side of Fring's head.
Fring working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fring has had enough of the clinch but Banner keeps him there for the moment.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fring.
Fring's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fring misses with a punch to the body.
Fring lands a hook that snaps the head of Banner backwards.
Banner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fring walks away with a smile on his face. Banner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lamont Banner . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fring throws a hook to the side of Banner 's head but Banner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fring swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fring ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banner moves away.
Fring lands with a thumping leg kick.
Banner moves in looking to clinch but Fring pushes him off.
Fring swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Good work by Banner as he checks the leg kick.
Banner takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner moves out of range of the strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Banner on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Banner checks a leg kick nicely.
Banner wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Banner has Fring up against the cage in a clinch.
Banner swings wildly with an uppercut but Fring uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fring can't find room to land a body shot as Banner controls the action.
Fring lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fring blocks an uppercut.
Fring lands with a left to the head.
Fring gets through Banner 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Banner misses with a hook from the clinch.
Banner blocks a body shot from Fring.
Fring tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Banner fails to land.
Banner blocks a body shot from Fring.
Fring lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Banner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Banner fails to land.
Banner working aggressively here.
Banner is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner lands with a right to the head.
Fring lands a shot to the body.
Fring lands a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fring lands a body shot.
Fring struggles to land a body shot inside as Banner controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from Fring.

Fring escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fring looks to score with a jab to the body but Banner is just out of range.
Banner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fring.
Fring lands with a cross.
Banner throws a hook but Fring avoids it easily.
Banner takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Fring just misses with a punch to the body.
Banner throws a sloppy head kick and Fring moves out of range easily.
Fring throws a looping overhand right but Banner ducks down to avoid it.
Fring throws a right hand that Banner ducks under and follows up with a left that Banner also avoids with ease.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fring with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Danga de danga de dang - Fring scores with a four punch combination!
Banner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fring throws a quick inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustavo Fring comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fring 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustavo Fring!
Our winner, Gustavo Fring, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.