PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damien Hawthorne (ranked 2079 p4p, 2976 weight class) and Roddy Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 336 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hawthorne might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Schism by Tool. Banner comes into a darkened arena with his song building. BILMURI - LORDFARQUADZILLA kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The key to victory for Damien Hawthorne has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hawthorne
vs
Banner

190 cm
41
249
37 - 17 - 0

200 cm
28
259
6 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Fantasy Threads
Knock Out Sups

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damien Hawthorne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roddy Banner!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawthorne looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A swing and a miss from Hawthorne.
Banner looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Banner drives through with a takedown into Hawthorne's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hawthorne looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Banner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hawthorne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hawthorne 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.
Banner trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawthorne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banner prevents Hawthorne from getting back to his feet.
Banner is pushing down on Hawthorne's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hawthorne is fighting to maintain full guard but Banner has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawthorne is trying to control but can't.
Banner frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hawthorne keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hawthorne knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Banner on the ground.
Hawthorne wants to control but Banner is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banner looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banner sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hawthorne really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hawthorne tries to hold on but Banner postures up.
Hawthorne wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Banner.
Banner throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawthorne is trying to stand up.
Banner looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hawthorne is working hard here to advance position.
BOOM! Banner connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Banner trying to control but Hawthorne is having none of it.
Banner is in the full mount, landing strikes.

It looks like Damien Hawthorne has been cut.
Banner is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banner controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Banner can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hawthorne is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne has given up his back here. Will Banner look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Banner has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Banner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Banner throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Banner slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Hawthorne wants to get back to his feet.
Banner has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Hawthorne's body.

Banner tightening his grip on Hawthorne, looking for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Hawthorne's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banner has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hawthorne has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
I would not like to be Hawthorne right now.
Banner lands punches and elbows.
Hawthorne trying to control the hands but Banner breaks the grip.
We've been informed that Banner has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Banner looking for the choke but no joy.
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 working for the choke.
Banner is looking to control Hawthorne but Hawthorne is wriggling around and keeping busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roddy Banner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Damien Hawthorne's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hawthorne waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Banner.
Hawthorne looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Banner tries to clinch up.
Banner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Banner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hawthorne explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Banner moves out of range as Hawthorne strikes.

Banner looking to score a takedown here. Hawthorne is defending well but Banner drives through and ends up in Hawthorne's guard.
Banner trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawthorne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawthorne has Banner pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hawthorne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Banner trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawthorne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Banner advances to half guard.
Hawthorne on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hawthorne tries to get out of the position.
Banner moves into full mount! Hawthorne won't be happy about that!
The referee warns Hawthorne that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Banner is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hawthorne can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Banner tries to control but Hawthorne wriggling away.
Hawthorne really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner won't let Hawthorne get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Banner can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hawthorne is looking to escape.
Roddy Banner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hawthorne wants to control but Banner is having none of it.
Hawthorne is trying desperately to improve position.
Banner controlling from mount.
Hawthorne is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Banner looking to control but Hawthorne is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner controlling his opponent.
Hawthorne is controlling an arm, preventing Banner from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Banner tries to control but Hawthorne wriggling away.
Hawthorne has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Banner doesn't have the hooks in and Hawthorne manages to turn into his guard.

Banner looking for a guillotine here but Hawthorne defends easily.
Hawthorne looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawthorne stopping the sweep attempt from Banner.
Banner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hawthorne's guard.

Hawthorne working a defensive guard here.
Hawthorne wants to get back to his feet but Banner is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hawthorne keeping full guard, as Banner tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Banner passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Banner tries to move to mount but Hawthorne blocks the move with his legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roddy Banner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Damien Hawthorne's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A big right from Hawthorne misses.
Hawthorne misses with a hook. Banner ducked under it nicely.
Banner ducks under a wild hook from Hawthorne.

Banner feints and as Hawthorne raises his hands in defense, Banner changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hawthorne keeping full guard, as Banner tries to pass.
Banner slips nicely into half guard.
Banner frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hawthorne is wriggling around trying to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner is looking to work his way around to Hawthorne's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Banner controlling from the full mount.
Hawthorne stops Banner from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hawthorne is looking to escape.
Hawthorne tries to lock up and control but Banner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Banner landing strikes from the mount and Hawthorne is in trouble!
Banner takes Hawthorne's back.

Banner is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Hawthorne trying to control the hands but Banner breaks the grip.
Hawthorne is trying to stand back up.
Banner struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Banner is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Banner has got one arm under Hawthorne's chin. This could be trouble... Hawthorne trying to control the other hand but Banner gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Hawthorne has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Roddy Banner!
An out of breath Roddy Banner thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.