PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Stripe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Bantou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Bantou will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Stripe
vs
Bantou

177 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

188 cm
23
210 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Tyson Stripe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Bantou!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bantou wants to clinch up but Stripe keeps it at a distance.

Stripe rushes Bantou and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stripe tries to break the clinch but Bantou is controlling the position.

Stripe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bantou drops Stripe with a left right combo! Bantou follows him down to the ground into side control.

Stripe is rocked!

It looks like Tyson Stripe has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stripe is not content to let Bantou control the position.
Oh Stripe is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stripe is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Stripe tries to buck Bantou off but Bantou is having none of it.
Stripe seems to have got his legs back now.
Stripe is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bantou misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Bantou.
Bantou tries to stand but Stripe is controlling his head.
Stripe is trying to get back to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stripe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stripe has Bantou up against the cage in a clinch.
Stripe stops a takedown attempt from Bantou.
Bantou tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Bantou breaks the clinch.

Stripe closes the distance and clinches.
Stripe prevents the takedown attempt.
Bantou with an attempt at a knee that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stripe.
Bantou has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stripe avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tyson Stripe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Bantou.
Stripe gets underhooks to prevent Bantou's takedown attempt.
Bantou crunches a lovely knee into Stripe's ribcage.

Stripe breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bantou.
Stripe is breathing heavily.
Bantou jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stripe walks away with a smile on his face. Bantou gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Bantou tries to keep at a distance but Stripe has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stripe goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bantou prevents it.
Stripe lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stripe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bantou smiles and moves away.
Stripe slaps away a takedown attempt from Bantou, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Bantou closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stripe takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Bantou cracks Stripe with a big right hand but Stripe just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bantou is looking to take a break and control but Stripe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stripe is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bantou is controlling him well.
Stripe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bantou lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bantou working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Bantou landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Bantou lands a nice forearm strike.
Bantou wants to control but Stripe is keeping him busy.
Bantou is chipping away with strikes.

Bantou decides to stand up, so the ref orders Stripe to his feet.
Stripe leaves Bantou with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bantou looks to clinch

and Stripe moves into the clinch.

Bantou manages to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bantou is on top in guard.
Stripe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bantou's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bantou wants to stand up but Stripe is controlling him.
Stripe passes Bantou's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Stripe looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bantou with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stripe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stripe seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Bantou is trying to control but can't.
Stripe is just content to waste time from the top position. Bantou takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Stripe decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bantou wants to clinch up but Stripe keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Bantou dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tyson Stripe's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stripe takes the fight into the clinch.
Bantou tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stripe lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bantou blocks the elbow strike.
Stripe throws a punch but it's blocked by Bantou.
Stripe presses Bantou against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stripe tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stripe takes a knee to the side of the body.
Stripe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Bantou manages to break the clinch.
Stripe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tyson Stripe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bantou throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Bantou wants to clinch up but Stripe keeps it at a distance.
Bantou tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stripe paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Stripe has Bantou up against the cage in a clinch.
Stripe is trying to break free.

Bantou manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Bantou will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bantou tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stripe trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bantou's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stripe preventing the sweep.
Bantou lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Stripeis looking to pass into half guard but Bantou pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bantou is in guard.
Stripe keeping moving, preventing Bantou from controlling successfully.
Stripe can't keep his opponent in guard - Bantou advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bantou seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bantou prevents Stripe from improving his position.
Stripe flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bantou scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stripe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bantou working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bantou scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bantou winds up and cracks Stripe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Bantou stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Stripe to get to his feet.
A thudding body kick lands there by Bantou!
Bantou fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bantou fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bantou doesn't manage to clinch there - Stripe circles away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Bantou.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bantou looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stripe on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stripe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bantou's waist but Bantou gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stripe off to one side.
Stripe swats away the attempt to clinch by Bantou.
Bantou lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Stripe pushes Bantou up against the cage in a clinch.
Bantou can't break the clinch.
Stripe tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bantou avoids it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Stripe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Bantou blocks an uppercut.
Stripe tries to land a knee to the head but Bantou blocks with his arms.
Bantou wants to stall.
Stripe keeps control of Bantou as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bantou tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bantou has Stripe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stripe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tyson Stripe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Bantou.
Stripe lands a shoulder strike.
Bantou has had enough of the clinch but Stripe keeps him there for the moment.

Stripe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stripe circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stripe counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stripe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bantou wants to get back to his feet.

Stripe seems to be working for a kimura but Bantou defends the submission attempt.

Stripe is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Bantou has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bantou is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jack Bantou will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tyson Stripe's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bantou tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stripe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bantou tries to clinch but Stripe moves away

and Stripe counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stripe.
Bantou keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stripe's efforts to push away.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stripe creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bantou tries for a takedown but Stripe manages to get underhooks.
Stripe gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bantou takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bantou changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stripe fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Bantou as Stripe shoots in.

Stripe clinches.
Stripe prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tyson Stripe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Bantou.
Stripe pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stripe gets through Bantou's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Stripe.

Bantou pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bantou.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bantou wants to clinch

and Stripe counters by clinching up.

Stripe jumps guard.
Stripe 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.
Bantou chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bantou avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Stripe uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Stripe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bantou closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stripe counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bantou stalling in the clinch but Stripe improves position.
Bantou can't get the takedown.
Stripe lands a nice uppercut.
Stripe has Bantou pressed against the cage, preventing Bantou from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A knee to the head by Bantou.
Stripe is pressed up against the cage. Bantou has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stripe down to the mat. Stripe avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bantou tries to clinch up but Stripe circles away and keeps his distance.
Stripe keeps the fight on the outside.
Bantou wants to clinch.

Stripe darts in and clinches Bantou up against the cage.
Bantou is trying to drag Stripe to the mat but Stripe just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bantou using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stripe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bantou has Stripe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stripe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Stripe wants to get back to striking at distance but Bantou won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bantou pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stripe moves into the clinch successfully.
Stripe lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bantou backwards.
Bantou tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bantou has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stripe avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Stripe unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bantou drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stripe pulls his leg out and moves away.

Stripe drives through and clinches with Bantou against the cage.
Stripe tries a body shot but Bantou blocks it.
Bantou throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stripe blocks it with crossed arms.
Stripe stops a takedown attempt from Bantou.
Stripe tries to land knees in the clinch but Bantou avoids the damage to the body.

Stripe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bantou looks to clinch

and Stripe moves into the clinch.
Bantou prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stripe can't break the clinch.
Stripe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bantou has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bantou tries to circle away but Stripe has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bantou blocks an elbow strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bantou.
Bantou drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stripe pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bantou tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stripe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stripe looks for a takedown but Bantou sprawls well.
Bantou is looking to clinch but Stripe is avoiding it.
Bantou tries a head kick but it misses.

Stripe drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Stripe decides to stand back up. Stripe steps back and let's Bantou get back to his feet.
Bantou misses with a takedown attempt - Stripe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Stripe fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bantou, pushing him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyson Stripe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bantou 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Jack Bantou!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Jack Bantou!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Jack Bantou!

Jack Bantou wins by unanimous decision!